Cleveland The Florist began in the early 40's as a family based business focused on customer satisfaction. After more than 55 years, the third generation continues to make customer satisfaction a priority. This is accomplished by providing the freshest flowers arranged in unique floral displays by professional floral designers. Cleveland The Florist has a long distinguished past. Ulysses (Lee) and Florence Cleveland started in the floral business by selling hybrid cuttings of azaleas and camellias to Van Antwerp's department store. Their first retail location opened in 1948 on Stone Street in Toulminville. This store consisted of a traditional retail floral shop, a seed store and a greenhouse. In 195, Lease Cleveland, their son, joined the business. Lease's daughter, Lenae Cleveland Denson, began working for the family's florist business as a teenager. While at college Lenae worked in several large floral shops in the Metropolitan Atlanta area. During this time Lenae also started importing Holland Flowers. Upon returning to Mobile, Lenae began writing a weekly column in the Mobile Register, "Living with Flowers". Lenae expanded into television and created a holiday special as well as her own show, " Lifestyles with Lenae". Presently Lenae makes frequent television appearances for several of the local area television stations. Fun Fact: Cleveland the Florist provided the flowers at the local library for the First Lady of Alabama, Patsy Riley.