Kamp’s Flowers
Kamp’s Flowers
Bill Kamp, Jr. and Beatrice (Bea) Cole married in 1948; the newlyweds also invested in a flower business . Bill and Bea met on a blind date at the University of Missouri in Columbia where Bill earned his degree in Agriculture while Bea received a BA in nursing, later becoming a pediatric nurse at St. Luke’s Hospital in Kansas City, MO. Once the flower business was up and running, she joined Bill full time.
With the help of Bill’s uncle, Charlie Singleton, Bill and Bea took ownership of The Flower House, located at 4417 Blue Parkway (formerly 50th Terrace and/or 50 Highway) in Kansas City, MO. The Flower House opportunity appealed to them because it had a greenhouse, especially important to Bill who wanted to grow his own flowers. The shop name changed twice, first to Kamp’s Flower House in the early 50s, and finally to Kamp’s Flowers in 1962.
The greenhouse afforded the Kamps the niche opportunity to grow their own plants, including spring bedding plants, as well as poinsettias for the holidays. They also made, delivered and placed cemetery blankets of evergreen boughs and memorial flower boxes, all in addition to traditional cut-flower arrangements. Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Memorial Day and Christmas kept Bill, Bea and their loyal staff of two (in the early years) busy year-round.
Kamp’s was a family business. Bill and Bea’s son Bill (not the third), with his degree in horticulture, joined the business in 1980, as did his wife Melva when they married in 1986. Bill and Melva Kamp officially purchased the business from his parents in ’97.
Also in 1997, eminent domain forced the shop’s move to its new and final location at 8709 E. 63rd Street, Kansas City, MO. They retained ownership of the Blue Parkway greenhouse , and fortunately, the new location also had a small greenhouse. Their Kamp’s Flowers neon sign went with them. The city paid to move the historic sign, and their flower coolers, to the new location.
The double-sided green porcelain Kamp’s Flowers sign with clear red neon is believed to be from the late 50s or early 60s when backlit plastic readerboards with changeable messages became popular. Our Kamp’s sign was attached to such a readerboard.
The business continued to thrive, at times employing a dozen staff, and sometimes as many as 25, including 10 delivery drivers during a busy Valentine’s Day. Two original employees worked with Bill and Bea over 25 years, one of them into his 80s with son Bill. The Kamps valued their employees.
The floral business changed significantly when hospitals, grocery chains and the big box stores got into the flower business. After that, Amazon and online flower orders stressed even the grocery florists. Kamp’s might still get a local order through a third party, but their neighbors were no longer calling them directly.
Bill Jr. (the senior of the Bills) passed in 2003. Bea lived 17 more years, passing in June 2020 during the first year of COVID-19, which itself presented unique challenges to the business. On the one hand, the shop closed to store traffic. On the other hand, flower orders and deliveries boomed due to illness and hospital stays, as well as traditional “flower holidays.” Everyone at Kamp’s wore masks and worked long hours.
In 2021, with their adult children pursuing different careers, Bill and Melva elected to sell the 73-year-old Kamp’s Flowers. They are thrilled to know their vintage neon sign shines on in the LUMI collection.
Bill Kamp, Jr. and Beatrice (Bea) Cole married in 1948; the newlyweds also invested in a flower business . Bill and Bea met on a blind date at the University of Missouri in Columbia where Bill earned his degree in Agriculture while Bea received a BA in nursing, later becoming a pediatric nurse at St. Luke’s Hospital in Kansas City, MO. Once the flower business was up and running, she joined Bill full time.
With the help of Bill’s uncle, Charlie Singleton, Bill and Bea took ownership of The Flower House, located at 4417 Blue Parkway (formerly 50th Terrace and/or 50 Highway) in Kansas City, MO. The Flower House opportunity appealed to them because it had a greenhouse, especially important to Bill who wanted to grow his own flowers. The shop name changed twice, first to Kamp’s Flower House in the early 50s, and finally to Kamp’s Flowers in 1962.
The greenhouse afforded the Kamps the niche opportunity to grow their own plants, including spring bedding plants, as well as poinsettias for the holidays. They also made, delivered and placed cemetery blankets of evergreen boughs and memorial flower boxes, all in addition to traditional cut-flower arrangements. Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Memorial Day and Christmas kept Bill, Bea and their loyal staff of two (in the early years) busy year-round.
Kamp’s was a family business. Bill and Bea’s son Bill (not the third), with his degree in horticulture, joined the business in 1980, as did his wife Melva when they married in 1986. Bill and Melva Kamp officially purchased the business from his parents in ’97.
Also in 1997, eminent domain forced the shop’s move to its new and final location at 8709 E. 63rd Street, Kansas City, MO. They retained ownership of the Blue Parkway greenhouse , and fortunately, the new location also had a small greenhouse. Their Kamp’s Flowers neon sign went with them. The city paid to move the historic sign, and their flower coolers, to the new location.
The double-sided green porcelain Kamp’s Flowers sign with clear red neon is believed to be from the late 50s or early 60s when backlit plastic readerboards with changeable messages became popular. Our Kamp’s sign was attached to such a readerboard.
The business continued to thrive, at times employing a dozen staff, and sometimes as many as 25, including 10 delivery drivers during a busy Valentine’s Day. Two original employees worked with Bill and Bea over 25 years, one of them into his 80s with son Bill. The Kamps valued their employees.
The floral business changed significantly when hospitals, grocery chains and the big box stores got into the flower business. After that, Amazon and online flower orders stressed even the grocery florists. Kamp’s might still get a local order through a third party, but their neighbors were no longer calling them directly.
Bill Jr. (the senior of the Bills) passed in 2003. Bea lived 17 more years, passing in June 2020 during the first year of COVID-19, which itself presented unique challenges to the business. On the one hand, the shop closed to store traffic. On the other hand, flower orders and deliveries boomed due to illness and hospital stays, as well as traditional “flower holidays.” Everyone at Kamp’s wore masks and worked long hours.
In 2021, with their adult children pursuing different careers, Bill and Melva elected to sell the 73-year-old Kamp’s Flowers. They are thrilled to know their vintage neon sign shines on in the LUMI collection.
