Business Spotlight: Flowers Cafe
Kaiser Richter, owner of Flowers Cafe
Blog by Courtney Adams, Photos by Kat St. Martin
Flowers Cafe
39 Essex Street
NOTE (Aug 2025): We interviewed Kaiser about Flowers Cafe back in the spring, as they were in the midst of some renovation. We were excited to share the spotlight once they re-opened. Unfortunately, Kaiser has decided to not re-open his business. While readers won't be able to try Flowers' delicious menu, or experience Kaiser's incredibly generous and friendly hospitality, we still wanted to share the story of Flowers' Cafe and highlight the challenging realities of owning a small business.
We know that this is a chapter in the inspiring book that is the story of Kaiser's entrepreneurship. Kaiser Richter provided a bounty to so many, including a community far too often overlooked by culinary tourism trends. For all of life's occasions, Kaiser is proof that flowers are the very best gift. And we can't wait to see what blooms are in store next!
Flowers Cafe Team
Flowers are a gift intended to make their recipient feel special. And, the aptly named Flowers Cafe does just that. ‘Going above and beyond’ may be a cliché in job descriptions or hustle culture, but for Flowers Cafe and owner Kaiser Richter, it’s simply their way of doing business. And, this much is immediately clear before even stepping foot inside, as both guests and passers-by are welcomed with a vertical garden of lush, colorful blooms. Every decision about Flowers Cafe, from the ambiance, the quality of ingredients, and the philosophy behind the menu, is made to inspire feelings of value and belonging within its clientele.
In his mission to make his guests feel valued and special, you can’t help but notice that Kaiser Richter is remarkable on his own. And, if the vibes of Flowers Cafe aren’t enough proof, Kaiser’s New York City journey certainly is. While visiting as a tourist from his native Germany in 2015, “I fell in love with the city,” shared Kaiser. With nostalgia, he recalled, “My phone wasn’t great with directions, so there I was with my phone and a paper map! Someone asked if I needed help, and that impressed me a great deal.” Kaiser’s New York City holiday ended; and he returned to Frankfurt, Germany. “Once I got back to my hometown, I couldn’t help but think back on that fateful interaction! I wanted to return to New York City.” And, that he did. “Beginning in 2015, I began visiting twice a year. By 2020, I officially began the process of moving here, which became official in 2022.”
For most of us, moving to a new country would be the ‘big thing’ we did in a calendar year. But for Kaiser, he knew he wanted to give back to the city that made him feel so welcome. A career mixologist and restaurateur, Kaiser decided to take over Flowers Cafe, which was previously under different ownership. While 2022 brought about the relaxation of some Covid restrictions, Kaiser had no choice but to hit the ground running with Flowers Cafe, as he had taken over quite a bustling business. “When I took over in 2022, the business was doing well. But it has gotten slower and slower, especially with inflation. In 2022, we were getting a lot of corporate orders. This has slowed down as a result of a lot of companies having remote work options.”
While 2022 wasn’t the peak of the pandemic, Covid’s lingering effects pushed Kaiser to refine his ability to adapt—and he certainly has. For Kaiser, a chance visit became the shift he needed to find his footing in a new direction. “My cousin’s son was visiting me from Germany. He could not find a lot of food because he didn’t eat pork. Having high-quality and affordable halal food became the priority. So, in June of 2023, we replaced our pork products with beef. Officially, we turned halal in August of 2023.”
Flowers, like plants, need more than just water to grow—they need soil, sunlight, and space to take root. In short, they need a community to reach their full potential. And, therein lay the key for Kaiser to forge a unique identity as a New York City restaurateur. He knew for the halal transition to be successful, he needed the buy-in of his clientele. “I had customers come in to try samples and I asked for their opinions. It took me a little while to find the right product and vendors.”
But with this feedback, he did. And as a result, he unlocked dreams he’d been holding onto for years. “My background has always been in the hospitality industry. In Germany, I started as a bartender in a cocktail bar when I was 18, and by 19, I had been promoted to manager. But even then, I wanted to be a part of a healthy restaurant concept.” With relief, Kaiser shared, “Not having to carry a guilty conscience that we’re serving something possibly unhealthy is a great feeling. This was something that would worry me sometimes in my previous career, especially about alcohol.” Now his menu is abundant in nutritious and tasty food options.
Kaiser ensures there’s ease in eating healthy by how delicious his food is. “The bacon, egg, and cheese is our best-selling breakfast sandwich with the second best one being the breakfast burrito.” Kaiser added, “I think people like these sandwiches best because they’re the typical New Yorker breakfast items.” And with an element of pride, Kaiser continued, “We replaced pork bacon with beef bacon. Beef makes for delicious bacon, which adds a lot to our sandwiches.”
Full disclosure that it’s probably not wise to talk to Kaiser about his menu on an empty stomach. Otherwise, you’ll be planning your next sandwich roster before your conversation ends. ‘Be My Beef’ is now a popular sandwich. It’s packed with beef salami, beef bacon, pepper-jack cheese, buffalo dressing, and spicy mustard.” And, spoken like a business owner who truly understands not only his clientele but the world around him, Kaiser added, “Another popular item would be ‘The Bandstand’ sandwich. It is at a cheaper price point, so it’s more budget-friendly. It has turkey breast, beef bacon, avocado spread, hummus, and cheddar cheese.”
The New Yorker in me couldn’t help but be surprised that the word ‘avocado’ could be included in anything budget-friendly. Kaiser laughed, “It has tons of flavor! But it’s popular at month-end when bills pile up, while ‘Be my Beef’ is a hit at the start of the month when people have a little extra to spend.”
Speaking of which, addressing the elephant in the room of food cost goes without saying. For many, filling their refrigerators poses a financial challenge, yet, Kaiser’s menu is full of wholesome, yet decadent items at attainable price points. “We have not raised our prices for the last four years. Even when we transitioned to halal, we kept the price points the same for our in-house customers, only adjusting our prices ever-so-slightly for delivery orders.”
While Kaiser prioritizes quality control by trying everything, there’s one thing he’s glad to leave off the menu—a metaphorical too-full plate. “I am so happy to now be working during daytime hours only.” Kaiser added, “Thankfully, we recently changed our operating hours so that I’m able to leave for 3pm and have the rest of the day to myself. It is really nice to have that work-life balance back.” Even when discussing his operating hours, one can sense measurable relief.
“Not for a single day do I regret doing what I did--moving to New York City from Germany. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”
Speaking of communities that make flowers grow beautifully, it is here that Kaiser found the most support when the going got tough. “I was so busy before, that I didn’t know about external resources. Now, because of people like Yoshiko Sakuma, the owner of my neighboring business, The Rabbit House, I realize I am not alone. She told me all about Welcome to Chinatown. Things got really tight recently; and, before this, the only resources I had were the ones I brought with me from Germany.” But now? Kaiser allowed himself to trail off a bit in reflection. And with all of Kaiser’s measurable warmth and hospitality, it’s clear he’s among the very community he discusses so affectionately.
“Now, I am reminded of how the Chinatown community of businesses are here for one another. We get to know each other. The community of business owners here, from Grand Street to Canal Street, to here on Essex? We are connected. We talk and share our experiences. I learn something new every day simply because of how supportive people are of one another.”
Perhaps that helpful, serendipitous passerby who helped Kaiser navigate New York City all those years ago saw what we all do. Like the vibrancy of his restaurant’s namesake, Kaiser guarantees no one leaves him without feeling valued. When made with love, no matter the menu, the result is always the fullest, most vibrant blooms.
