“The essence of being a New Yorker is that you’re not from New York,” says Paddy Coughlan, who owns the Lord Gladstone and Lady Hampshire, and is an investor in New York’s newest hotspot, The Flower Shop.
Other investors include New York locals William Tisch, David Turner and skateboarder Tony Hawk.
By that definition The Flower Shop, located on the fringes of Chinatown on the Lower East Side, is quintessentially New York. It’s inspired by Australian pubs and leagues clubs, venues that are as far away both physically and aesthetically from the American city as it gets.
When business partners Ronnie Flynn and Dylan Hales opened the venue with Coughlan, they wanted to create a casual spot for locals to gather.
“We’d be hanging out with friends, and someone would say, ‘where’s a fun place to have some casual drinks?’” says Hales. “There are a thousand bars here, and no one would have an answer. It’s crazy.”
Although Flynn and Hales both went to Scots College in Sydney, they each went to New York alone. Flynn has lived there for 12 years and Hales for 10. Both worked in hospitality and were introduced by mutual friends. They gravitated towards each other: rare Australian birds far from home.
“It used to be a real novelty to be Australian,” says Flynn. “People would stop you and ask you to talk in your accent.” When Flynn first arrived, aged 21, getting a start in New York was tough. “In those days it wasn’t a cushy place to land and get a job,” he says.
It wasn’t easy to find a place to stay either, so Flynn couch-surfed, and occasionally slept in half pipes at skate parks. “At that age I was a little more fearless, dreamy. I didn’t mind sleeping anywhere.” Hales arrived a couple of years later; hired to be general manager at Ruby’s Cafe, an Australian institution that was once the only place in town to get a flat white.
They’ve both carved out successful careers in the New York hospitality scene. Flynn went on to open Manhattan’s NeverNever lounge, a club frequented by Rihanna and Bella Hadid. Hales founded his own club Baddies, as well as the Randolph Hospitality Group. In 2013, he won Zagat’s 30 under 30 award for excellence in hospitality.
Coughlan too has had an impressive career in Sydney. Once the CEO of Riversdale Group (which recently sold Newtown’s iconic Marlborough Hotel), he now runs Bourke Street hospitality group.
Although they regularly rub elbows with celebrities, Hales and Flynn are as easy and approachable as any guys from Bondi and Cronulla could be. The Flower Shop is equally unpretentious (despite Lenny Kravitz and members from A Tribe Called Quest attending, plus regular Aussies Jess Hart and Corbin Harris).
“Before we opened, we talked about how we didn’t want big bloody bouncers at the door, or somewhere you could buy your way in,” says Coughlan. They also didn’t want queues. If a queue forms, Flynn or Hales goes outside to tell hopefuls they love them but suggest they come back another night.
It sits on a strip amongst dumpling houses and Chinese fruit shops. “We definitely stick out,” says Flynn. “We liked the idea of making our mark in a fringe neighbourhood that’s not so developed,” says Hales. “It lets you create your own culture.”
The Flower Shop’s culture is undoubtedly original. Hales and Flynn are deft hands at making retro, almost tacky decor of-the-moment. The two-level venue has brown wood-panelled walls dotted with an odd collection of vintage paintings and photos. The fireplace is painted pink. Booth seats are upholstered in brown, gold or floral fabric and royal blue stools with gold feet line the bar.
The basement games room has copper carpets and a pool table. A movie poster of Crocodile Dundee takes pride of place on one wall.
As for the menu, executive chef Michael Hamilton creates exquisite dishes with freshness at their core. “We do elevated food in a laid back environment, so that it’s accessible for people no matter what mood they’re in,” says Hales. “You can play pool, have a three-course meal or a burger at the bar,” he says.
Although none of the dishes can be pinpointed as such, the menu has a distinctly Australian vibe. “We’re trying to make good food with good produce,” says Hales. “That’s what Australian cuisine is all about. “
An ethical approach is important too. The seafood for dishes like grilled hake with marinated butter beans is line caught. The 12-ounce rib eye steaks with salsa verde and market greens come from cows pasture-raised in upstate New York.
The vegetarian offering is strong. It’s easy to imagine the marinated beets, cilantro and ricotta salad on a menu in Sydney, although the ingredients would be called “beetroot” and “coriander”.
The Flower Shop’s cocktail list is classic. There’s an Old Fashioned, a Manhattan, a Margarita, as well as one of its own creations: the Pirate Rose made from rose-infused vodka and pink lemonade.
The trio is proud what they’ve achieved in New York. “I like to think we’re representing our hometown,” says Flynn. “Going from being a kid from Cronulla to having a place like this in New York …” he trails off. “It’s pretty damn cool. I’m proud of myself and the boys.”
The Flower Shop
107 Eldridge Street, New York
1 212 257 4072
Hours
Sun–Wed 5pm–12am
Thu–Sat 5pm–2am
