By Gus Saltonstall
New York Knicks mania has taken over the city, including the Columbus Avenue bear on the corner of West 82nd Street.
The 1,000-pound wooden bear has been a fixture of the block for a decade and is connected to Q Florist, at 447 Columbus Avenue, between West 81st and 82nd streets.
While the bear has been around for 10 years, Q Florist has served customers at its Upper West Side storefront for more than 60 years. The business is run by the Bazas family, specifically by Constantine, the son, and Nick, the father. The shop was opened in 1968 by Nick’s father, Gus Bazas, who sold flowers from a cart on Central Park West before opening the store.
“We wanted to support the Knicks. It’s the playoffs. Everyone has been coming by and taking pictures, yelling out ‘Let’s Go, Knicks,'” Constantine told West Side Rag about the bear’s current look.
While WSR spoke to Nick and Constantine, two families with children came up to the bear to take a photo.
“We were putting flowers on the 82nd Street corner and then my father came across an artist who was chainsawing wooden bear sculptures, and said, ‘you know what, I’m going to buy one,'” Constantine said. “So, we bought the bear and gave it a home on that corner. We don’t get any money from it, we just wanted to give something fun to the community. The kids especially like it.”
The bear gets a handful of outfit changes each year., Nick said
The bear has been a baseball player, a fisherman, a doctor, Cupid, Smokey the Bear, a football referee, and Captain Bearmerica, among other iterations.
Q Florist sells flower bouquets, arrangements, loose flowers, and plants, and also has event packages for a variety of celebrations.
You can find out more about Q Florist on its website or its Instagram.
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The man and I walked past this the other day, we were wondering if it was the Bear Bar bear, lol!
I have thought exactly the same thing. I miss the Bear Bar so much. It was the last truly wild place on the Upper Westside. Bring back those crazy, raucous good times!
Is the bear at all connected to the old Bear Bar that was near their shop? A question I have had for awhile.
That’s what I always assumed, too!
Thanks to the Bazos family for adding joy and charm to the street scene. I remember conversations with grandfather Gus about caring for plants, and his always survived my dark apartment. UWS stores come and go, but Q Florist is a neighborhood icon. May Nick and Constantine continue to prosper.
I do love that bear! He adds so much charm to the neighborhood!
Thank you for the Bear! It’s always a pleasure to see your creativity ! Great fun!
Thanks Bazas family!
Let’s go Knicks!!
I live nearby and the bear is absolutely delightful. I’ve also purchased several special bouquets from Q Florist that they designed and they were beautiful, thank you!
My kids love this bear! Every time we bike by they want to stop and see what it’s wearing.
I have been a customer of Q Florist for many many years. I adore them! Good quality, great service. Can’t ask for much more! Highly recommend them.
Q Florist embodies the BEST of the UWS and NYC. They are so KIND, CARING, CUSTOMER FOCUSED and have GORGEOUS flowers & seasonal window displays. As a small local biz, they need to be supported!!! Their value to the neighborhood cannot be overstated!
Wasn’t the Bear Bar on Broadway near 76th st, east side of the street?