By Bob Bong
Mitchell’s Orland Park Flowers will celebrate its 50th anniversary later this month, but the flower shop’s roots date back much farther.
The shop at 14309 S. Beacon Ave. will celebrate its anniversary on Saturday, September 30.
Mitchell said the Orland Park location is one of the longest-tenured retail businesses in the village and the shop has grown along with the town, which has changed from a sleepy train stop to a booming suburb.
“We’ll invite some old staff but the anniversary will be an open house and everybody is invited,” said David Mitchell, whose grandfather and his brother set the family on the flower shop path in 1916 when they opened Southtown Flowers in the Park Manor neighborhood of Chicago.
The family business survived Prohibition, the Great Depression and two world wars.
Mitchell’s dad, George, and his uncle Ted, decided to expand the business to Orland Park because many of their customers were moving to the southwest suburbs.
They found an older home set up on “Beacon Hill” and decided to transform the charming farmhouse into a flower shop.
A few months of hard work later, their idea was a reality, and Mitchell’s Orland Park Flowers opened in September of 1973.
Ted and George focused on their strengths. Ted ran the garden center and George operated the design room.
George’s mother-in-law, Pat Nielsen, would run the Orland Park shop in the morning while George opened the shop in the city. He would drive out to Orland Park where he would work the afternoon and evenings. After a few years of commuting, George and Ted split the business and George with his wife Nancy became sole owners of the Orland Park location.
By the mid-‘80s, the Orland Park shop was not large enough to support the ever-growing business. A large design center and cooler were added to the original structure to double the size of the building.
A spacious loft was created above the design room that became a year-round Christmas shop run by Nancy. The Christmas shop had 15 Christmas trees all filled with keepsake ornaments from around the world.
That space is now utilized as a wedding and event consultation lounge.
Mitchell’s typically designs florals for over 100 special events, including weddings, showers, funerals and memorials throughout the year.
Mitchell said his mom likes to say the shop is here “for every reason and every season.”
The shop has always been a local family affair. Dave Mitchell, grew up in Palos Heights, and is president and runs day-to-day operations. His brother, Dan, manages the floral design center. Their sister, Patty, helps with weddings and special events.
Dave’s wife, Megan, manages their second location in Hinsdale.
George’s granddaughters Jenna and Samantha get into the act and help out on weekends and holidays.
“Dad is 85 years old and he comes in when he wants to. He’s in most every day,” Mitchell said.
His mom retired from the shop in 2020 but is busy with volunteer work and community service.
“She works with the Palos Park and Palos Heights Woman’s Clubs,” he said. “She helps fundraise for McCord House and the Crisis Center, which she helped found.
“The Mitchell family is proud of the 50 years we have served our Orland Park community and we thank our loyal customers in return for their support and their business,” Mitchell said. “We hope that we will be able to continue that service for many years to come.”
For information, call 708-349-3451, email mitchellsflowers@att.net or visit www.mitchellsfloral.com