Rosie Jeffares-Levitt | Quince Flowers Owner & Lead Designer
Rosie is the visionary behind Quince Flowers. With a rich academic background, including bachelor's and master's degrees in fine art, and a decade of professional experience in London, England, Rosie offers a distinctive approach to her craft. During her time in London, she discovered a passion for flowers while “moonlighting” as a florist’s assistant, rising at dawn to cut and condition the haul from Covent Garden on market days, before going to her day job. In 1997, Rosie returned to her hometown of Toronto and founded Quince Flowers, where she continues to infuse her work with creativity and botanical expertise.
The History of Quince Flowers
For the first decade, Quince operated as a boutique within UpCountry furniture stores. As a boutique within an established business, Quince got noticed! In its first year, Quince was on the covers of House and Home, Gardening Life, and Chatelaine magazines.
Quince also partnered with Dufflet Pastries. Rosie met Dufflet at the YMCA and found an amazing business mentor. They built and shared a midtown location on Yonge Street for many years. Later Rosie created the Flower Bar within chef Mark McEwan’s grocery store at Don Mills. But balancing three locations and raising two young children proved unsustainable. Quince needed to find a home and to streamline the business into a single location.
A prime corner store on Queen Street East became Quince’s flagship store in Riverside for 15 years. Rosie served on the Riverside BIA board. She contributed to key projects such as rebranding the area, revitalising the iconic bridge over the Don River, and co-creating community events.
Quince's present home is in a historic brick and beam warehouse, a rare find in Toronto. Located in a little pocket of low-rise Victorian industrial spaces on Wagstaff Drive, it was once a part of a Toronto brickyard. Now it's a neat off-the-beaten path laneway, with a handful of select businesses. This unique space, shared with Soul Chocolate, offers ample parking and a tranquil atmosphere. It harkens back to Quince's collaborative roots, inviting customers to experience a blend of creativity and community.