Matlack In Photos

June 29, 2023

Four Decades of quality

Matlack Florist began in 1978 in a tiny, rented shop on the property of a local carnation farmer.  With equal parts talent and hard work, sisters Jen and Debbie Matlack grew the business to become what is widely known today as West Chester’s go-to florist, greenhouse, and garden center.  Matlack’s current location, at 210 N. Chester Road, was acquired in 1982 and expanded over the years to accommodate the growing business.  

Matlack changed hands in September 2020, when it was purchased by Brendan and Clare Mulloy of West Chester.  The couple fell in love with the property, its history, and its reputation in the industry.  Since then, along with property updates and the addition of “Community Blooms,” Matlack’s own charitable giving program, the business has continued to thrive.  Customers still rely on Matlack for its unique offerings, gorgeous florals, and first-rate customer service. 

Over the years, the shop has expanded and changed, but our commitment to excellence has never wavered. Scroll through the photos below for a walk through of over four decades of Matlack history! You may even see some familiar faces!

A grainy black and white image of a small building sitting on a roadside.
A grainy image of a white building on the side of a road. There is a sign hanging above the door that says "New home of Matlack Florist."
A grainy black and white image of a construction site between two buildings. There is a caption that says "at right, Matlack Florist keeps on growing with expansion in 1993."
A scanned image of an insert from a local newspaper from 2003. The insert commemorates the 25th anniversary of Matlack florist, and features photos of the property and employees from that time.
An image of the Matlack Florist website from 2003.
An image of the front of the store. There are two double doors that are painted dark green with a green and pink wreath hanging above them. Around the doors are a variety of plants and terracotta planters.
Four salespeople stand on a row of steps holding prom bouquets.
An image of the Matlack Garden Center in 2012. In the background is a large covered area filled with brightly colored plants. In the foreground is many brightly colored plants sitting on the ground in the parking lot.
A designer adds flowers to an arrangement in a green vase. She is wearing a blue and black jacket and her hair is in a bun. On the table in front of her is a pile of flower stems and knives. On the wall behind her is a large shelf of vases.
Mums, pumpkins, and wreaths sit on a large sales display outside the front of the store.
10 vans sit in a snow covered parking lot.
A sign sits in the grass outside that reads "It's back!!! Free rose if your name is Abbey Art"
An image of the Matlack Garden Center. A gray shed sits in the top right corner. In the center of the frame is a brown wooden pergola. Surrounding the pergola as dozens of potted plants in a variety of bright colors.
An image of the Matlack gift shop. A variety of home decor, wreaths, and trinkets are arranged on tables and shelves. Most of the items are blue, white, and green.
A bride in a white dress walks through the gift shop.
An image of the Matlack gift shop at Christmastime. There are many wreaths and decorations out for sale. Everything is green, red, and white.
Seven salespeople stand on a row of steps inside the store. They are all smiling and wearing matching red vests.
A woman smiles as she holds a large arrangement. She is wearing a blue jacket, and the arrangement is filled with red, white, and green florals.
Six women smile as they sit around a dinner table.
Five women smile as they sit around a dinner table.
A woman smiles and waves as she stands inside of the large window at the front of the store.
Six people smile as they stand in front of a warehouse. From left to right, there is a man in a tan shirt, followed by four women in matching royal blue polos, and a man in a light blue polo.
An image of the Matlack greenhouse taken from the parking lot. The roof is being repaired, so there are no shingles. Two men stand on a ladder in the right corner.
A woman in a green shirt smiles as she stands on a stool next to a decorative tree.
Five designers smile and laugh as they stand behind a row of in-progress holiday arrangements.
The front of the store is covered in snow and there are red hearts hanging on the double doors.
A salesperson smiles as she packs a prom bouquet into a white box.
Six women stand in a grassy area. They are smiling and holding wedding bouquets.
An image taken from behind the registers in the gift shop. Four salespeople in red vests assist customers.
A collage of photos from a floral crown workshop. On the top left, six women in matching blue shirts smile as they stand in the store wearing floral crowns. On the top right, a toddler stands in the parking lot wearing a blue raincoat and a floral crown. On the bottom left, four women in matching blue shirts smile as they wear floral crowns. On the bottom right, a man in a gray sweatshirt smiles and gives two thumbs up as he wears a floral crown.
Four salespeople smile as they stand in front of the registers. They are all wearing black shirts with red vests.
A small green and white helicopter with decals saying "EXPERIMENTAL" and "N6WL" sits in a warehouse with other helicopters. A white and red floral arrangement in a glass vase sits on the ground next to the helicopter.
Two women in blue shirts stand behind a large outdoor plant and smile.
A group of people stand around a brown table filled with in-progress floral arrangements in clear vases.
An image of the Matlack Garden Center. On the left is a blue shed with a gravel path leading to it. One the right is a covered area with dozens of potted plants for sale.
A sign on the front door of the store that reads "face mask required to enter. Thank you for social distancing."
A arch of Christmas greenery stands floor to ceiling in the center of the gift shop.
Four designers stand around a long table filled with in-progress holiday arrangements. They are all wearing masks.
Designers in Christmas sweaters and wearing masks read a red clipboard. One of the designers is wearing a hat shaped like a Christmas tree.
A screenshot of a Philadelphia Inquirer article titled "Philadelphia's florists have seen love on display throughout the pandemic. Valentine's Day is no exception." The article features a photo of the current owners.
A photo of the storefront during the holidays. There are wreaths on the double doors and red and green plants in front.
An image of the center island in the parking lot mid-renovation. A man in a red shirt is walking in the left corner.
A handwritten chalkboard sign stands outside the front doors of the store that says "Due to the effects of Ida, today, September 2nd we are closed." The sign has a picture of an umbrella in the background.
A pumpkin carver stands in the middle of the garden center. On a wooden table in front of her is a large orange pumpkin with a carving of a sunflower in it.
A white and brown goat stands in the grass outside the store.
An image of the double doors at the front of the store. The doors are painted yellow, and there is a green wreath with pink roses hanging above them.
A vintage bike sits in the grass surrounded by pumpkins and fall florals. There is a chalkboard sign in the back that reads "Free flowers."
Two rows of freshly cut Christmas trees sit under an awning with lights. There is a sign that says "Christmas Trees" hanging above.
A small wooden box on a post sits in front of the storefront. The box is filled with books and has a plaque that reads "Little Free Library: take a book, share a book." The box is surrounded by hanging baskets of plants in a variety of colors.

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