Laszlo Breitenbach opened up Leslie’s Prop Shop on November 28.

Laszlo, originally from Hungary but now living in Stratford, decided to name his shop with the Anglican translation of his name: Leslie. 

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Having moved from Hungary in 2015, Laszlo lived in Romford for a short time in 2019 before moving to Stratford later that year.

Laszlo claims that his stock consists mainly of rare plants (Image: Leslie’s Prop Shop)“A lot of people are surprised that a plant shop has opened,” Laszlo said.

“Many people come in to look around and congratulate me. I have had the opportunity to talk to a few shop owners and they have all wished us good luck.

“I think I opened my shop in a great place.”

He said his family “really love” Romford and visit the market and other places there.

On his shop, he said: “It’s slowly becoming a little greenhouse that many people will love.

“Lots of people have come to congratulate me and wish me good luck, which makes me very happy.”

Laszlo explained his lifelong passion for growing and looking after plants, even meeting his partner in a Hungarian flower shop. 

In August this year he decided to develop this hobby into an online business, selling plants on eBay and Etsy before opening the store in late November.

“I’ve just started my business, but I think I’ve found my calling and what I want to do for a very long time,” he said.

Laszlo described the shop as slowly becoming ‘a little greenhouse’ (Image: Leslie’s Prop Shop) “I pay great attention to everything, especially the selection of my stock. I source only quality plants from growers.

“My stock consists mainly of special, rare and uncommon plants.”

Laszlo is eager to keep his business operations as green as his plants so has recently joined the Too Good To Go app, where people can pick up cuttings and bundles of plants that would otherwise go to waste.

He also noted how he would love to host plant care workshops in the near future. 

“I would love to hold workshops from the beginning of the year, or to meet with artisan traders who need a place to hold workshops or a place to show off their products.”