For the latest addition to our Great Gifts of Barrington Guide, we dropped by the Barrington Flower Shop in that cool historic building on Cook Street. They’re in a festive mood these days as floral designers prepare their signature holiday bouquets and other flower and garden inspired gifts for the holidays.
We caught up with owner, Glen Egeland, for some ideas about Great Gifts you can pick up at his shop this year. Floral design is a family business for Glen that started with a Chicago flower shop established in 1919. The Southtown Flower Shop was at 71st and State Street and Glen’s two uncles used to bring him into the shop when he was a boy to help make corsages for the holidays.
Glen was 8-years-old when he first started working with flowers. Today, he owns two of his own flower shops, The Hinsdale Flower Shop and our own Barrington Flower Shop, which has been here for 24 years.
Because Glen is a local flower expert, we asked for his top recommendation for a great gift you can purchase for someone at his Barrington store this year. And he says their holiday bouquet is one of their hottest sellers this month.
“We have smaller sized bouquets in 3-inch square vases for $18 bucks and it’s done up with little Christmas greens in it and berries and a certain kind of a flower, either a rose or a gerber daisy something that’s holiday-ish and we sell a ton of these at Christmas because it makes such a nice hostess gift.”
Glen also says, in the weeks leading up to Christmas, they host “Wine and Design Nights” where you can come to the Barrington Flower Shop from 6 to 9 p.m. and create your own floral designs with friends over wine. Glen leads the event and offers tips on floral design. The cost ranges from $35 to $45 per person.
For more information about “Wine and Design Nights” scheduled between now and Christmas, call the Barrington Flower Shop at 847-382-4090. They’re located in the historic building at 201 S. Cook Street and you can browse their floral selection online at BarringtonFlowerShop.com.
