Unique Views: Bloomingfield's Florist Puts Signature on Decor

The entrance door of Bloomingfield’s Florist and Gifts could be a portal to another soothing place.  Senses wrestle between the sweet smell of flowers and the array of colors found nearly in every angle of the store.

The unique atmosphere prompted renowned artist Sid Dickens to allow his memory block art work to be sold at this location. 

“He only selects certain stores to carry his items,” owner Larry Zona said.  “I was on the list for five years before he came to the store.  If he doesn’t like what your store is about, he won’t sell to you.” 

It was worth the wait. Bloomingfield’s Florist and Gifts is the only store in Orland Park and within a 30-mile radius to sell the memory blocks. The unique merchandise doesn’t stop with Dickens' work. Customers can choose jewelry,  flowers, garden ornaments and even teddy bears. 

The space Bloomingfield’s fills has just as distinct a signature as the other-wordly items they sell. One of Zona’s favorite aspects is the store’s high ceilings that allow him to have a custom floating wooden tree in its own space.  The tree is decorated with little white lights that add a soft glow to the store. 

“I keep the lights on for the whole year,” Zona said.  “At Christmas children are mesmerized by the hanging ornaments. They just come and stare.”

It’s also one of the things he’ll miss most when he leaves Orland Plaza due to the village’s reconstruction project.  Zona hasn’t decided if he’ll take advantage of an incentive program aimed at helping business owners with the financial burdens of .  He is still adjusting to the project itself. 

When Zona opened his business in Orland Park 6 years ago the village hadn’t made definite plans on the project. 

“I was told differently but then it changed as the years went along,” Zona said.  “They said it could probably never happen and then it did happen.  I invested a lot of money in this store not knowing all of that and that’s where I was kind of blinded. You hate to lose your home, especially when you like your space. And this is a really nice store.  In your career, this is probably the best it’s going to get.”

Zona hopes to keep his business, his 10 employees and his passion for design in Orland Park. For 25 years he has operated in the community. He attributes his success to hard work and his abilities in design. 

“Our style of what we do and our style of flowers is what contributed to our growth,” Zona said.  “Ours is different than a lot of shops you see.” 

Zona has produced work when contemporary looks, clean lines or a garden atmosphere was requested and much in between.  The store designs for weddings, funerals, everyday business needs "and every holiday in between,” Zona added.  

The designing aspect of his business drives him. 

“It’s my passion,” Zona said. “I do something different every day.  I’m working on someone’s house and I’m staging myself with the different rooms. We work each room at a time in their home with flowers, pictures, accent, décor vases, candlesticks, etc. We get to know the client and I go thru their house…it’s like HGTV.”

Zona really gets his creative energy flowing during the holiday season. 

“I enjoy Christmas here the most because we have a very unique clientele that we do a lot of interior decorating for…Halloween and Christmas both,” Zona said.  “We are known for that.  I really like buying for the store for those two.  I like picking things out.  I’m very hands on and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Zona has moved locations in Orland Park three times since he originally opened his shop here 25 years ago.  Each time has been to a bigger space.  Although his latest move won’t be by his choice, he hopes to spend the next several holiday seasons in the Orland Park community he calls home.