Bruno Amicci acted like a kid in a candy shop Wednesday morning as he bustled through the Luepke building in downtown Vancouver, talking nonstop to a handful of visitors and employees in the largely empty space.
But Amicci was in a flower shop, not a candy shop. And the businessman’s self-indulgence was not about candy but rather about finding a creative outlet for the historic building with the stunning round window. “This is a nice little jewel here,” said Amicci of the art deco building at 1300 Washington St. that he and his partner Kerry Kurth are quickly transforming into a dining and retail hub named Luepke Station. Amicci sees downtown as a jewel in the making.
“Vancouver is happening right now,” says Amicci, who intends to move here later this year. “It’s very rare to be able to participate in a renaissance.”
This week, Amicci held a soft opening for the revived flower shop, now called Luepke Flowers & Finds. He hired several employees of the former shop, which closed last month, including Tamara Szarowski as floral manager. Szarowski said she’s pleased with the fresh coat of paint in the building and an increase in the variety of floral arrangements at the new shop. One of the shop’s new services is bicycle delivery of flowers in the downtown area.
