By Anna Yoder | Columnist

Pittsburgh is famous for so many things that it is hard to compile all of them into a single list. Yet, there may be one famous fact that might not be as well known. It is the connection of the 1952 classic movie “Singin’ in the Rain” to a historic Pittsburgh flower shop. To learn what that connection is, you will need to read the rest of this column. I do not want to spoil the surprise.

The historic Oliver’s Flower Shop is a Pittsburgh staple which has been hand-delivering premium floral arrangements and gift baskets to Pittsburghers since the Great Depression. Founded in 1929 by a gentleman named Oliver, Oliver’s Flower Shop remains in the same family to this day! How many businesses can make that claim?

However, Oliver’s Flower Shop has not been headquartered in the Northside for all 95 years of their years in business. The founder Oliver, settled on Squirrel Hill as the location for his original floral shop. After many successful years, Oliver’s Flower Shop expanded their business with a satellite location in the Union Trust building. Eventually the floral shop consolidated its operations to a 6th Ave. location — still maintaining the Oliver’s name.

Eventually, the building which housed Oliver’s 6th Ave. location transitioned to condos with other first floor retail and Oliver’s was forced to relocate. Their need to relocate is what brought Oliver’s to the Northside. Rick Conley (whose uncle was Oliver) is the current owner of Oliver’s Flower Shop and employs 10 people at the shop.

I chatted with Vice President of Operations Matt Suzon — who has been with Oliver’s since 2001 — about their move to the Northside. As an aside, Matt who is originally from Toledo, Ohio explored a part time job at a local florist while in college. He got the job and has been in the florist business ever since! Matt describes Oliver’s move as a very positive one because it gave them considerably more space, parking, and it is centrally located to their client base. And the central location comes in handy for their free (yes, I said FREE) same-day delivery to Northside, Downtown, and the North Hills.

Check out the October edition of The Northside Chronicle for the full story.