BACK TO THE FUTURE

A “DEMOLITION PARTY” sent the Atomic-Age Joyce Florist building on South Hampton Road to wherever good mid-century roadside architecture goes. A landfill, most likely.

The owners of the flower shop, which opened sometime in the 1950s, say the old building is difficult to maintain, and they want more space to expand their business. They planned for years to tear it down and replace it with a building that fits their needs.

The new building is expected to take about a year to construct: “A 6,000-square-foot, glass-enclosed pavilion flooded in natural light, equipped with a state-of-the-art conference center for the needs of Oak Cliff professionals, commercial clients and special events.”

A former employee of the business, Gloria Garcia, bought the shop in 1998 with her daughter Lisa Alvarez-Acevedo. Alvarez-Acevedo now operates the business with her daughter Alyssa Gray.

Joyce Florist first opened in Elmwood as the Cart Shop sometime in the 1950s and changed names after Bob Joyce bought it in the ’60s. The shop moved to its current location, a former Dairy Mart, in 1971.

While the new building is under construction, Joyce Florist will operate out of 2727 S. Hampton.

Worship

By SCOTT SHIRLEY