St. Phelomene Botanica appears to be some kind of religious artifact / worship establishment that’s been doing business for some time in what is now the Payless Food plaza at the end of Margate Blvd. Neighboring business owners are at a loss for words over what exactly this business does. “I hardly ever see anyone in there,” said one local.
A basket full of what looks like about $100 in singles and change has been within a yard of St. Phelomene Botanica’s open door for weeks now, along with a piece of layer cake and a large pan full of liquid with some type of unidentifiable brown spew suspended in the middle. These are gifts of worship, say passerbys.
On three occasions, I arrived at St. Phelomene Botanica to ask about the owner's mission, only to find the person behind the counter asleep all three times. The Margate CRA, which oversees the property, said they asked St. Phelomene Botanica to keep their door closed, so the rotting cake wouldn't attract pigeons; apparently to no avail.