CHAMPAIGN — The old Rick Orr Florist space won't be vacant for long.

Fleurish, a flower shop now in downtown Urbana, will move to the Rick Orr space at 122 N. Walnut St., C, in a few weeks, shop owner Sarah Compratt said.

"I'm hoping to be open by Sept. 1," she said.

Compratt, who grew up in Champaign, said she liked her space at 110 S. Race St., U, but was "sentimental" about the Rick Orr building.

"Rick Orr was our family florist," she said, adding she likes the walk-in cooler and the big cooler display windows gracing the 123-year-old building.

Fleurish, which opened in February 2009, does a lot of arrangements for weddings, anniversaries, bar mitzvahs and corporate functions. Compratt said she hopes that, with the move to Champaign, she can expand the number of bouquets she sells for everyday occasions.

At this point, Fleurish is largely a one-woman business, with Compratt calling on drivers and help only when needed.

An art history major, Compratt moved to the Los Angeles area after receiving her graduate degree. While serving an internship there, she "discovered flowers."

She started working in a flower shop and served floral accounts for businesses. She subsequently worked as designer and manager for a floral business in West Hollywood, Calif., for 14 years.

Jeff Mellander, who owns the Rick Orr Florist building, said he "couldn't be happier" with his new tenant, calling her "delightful and talented."

Mellander said Fleurish would be the third flower shop to occupy the Champaign space. Rick Orr Florist recently closed there after being operated by Rick Orr and Geraldine Tierney for 26 years. Before that, the building was home to Joel Pizzo Florist.

It's the second building in recent weeks where Mellander has found a successor to an established business.

He recently leased the Carmon's building at 415 N. Neil St., C, to Thad Morrow, who is expected to open a restaurant there.

"I had known each of those was coming down the pike, and it's nice to have a rapid transition in each place," he said.