Mushnik's Florist

For the similarly named store from the animated series, see: Mushnik's Little Shop of Flowers

Mushnik's Florist

Type

Flower Shop

Location

Skid Row

Owner(s)

Mr. Gravis Mushnik

Featured in

The Little Shop of Horrors

Mushnik's Florist (aka Mushnik's Flower Shop) is a small flower shop in Skid Row which notoriously served as the nest of the deadly carnivorous plant-like being known as Audrey Jr.. It is featured in the 1960 horror-comedy film The Little Shop of Horrors and its many subsequent adaptations.

Overview[]

Mushnik's Flower Shop was a simple and unassuming little shop of horticulture owned by Mr. Gravis Mushnik and located in a lowly part of Skid Row.

History[]

Mushnik's was a seemingly mundane little place that sold your usual little flowers, assorted house plants and your standard gardening tools and accessories... that was until the day when the humble but bumbling store clerk, Seymour Krelboin/Krelborn brought to the shop a special plant he acquired from an oriental vendor, a plant which he had dubbed Audrey Jr./II, named after his beloved co-worker Audrey Fulquard and which he hoped would prove to his boss his value at the store.

Initially skeptical of the new plant, Mr. Mushnik allowed Seymour to keep his job on the condition that he could grow it into something more interesting, a decision which would inevitably spell doom for the once mundane little shop, as it soon became evident that little Audrey could only grow if fed blood, causing it to become a truly impressive but horrific sight which attracted customers from all over, greatly boosting business for the once unremarkable little shop.

Things take a turn for the worse though as Seymour's plant displays the ability to speak and begins demanding more blood to hasten its growth. To maintain this success, a desperate Seymour begins feeding Audrey not just his own blood but looking for victims with which to satiate the monstrous plant's appetite, transforming it into a terrifying monstrosity hellbent and consuming as many humans as possible. This eventually forces Seymour to take action against the evil plan in the hopes of putting an end to it once and for all.

Fate[]

There are several fates that befall Mushnik's Florist as well as Seymour and the Audreys due to the various retellings of Seymour's tale:

Mushnik's Florist - The Death of Seymour - 1960 film — Seymour sacrifices himself to kill Audrey Jr.

In the original 1960 film, Audrey wishes to eat as many humans as possible, and so Seymour rebels against Audrey Jr. and succeeds in killing it, but at the cost of his own life as his body was absorbed by the dying plant, transforming him into a withering flower. The police later arrive at the store and discover the truth behind the whole affair.

Mushnik's Florist - Audrey's conquest - 1982 Musical — Audrey consumes Seymour and the rest and destroys Mushnik's

In the 1982 musical, Audrey reveals itself to be an alien entity who wishes to take over the planet, with Audrey II successfully devouring all of its victims, including Seymour who all become its flowers, as well as destroying the store and spreading its offspring to other hapless victims, with the death of the characters serving as an allegory about how Seymour let his own greed consume him.

Audrey_devours_the_world — Audrey devours the world

In the first cut of the 1986 remake, Audrey II is still an alien bent on world conquest and the consumption of humanity much like in the musical. Seymour initially tries to stop Audrey II but his efforts prove in vain and both he and the human Audrey are eaten by Audrey II who then proceeds to destroy Mushnik's store (having even eaten Mushnik himself earlier on). Audrey later sells its offspring to the masses, eventually taking over the entire planet and destroying its cities.

Seymour_destroys_Audrey_II_once_and_for_all — Seymour destroys Audrey II once and for all

In the released 1986 remake and its comic adaptation, Audrey II is still an alien bent on world conquest and the consumption of humanity, much like in the musical, but its plans are thwarted this time thanks to the heroic efforts of Seymour and the human Audrey. However, Mr. Mushnik himself is eaten and his store is presumably closed for good while Seymour and Audrey marry and move away to their ideal home. Despite this happy ending, a single sprout resembling Audrey is shown to have planted itself in the garden of their new home.

Staff[]

Owner[]

Mr. Gravis Mushnik is the greedy and opportunistic owner of Mushnik's Florist. Having come from a long line of florists, Mr. Mushnik was practically born into his career, a career which he is not particularly fond of, and even his employees weren't spared his callousness, taking advantage of them when the need arose. When he was first shown a special carnivorous plant by his employee Seymour, Mr. Mushnik was less than impressed, but after seeing its rapid growth and how quickly it attracted customers, Mr. Mushnik made it the centerpiece for his whole store, earning him great fame and publicity as a result, and even started treating Seymour with a bit more respect, if only for his own benefit.

