Palmer Florist owners celebrate love

WESTCHESTER – It's not surprising that Valentine's Day is one of the busiest days of the year for flower shops. But at Palmer Florist in Westchester, love is celebrated every single day. That's because owners John Kowalczyk and his longtime partner, Tamara Church, not only bring their love of flowers to the shop, but also their love for each other.

“We are together all day and night. We don’t go anywhere without each other. If he’s not next to me, I don’t feel good,” said Church, 57, who came to the United States from Russia in 1999. “I love his personality, and he’s a good-looking guy.”

The couple has been together since 2009 after meeting on the online dating site, match.com, in 2006. Both divorced with children, they initially hit it off, but because of her work as a flight attendant, they weren’t able to spend much time together. After losing touch for a few years, they reconnected, and the rest is history. Church is no longer working as a flight attendant and has been a fixture at the shop for many years.

Church said while she never had any experience working with flowers before meeting Kowalczyk, she loves every minute at the shop.

“I’ve worked here for six years, and I like it very much,” she said. “It’s emotional. We deliver emotions, sometimes happy, sometimes sad, but it’s very exciting. People keep coming back again and again because of the quality of our flowers and for our employees.”

Sales and marketing manager Karen Braswell enjoys working with the couple, whom she says are wonderful with the customers.

“They’re partners in life and in business,” she said. “They brought their love story here. They’re very different but very compatible, and they show affection for each other in their own unique way. They’re never apart.”

Kowalczyk, 60, bought Palmer Florist 26 years ago from the daughter of one of his friends when the shop was located at Roosevelt Road and Clinton Avenue in Berwyn. He remained there until 2012, when the property was sold to Culver’s. Kowalczyk then moved his business to Westchester, and it’s now a 1-800-FLOWERS franchise. In addition to farm-fresh flowers, Palmer Florist also sells hand-dipped chocolates, fresh fruit arrangements, plush toys and other gifts.

The Naperville resident had never worked with flowers prior to purchasing the shop, but his friend convinced him to get into the business, which Kowalczyk says has changed tremendously over the years.

“When I bought the shop, everything was done by hand, and the internet has changed the whole business,” he said. “We get a lot of online orders, and people can see photos of the arrangements so they know exactly what they want.”

Despite the explosion of online shopping, it’s the personal connection with the customers that keeps places like Palmer Florist in business. Braswell said the shop has been a part of the community for so long that the customers are more like friends.

“We hear their stories, and they’re heartfelt. We’re here for our community,” she said. “There’s a legacy here. We’re part of the fabric of the community, and we care about each other. This is a wonderful, family-owned business and just a unique place.”

And now, Kowalczyk and Church are gearing up for one of the busiest times of the year.

Kowalczyk said 80 to 90 percent of their Valentine’s Day customers are men who are “buying flowers to impress their ladies.” The most popular flowers for the holiday are roses and calla lilies, he said.

The couple hasn’t been able to celebrate Valentine’s Day very often over the years because they’re both so busy with the shop, but the one time they did attempt to celebrate, it didn’t go very well, Church said.

“In 2009, he sent me flowers for Valentine’s Day, but I was out of the country. The holidays are challenging for us,” Church said with a laugh.

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If you go

What: Palmer Florist

Where: 1926 S. Mannheim Road, Westchester

Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, closed Sunday

Info: palmerflorist.com