Mattie Bush-Martin started Amelia’s Flowers back in 2016 selling floral arrangements out of the bed of a VW van. As more and more Nashvillians discovered Bush-Martin’s build-your-own bouquets, fresh arrangements and workshops, her business kept growing. Now, Amelia’s Flowers is bringing in some expertise from Bush-Martin’s husband, Taylor Martin for an entirely new kind of venture.
Martin has alway been a foodie and opening a craft beer bar was always something he wanted to do. For the last few years, Martin has worked for a Nashville-based alcohol company, deepening his understanding of the industry and helping develop his taste for certain beers. Now, Martin is leaning on his background in alcohol and his wife’s experience in hospitality to create Pont Neuf Flower Bar.
What Now Nasvhille connected with Martin to learn more about the new bar.
“Given our backgrounds, opening Pont Neuf Flower Bar felt like the logical next step for us,” said Martin. “We’ve always enjoyed hosting people and frequenting restaurants when our wallets allow. We are very excited to be doing this.”
Pont Neuf Flower Bar will be located within L&L Market. Beer and wine menus will be on rotation. In addition to offering florally-inspired cocktails, there will be some light prepared foods. Visitors to the bar will also have the option to make floral arrangements while having a beverage or light meal.
During the day, the space will serve as an Amelia’s Flower Studio with enough seating for client meetings and bouquet-building workshops.
The name of the bar takes inspiration from the Pont Neuf bridge in Paris which is where Mattie and Taylor eloped a few years ago. They got married on the Île de la Cité, a small island in the middle of the Seine river. The duo invited friends and family to join in their celebration, but before the formal cermony they rented out a florist’s shop nearby for their rehearsal dinner. Alongside their loved ones, Mattie and Taylor enjoyed drinks surrounded by a vibrant palette of petals and leaves. Now, they hope to keep the party going and bring a similar ambiance to their new bar on the other side of the Atlantic.
“I want Pont Neuf Flower Bar to feel the same way that I want to feel when I travel to a new place,” said Martin. “I hope people will come in and feel like they are among friends. We want this to be a welcoming, not pretentious space.”
At this time, the team at Pont Neuf Flower Bar is waiting on approval for several permits. Martin shared that Pont Neuf Flower Bar aims to open in this fall.
