One day Cindy Lopez called Merrillville Florist and Tea Room to purchase some flowers. Instead, she purchased the shop.
A Northwest Indiana native, Lopez had always wanted to own a flower shop. That dream became her reality when the Merrillville Florist and Tea Room went up for sale in late 2019.
“We essentially took over the business in late 2019. I’ve been a long-time customer of the Merrillville Florist and Tea Room for about 15 years. I even had my bridal shower in the tearoom,” Lopez said. “The previous owner and I would talk, and we would joke that when she’s ready to retire she should sell the shop to me.”
However, Lopez’s journey to purchasing the shop wasn’t that simple. In fact, Lopez was not even aware the previous owner was retiring when the shop went up for sale.
“I was working as a campaign director for 15 years and the congressman I was working for announced he was retiring. Around that time, I ordered flowers and I was told I had to set up my account again because they sold the shop. It kind of hurt a little bit, here I have been expressing interest for years and I didn’t even know they were for sale,” Lopez said.
Despite her surprise, Lopez still called the previous owner to express her congratulations.
“I called up the previous owner and I said, ‘gosh I am so happy for you that you get to retire, I just thought I had a chance.’ She then told me that the sale fell through that morning,” Lopez said.
Not even 20 minutes later Lopez was doing a walk-through of the shop and tearoom before purchasing the business.
“I felt it from the first moment I stepped through the doors here. It just has this historical feel to it, it’s kind of a whimsical combination of businesses with the flower shop and tearoom. It kind of transports you. I love it so much here,” Lopez said.
Lopez enjoys many aspects of owning her own floral shop and tearoom. One of the positives is that she now has an outlet to support other small, local businesses.
“A great thing about owning a business is being able to really put the time and thought into what kind of products we carry in our gift shop. To support other local businesses this way is really great,” Lopez said.
She also enjoys working with her staff.
“The personalities and the talent that we have, it really feels like we’re a family here and I feel as if everyone who is here is here because they want to be and that really comes through in the customers’ experience as well,” Lopez said.
However, according to Lopez, the best part of her job is the customers she gets to interact with.
“My favorite part about being here is interacting with the customers. I get to be a part of special occasions and significant moments of their lives whether it is friends reuniting or a bridal shower in the tearoom or buying flowers for a wedding or the loss of a loved one,” she said.
Lopez is always looking for new ways to connect with her customers. For example, early in the COVID-19 pandemic when many businesses were shut down, Merrillville Florist and Tea Room came up with the idea of a costumed Easter Delivery.
“My husband dressed up as the Easter bunny and he did all of our Easter deliveries in that costume,” Lopez said, “It really took off and people got so much enjoyment out of it. We’re always trying new creative ways to connect with people which adds that extra touch to what we do here.”
Lopez is excited about the future of her shop and expanding its offerings. The shop has begun to offer workshops and classes, and she plans on doing a farmers market next summer.
“We’re looking forward to growing with new opportunities and bringing more events here, making it a really fun place for friends and family to get together," Lopez said.
In her free time, Lopez loves to take her two golden retrievers on hikes and adventures, gardening, and spending family time with her husband and two stepsons.