Coronado City Manager Tina Friend said that things “weren’t going well” with the Coronado Flower Lady and the city will reconsider its use of Rotary Plaza, where the Flower Lady business has operated since 1981.
“We’ve had a very long history of late payments and non-payments, and we’ve threatened revocation of permits before,” said Friend at the Coronado City Council meeting on August 18. “We’ve had a difficult past with this particular vendor.”
The City of Coronado also responded to a public records request, sending along a document dated April 14, 2026, that showed that Shanel Albert, the owner of the Coronado Flower Lady, was three months behind on rent. The document also showed that Albert had not repaid her COVID small business loan, for which there was a balance of $15,870.83.
But Albert — who has owned and run the Coronado Flower Lady business since 2016 — says she’s current on her monthly rent. She doesn’t owe the city anything, she says, except the remainder of her COVID loan, which she says she’s been paying in monthly installments.
Albert says she was shocked earlier this month when she recieved a letter from the City of Coronado, dated July 30, that said her commercial use permit was set to expire on August 31. The email said she must stop doing business at Rotary Plaza and vacate the premises before the permit expired.
And she disputed Tina Friend’s statement to City Council.
“I don’t owe the city any rent,” said Albert. “There have been times I have paid for multiple months at a time, like I’ve always done for the last 10 years. I don’t want people to think I owe the city anything, because I don’t.”
She says that until recently, there has always been a casual agreement with the city, whereby she would come in and pay in big chunks, two and three months at a time. She said that’s the way it’s always been, since the inception of the Flower Lady Business in 1981.
Furthermore, Albert says no one from the city contacted her regarding her rent and how it was paid.
“It was nothing out of the ordinary until it became ‘something’ to someone,” she said.
Before Friend addressed the city council, several residents spoke in support of the Coronado Flower Lady. Longtime resident Maris Dunn Yaple asked the city to reconsider ending Albert’s permit.
“She has contributed to the charm and ambience of Rotary Plaza with her beautiful, fragrant flowers, which bring joy to all who pass,” she said. “Coronado has enjoyed 45 years of the Coronado Flower Lady at Rotary Plaza, and I hate to see it end.”
Mila Albertson said the Flower Lady has become an “ambassador” for the city, as tourists often stop by to ask for recommendations. She says she’s also sad to lose the city’s only florist.
“I usually buy flowers there once a week,” said Albertson. “Sure, you can go into Vons and buy some flowers and hope to put something together, but there’s no flower store here that you can go to.”
Patricia Faircloth said the Coronado Flower Lady is a cultural icon and has become part of neighborhood atmosphere of Coronado. She said the first “real color and vibrancy” that visitors see when they visit the island comes from the flower stand.
“I’m disappointed city council decided to get rid of it in closed session without the general public knowing,” said Faircloth. “I feel you should reconsider.”
Later, Friend shared that the city had intended to keep the matter private, as it was a business transaction. But because of public concern and misinformation, she thought it was important to share more details.
Friend said that August 31 was a “natural end” of Albert’s conditional use permit, which was issued five years ago.
“The city really does want to support small businesses, and all the vibrancy for the reasons we heard from the community today,” said Friend. “That’s something that matters greatly to the council. But there is also a very overwhelming duty for the integrity of public property and the stewardship of public property.”
She said that nothing has been decided, and that no deal has been struck with another business or vendor.
“It’s an opportunity for the city to pause and consider the use of the park,” said Friend. “Is there a different activation? Do we want another vendor there? Could it be flowers, or is it something else?”
This city is slowly getting rid of all the things that make Coronado charming. If the flower lady has been a problem or not paying rent in a timely manner (which flower lady states the exact opposite), then why did they invite her to apply once they decide to open up the space again to vendors?? Why did they have the meeting in secret & not inform the public? City officials are liars. All of this is BS. So glad I moved away from this place. Shame on Coronado! Awful people running that place. Good luck, flower lady.
I’m Amy Ertekin (Andreen-Norris), a 4th generation resident of Coronado, and personally been buying flowers since 1981, for my mom, grandparents family and friends who lived on the island. When I graduated CHS then SDSU, and moved to NorCal, I continued to order all my mom’s and grandparent’s Birthday flowers, Mother’s Day , and special event flowers from the flowers lady. She knew where my family members lived on island and would deliver beautiful bouquets to them on the same day!! The Flower lady was the only vendor on island who would hand deliver love and appreciation in every bouquet when I lived off island. I truly appreciate the flower lady for all these years of service and I hope she doesn’t have to move.
“We’ve had a very long history of late payments and non-payments, and we’ve threatened revocation of permits before,”
Flowers are great! However, this person, who only recently took over the flower lady business, isn’t entitled to repeatedly make late payments. It is clear that she was communicated with about her late payments before. The reasoned approach is to put it out for bid and award to a more responsible vendor.
The flower lady is a major reason that corner is beautiful. It’s one of those things that keeps Coronado quaint, real and less commercial. Please reconsider. Is this the decision that you want to defend for years?
Please allow the flower lady to remain. It would be a great loss.
So then we are in agreement not to shop at whatever new business ends up there.
Friend’s comments as reported in the last three paragraphs of this article are bureaucratic speak at best, or deliberately obfuscating the city’s true intentions. Is the Flower Lady a concern for the “integrity” or “stewardship” of this public property? As to whether “could it be flowers or could it be something else” – if it’s not broke, don’t fix it. Has the public been asking for something else? Seems a lot of people value the Flower Lady.
“She said that nothing has been decided, and that no deal has been struck with another business or vendor.”
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…this is a little unclear in that ‘nothing has been decided,” wether it relates to the Flower Lady or a possible new tenant. Tina Friend’s letter to the editor in the Journal a couple of weeks ago submitted to explain the city’s decision was basically a nebulous word salad. It seems like the remedy now would be better communication from the city, and perhaps regularly scheduled rent payments. If the proprietor is truly paying off her COVID loan, then leave her alone. The city’s true motivations may be hidden, i.e., renting to a tenant to secure a higher rent. Regardless, the residents clearly want the Flower Lady to remain at the historic current location. Otherwise, let’s vote.
The Flower Lady is part of Coronado I have bought flowers there for 32 years The Flower Lady needs to stay & keep our park looking beautiful
If long time residents in the community are feeling suspicious about this popular and much loved iconic flower business being booted off this corner after 45 years, there’s a good reason.
Effective communication with the business owner should have led to a better financial agreement, if there wasn’t an underlying effort to replace her with a trendy new tourist-focused replacement?
This community has rich long time traditions, one of those is The Flower Lady, part of the fabric of this community. Right there proudly visible during the 4th of July, Christmas parades and under the tree lighting.ceremony. She has hired our students for part time work, provided bouquets for residents in times of joy, celebrations, graduations and comfort during times of sadness.
Listen to the community.
If the way the city had been accepting the rent payments for the past 45 years wasn’t working, perhaps communicating that directly should have been the first step. Offer a one-year extension with the new expectations clearly outlined. I have a feeling that some tourist-facing stand will be popping up there instead, which does not serve the residents at all.
She doesn’t sound like a “friend” of Coronado and keeping the charm of this village. How much do they charge for a piece of pavement?
I have been going to The flower stand since I moved here in the 80’s!
The public wants her there… this “Friend” person sounds bitter and unfriendly!
Something doesn’t sound right here….getting rid of the flower lady.