It’s located inconspicuously in a cramped strip mall across from a Publix. The space is plain: no gaudy flower arrangements, no luscious floral scent. A friendly young woman, owner Nga Phan, greets you and shows you to a room in the rear that’s refrigerated. Row after row of tightly wound packages of roses — a dozen per — cover the floor and several benches. Myriad colors. Different sizes. The bunches start at $5.98 (sometimes $3.98 on sale) and go up to $12.98. La Vie’s roses are the perfect start for a guy looking to get back in his woman’s good graces — on the cheap.
This article appears in Sep 19-25, 2007.