Iconic Flower Shop to Celebrate 62nd Anniversary
In this week's Past Lives we look at a former Special Forces soldier and FAA official who've been managing Marge's Flowers for 38 years.
Ron and Gloria Kalmes have been managing Marge's Flowers in downtown Skokie for more than 38 years. This April, the couple will be celebrating the store's 62nd anniversary.
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This April, Marge's Flowers will be celebrating something that most small business owners' only dream of: Their 62nd anniversary.
Originally owned by Marge Kalmes and then passed on to son and daughter in-law Ron and Gloria Kalmes, Marge’s Flowers sits at 8038 Lincoln Ave., which is considered by many as the cornerstone street in downtown Skokie.
Yet before the couple began working in the flower trade the two both had unique backgrounds. Ron served in the United States Army. Gloria, on the other hand, worked at the Federal Aviation Administration for 15 years.
“I had a very good job,” Gloria said. “Ron and I were getting married and he needed some assistance at his mom’s flower business."
That flower business started when Ron’s mom was pregnant with him in 1950. Unfortunately, his mother passed away after managing the store for several decades.
“She got to see the 60th anniversary,” Gloria said. “The store was decorated with [more flowers than usual]. At least she got to see that."
Since then, Gloria and her husband have taken over and it’s been 38 years since they’ve been at the helm. While Ron grew up working at his mother's store, Gloria almost had no experience. So, she took a flower designing class and studied under her mother-in-law to learn the trade, she said.
While she learned a good amount about the trade from her new family, Gloria was able to bring some of her skills from the FAA over to Marge’s Flowers, she said.
“I love all people,” she said. “I had won an award with the FAA – it was the first HR award. I like to work with people; right here with my employees and with the customers. I know most of the customer's addresses and names by heart.”
As with any flower business, weddings are a big part of business.
“We’ve had a lot of repeat weddings where we do their weddings and then we end up doing their children’s weddings,” Gloria said. “That’s always nice to see.”
Read more: Check out previous Past Lives here
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Erika Maurer Hopper
11:12 am on Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Marge's Flowers is the best! I really miss going there as I live in Michigan now. Gloria is a wonderful woman, Congratulations!
Scott Holtz
12:23 pm on Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Another of Downtown Skokie's finest!
Tricia Wolak
2:46 pm on Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Marge's Flowers has the best and most beautiful flowers ever.....and even better service! My family and I have been ordering from them for years. The Owners are amazing as are all of their employees!!!! I wouldn't order flowers from any other shop!