Flower Child, located in Columbus and Lakewood, is a true vintage store with items like furniture, art, and clothing dating back to the 1930s to the 1980s. The shop is more than just a vintage store; it feels like a museum filled with familiar pieces from the past. Walking into Flower Child feels like stepping back in time. The store is vibrant and inviting, immediately capturing attention and reflecting the unique character of Lakewood.
The term “Flower Child” is slang for a young person in the 1960s who rejected mainstream values for peace, love and nonconformity, often by promoting and embracing simple living, art and music. Flower Child owner Joe Valenti said the name is deeply personal “I was born in the 1960s in Haight-Ashbury in San Francisco, California so my parents were flower children.”
That philosophy carries into the business itself. “I’m the bridge between somebody who has passed away, I’m that middle person until the next person buys it … most people don’t come in here because of value, they come in because they love vintage,” Valenti said.
After 26 years on Clifton Boulevard, Flower Child recently relocated up the street to West 117th Street. While the original location had lots of charm, it was small and cramped. “We outgrew it, we were there for twenty-six years, and it came down to wanting everything on one level so that everybody can enjoy what we do. Anyone can come in a wheelchair, a walker, or a cane. It’s more inclusive, so everyone can get that same experience,” Valenti said.
The new location is very spacious, yet it still keeps its charm that the city loves. Upon entering, customers are greeted by displays of vintage coats, jewelry and sunglasses. The next room features eclectic furniture from various eras, including couches, coffee tables and lamps, with some matching sets designed to make living spaces feel bold and expressive.
Toward the back of the store is the largest room, which houses most of the clothing and dressing rooms. Racks are filled with leather jackets, vintage Cleveland Browns and Cavaliers apparel, and sweatshirts from past decades. Customer Maddie Tomasik said “I absolutely love the clothes, I found a bunch of cool stuff, I mean, I had this sweatshirt when I was in the fourth grade, and I found it on the shelf, and I can’t wait to wear it again.”
In addition to clothing and furniture, Flower Child offers a large selection of vinyl records like Diana Ross, Elvis Presley, and The Doobie Brothers. They really have something for everyone, whether it be a bright red couch or something nostalgic you once owned, Flower Child truly is one of a kind, where everyone can find something they resonate with.
Flower Child is unlike any other vintage store. Items range from chandeliers to business-casual clothing, all maintained in pristine condition, you name it, they’ve got it. The shop also holds high standards for everything that they sell. The shop operates exclusively as a brick-and-mortar business with two in-person locations and no online store, relying solely on word of mouth which makes it unique.
Leslie Jones, manager of the Lakewood location, said, “We recycle and repurpose. They have things that they are no longer using, and we reuse them … even if people don’t collect things and they come in by a happy accident, they see things from their childhood, things that remind them of their mother or a grandmother, things that make them happy.” Flower Child deeply cares about the things that they take because every item has a story behind it.
Every item at Flower Child carries a story. Each piece enters the shop with a past and leaves with a new owner, beginning a new chapter. The store is more than a vintage shop; it is a place where memories are preserved, shared and passed on.
