By Steve Eder, seder@enquirer.com, The Cincinnati Enquirer
During his Thursday morning jog, Bill Nelson didn't flinch at the sight of the purple flower shop on Observatory Avenue. In fact, he said, Adrian Durban Florist's new tone “adds a little color to the neighborhood.”
But not all of Mr. Nelson's Hyde Park neighbors agree. Just a week after painting the building purple, the flower shop has decided to change the color to a less-arresting beige.
Adrian Durban Florist in Hyde Park, currently purple, will be repainted a more muted beige.
That follows complaints from several neighbors, who said the purple was too intrusive, especially since the shop is in the thick of a tony residential area.
Erin Michaels, a clerk at Carl's Deli next door, said customers began complaining as soon as the paint went on. Some even considered petitioning the shop or starting a boycott.
“One woman said people have no taste,” Ms. Michaels said.
But Ms. Michaels said the new paint didn't bother her, admitting that she had taken a liking to the color.
The family-owned Adrian Durban has three other flower businesses in the Cincinnati area. Its Clifton location, at the corner of Ludlow and Clifton avenues, has been a brilliant shade of purple for years — and beloved by those who frequent the popular Ludlow business district.
“It is just paint, it isn't a permanent thing,” said Beverly Kammer, an employee at the Hyde Park location, adding that neighbors were split about the new color. “Some were so strongly against it, but some supported it.”
Either way, management is convinced that the purple siding wouldn't mesh well with a red awning, which is supposed to arrive soon.
The company logo is red and white, but purple is often used as a third accent.
“We had fun when it was up,” Ms. Kammer said. “It was a nice splash of color.”
The Hyde Park location opened in May after Adrian Durban bought a previous floral business, Artistry in Flowers, located in the building. CEO Kerry Durban is the great grandson of George and Mary Durban, who established Adrian Durban in 1899.
Strolling her two young children down Observatory Avenue, Hyde Park resident Carolyn Emrich said she first noticed the purple color Thursday.
“It didn't bother me at all,” she said. “Hyde Park is pretty eclectic, so it fits in just fine.”
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