photo by steed media service

Few family-owned businesses are able to celebrate the kind of success that Lee’s Florist has had over the course of 62 years. The four-generation, family-operated floral company located in the heart of Washington, D.C.,’s U Street District, is a staple in the historic community. Its second-generation owner, Richard “Rick” Lee, knows firsthand the secret to the company’s long-term success.

“We try to stay up with the current trends and make sure that our work is cutting edge, so that when folks come to us they know that they’re going to get a top quality product, and that’s what we try to provide. I don’t think we would have been in business this long if we weren’t doing that, because you have to stay ahead of the curve in order to survive when you’re in business. You can’t get stuck in the past, you’ve got to move along with the times. You’ve got to be able to forecast and keep up with the competition or stay ahead of them,” explains Lee.

The company, which was founded in 1945 by Richard’s father, is not only a model for small black businesses, but it also serves as an example of the success that comes from delivering a great product. “I’m hoping that the company stays in the family because around the country you’re not going to see too many businesses that have [been operated by] four generations. I want five, six, seven generations because that to me is the only way that you can really acquire wealth — to have money passing down [through] a business, because new money isn’t like old money,” says Lee. –jason thompson

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