In the end though, Mr. Mushnik's greed and demands only cause poor Seymour to further fall to the whims of Audrey Jr./II which leads to a series of unfortunate tragedies for all involved.

Employees[]

Mushnik's Florist clerk, Seymour — **Seymour**, clerk at Mushnik's Florist

Seymour Krelboined/Krelborn - A lowly clerk and flower arranger for Mushnik's Florist who often finds himself mistreated by those around him except for his kindly co-worker Audrey, the love of his life who he wishes to be close with above all else. It is this devotion to Audrey as well as his desire to prove himself to Mr. Mushnik that motivates Seymour to raise the monstrous plant Audrey Jr. in the hopes of proving himself to those around him. Unfortunately, his dedication to Audrey Jr. would eventually cause his life to spiral out of control as the creature tries to take control of him, and in some versions of their story, Seymour faces a grim fate at the vines of Audrey Jr. or even doom the whole world due to his actions. But in one more fortunate telling, Seymour is able to defeat Audrey II and marry the love of his life, finally finding happiness.

Mushnik's Florist arranger, Audrey Fulquard — **Audrey Fulquard**, Mushnik's Florist arranger

Audrey Fulquard - A kind and optimistic young woman with a love for gardening and who serves as the store's arrangement maker. She is the apple of Seymour's eyes and his main motivation for working at the store, as well as the namesake for Seymour's monstrous plant. Though she harbors feelings for Seymour, his constant care for Audrey Jr. causes a rift between them, and in some versions of their story, she must witness Seymour suffer a grim fate at the vines of Audrey Jr. or even share in his fate. But in one more fortunate telling, she and Seymour are able to defeat Audrey II and find wedded bliss in "somewhere that's green".

Inventory[]

Mushnik's Florist carried all sorts of plants for every occasion and even offered flower arrangement services, but most of its inventory was made up of flowers, with the typical popular choices like roses, violets, tulips, orchids, lilies and many others lining the store's shelves. Ferns, small trees, shrubs, and other potted plants along with gardening accessories were also readily available.

Audrey Jr./II[]

Star_attraction_of_Mushnik's_Florist,_Audrey_II — Star attraction of Mushnik's Florist, Audrey II

Audrey Jr./II (aka Twoey) was a monstrous carnivorous plant and the former star attraction of Mushnik's Florist. A devious plant of strange origin which Seymour obtained from a mysterious oriental vendor, naming it after the girl of his dreams and hoping to use it to raise his standing with Mushnik by bringing an exotic plant into the store, but unbeknownst to Seymour, this new Audrey was far from an ordinary plant, being a monstrous and voracious creature who sought to devour humanity.

Initially, the plant was not very healthy and would've likely led to the end of Seymour's career if it did not recover, when it suddenly began begging for blood. A desperate Seymour then gave the creature the taste of his own blood, allowing it to become healthy and grow significantly, allowing it to become a truly amazing sight which attracted gaggles of customers to Mushnik's, finally giving Seymour the opportunity he had been waiting for, but at a grave price.

Gallery[]

The original Mushnik's Florist in the 1960 film

Mushnik's Florist as depicted in the 1982 musical

Mushnik's Florist as depicted in the 1986 remake

Mushnik's Florist as depicted in the 1987 comic

Mushnik's Florist as depicted in the 1995 comic

Appearances[]

The Little Shop of Horrors (1960)
Little Shop of Horrors the Musical (1982)
Little Shop of Horrors (1986)
Little Shop of Horrors (Comics) (1987)
Little Shop of Horrors (Photonovel) (1987)
The Little Shop of Horrors Book (1988)
Little Shop (1991) as Mushnik's Little Shop of Flowers
Welcome to the Little Shop of Horrors (Comics) (1995)

Trivia[]

In the original 1960 film, the shop is located in Skid Row, Los Angeles, but in the 1986 remake it is located in Skid Row, New York.
The film's 1991 animated series adaptation Little Shop notably still featured Mushnik's store but as a completely separate entity from its original film and comic incarnations with slightly different names.