What started as a mother-daughter-run business 32 years ago in the heart of Southampton Village has bloomed into what we know today as the prosperous Hampton’s go-to for all things floral. Topiaire Flower Shop, located on 51 Jobs Lane, was established by Southampton Local’s Erin Hattrick and her late mother Barbara Hattrick. Erin and her five siblings grew up in Southampton, and her father, Bill Hattrick, served as mayor from 1985 to 1989. Unfortunately, shortly after Topiaire Flower Shop opened, Barbara Hattrick passed away, but her daughter Erin knew her mother wouldn’t want to see Topiaire’s doors close, so she worked hard to build their business into a charming and artful Hamptons shop.
Now, 32 years after Barbara and Erin began their flower shop dream, it’s made its way back to those same mother-daughter roots with Erin’s daughter Grace taking on a more active role in Topiaire’s everyday function.
Erin Hattrick, now Erin Meaney, started in the floral business under Philip Bianco, former local florist who owned Artistry in Flowers. Grace recalled that Mr. Bianco’s legacy has bled into their work at Topiaire Flower Shop noting that his name is often referenced around the shop. Grace clued us in on her mother’s path to wild success in the floral business saying, “She spent time working at various retailers, mostly fashion, in San Francisco, Australia and NYC. But all roads lead her back to Southampton and to flowers.”
Similarly to her mother, Grace didn’t start necessarily with the floral business in mind. Grace studied Sports Management in undergrad, dreaming of working with the New York Giants, but what she told me next really shows the heart of their business. “It took growing up in college and working corporately to appreciate and see the value rooted within those [Topiaire’s] walls… I realized that my 5 and 10-year plan didn’t include Zoom meetings and corporate functions but more small-town community, family, and connection.” And that’s just what Topiaire Flower Shop gives you: the charm of a family-run business mixed with the unparalleled artistry and vision of Erin Meaney.
Grace’s hope for Topiaire Flower Shop is simple, “growth, stability and innovation”. She assured us that her mother doesn’t have any intentions of retiring from the shop any time soon. “She is a powerhouse and while she looks forward to retirement, the truth is, she has too much fun with what she does to ever completely walk away,” Grace says. Thanks to long time manager Alba Hernandez, who runs the floral designs and keeps the back end (events, and large arrangements) running smoothly, while Grace tackles the front, customer facing end, Erin has been able to take more time for herself and her other three children.
With Barbara Hattrick’s memory always in mind, Grace says, “I want to be involved for my grandmother Barbara, for my mom and my community. Southampton is home, and Topiaire is home, and I truly hope that sentence never changes.”
