If you've bought flowers in the Chicago area anytime since the
late 1960's, you probably bought them from Fabbrini's. One
customer recently came in the store and told us that she was
"buying some Fabbrinis" since to her, Fabbrini's was synonymous
with flowers. To us, that's the ultimate compliment, and one we've
worked hard to earn over the years.
Our story starts in 1966, when Kathy Fabbrini decided to open a
small retail boutique store carrying fine gifts. She did not see
many customers for the first two months and decided to add a
cooler to carry fresh flowers. Her first wholesale purchase was
for 100 green carnations for St Patrick's Day. She sold them all
and knew she was on the right track.
She named her store Brass & Glass. In 1968, we changed our store
name to Fabbrini's Flowers and Gifts. By 1972, she had the
business humming and sought out another challenge. This was right
about the time Woodfield Mall was breaking ground. Kathy got an
SBA loan for $200,000 and prayed that the Taubman Company would
choose Fabbrini's Flowers to be the mall's exclusive florist. We
were told by Woodfield executives that we won that contract and
beat out 10 other florists including Phillips Flowers.
By 1980, Fabbrini's Flowers grew to be the exclusive florist of
the Hoffman Estates/Schaumburg area. We sold flowers at Popular
Creek Music Theatre and provided flowers for every band that
preformed there including Billy Joel, Elton John, REO Speedwagon,
Jimmy Buffet, Frank Sinatra, Bon Jovi, Areosmith, Journey, and
Wayne Newton, to name a few.
In 1988, Kathy and her husband, Joe decided to retire and passed
the flower torch to their son, Jim. Jim's philosophy has always
been to "give it away". For the past fifteen years, Jim has handed
out over a quarter of a million roses to those who come to watch
both the 4th of July and Septemberfest parades in Hoffman Estates,
to movie goers at AMC theatre, and other well-attended events in
the community.
To make sure that Fabbrini's Flowers still continues to bloom, Jim
actively seeks out ways to expand the business. For example, he
recently started bringing the store's products to you, our
customers, where you need them the most: at your high schoolers'
graduation ceremonies, your kids' dance & ice recitals and other
important performances. We love being able to be a part of your
special days.
Jim has also expanded store hours, widened the store's delivery
area and added point of sale computers to the shop brand. These
changes still reflect the tradition of exemplary customer service
that his parents started so long ago and are a reason why
Fabbrini's Flowers has become the oldest continuous business in
Hoffman Estates.
In fact, Jim's brand of customer service landed Fabbrini's Flowers
on the cover of Floral Management magazine as an example for all
florists to follow. Fabbrini's Flowers has also received the
coveted "Best Wedding" award from The Knot for best wedding
florist in Chicagoland for years 2008, 2011, 2012 and 2013.
Although he's proud of these past accomplishments, Jim Fabbrini
knows that such success is built one customer at a time and
remains focused on helping each customer he meets.