Company  Information

Smith Floral Company was founded in 1896 by E. Howard Smith in a building which was known as Old Mechanics Hall on W. Broad St. in downtown Hazleton. Near the turn of the century the business was moved to the Heidenreich building also located on E. Broad St., then in 1914, Mr. Smith purchased and relocated to the Levinton Building at 30 E. Broad St. During this time, Howard Smith and his wife, Sally Andreas Smith operated the business of selling flowers, plants, weddings and funeral tributes throughout Hazleton. In 1919 Smith Floral Company joined FTD, Florist Telegraph Delivery, which had been formed in 1910 to enable customers to send floral gifts to most areas of the United States.

The business was converted to a partnership in 1927, between Robert A. Smith, one of Howard and Sally's seven children, and Max G. Shields whom was married to B. Eugenia Smith, another one of seven Smith children. This partnership operated until 1936 when the building and the business was destroyed by fire. At that point in time, the partnership was dissolved and Robert and his wife Mary purchased the present downtown location at 41 E. Broad St. to continue the family floral business.

This building owned by Planters Peanut Co. was previously Retneller's butcher and produce shop equipped with two walk-in coolers, which proved ideal as storage coolers for flowers, and are still utilized to this date. The business grew and in 1938 the greenhouses were purchased in West Hazleton. The greenhouses previously operated under the name of Hazleton Floral Greenhouses. Many cut flowers and potted plants were grown there and are still grown there to this day. In 1964 a partnership was formed between Mary Smith and her son, Robert A. Smith, Jr., which operated that way until the company was incorporated in 1982. The floral shop for all types of arrangements and floral products was added to the greenhouses in West Hazleton and was expanded in 1960 and again in 1987 and remodeled in 1992 due to increased demand for a larger variety of products. Over the years, many things have changed in general, but the commitment of Smith Floral to deliver the finest quality and service still remains the same as it did a century ago.The Hazleton Location was sold in October 2002- all employees are now working together in W. Hazleton to better serve our customer's needs!