Bakers and Florists Talk Love and Anti-Love Traditions

“This is our Super Bowl week!”

The excitement came from design consultant Laura Kucera of in South Chicago Heights as she made floral bouquets and prepared small gifts for customers Saturday. As Kucera continued her Valentines Day work, Kenneth Stanker stopped by, as he usually does, to pick up some flowers for his Valentine of several years, his late wife Arlene. 

“I came here to The Flower Depot to order funeral flowers for my late wife, I came back to thank these ladies, and [I] now come back every other day,” said Stanker, who puts a rose on his wife’s grave frequently. “Right now, I put a rose by her picture.”

As Stanker’s eyes welled up with tears, Kucera made him a cup of coffee, set a plate of cookies in front of him and offered encouraging words.

As Kucera packaged his roses, Stanker told The Flower Depot ladies, “My wife always preferred pink roses, but for Valentines Day it’s going to be one pink one and one red one.”

Armida Melone, owner of Armida Florist in Chicago Heights said she has her own way of describing the February holiday.

“Valentines Day is about your husband, your children,” the florist said. “It’s a love day.”

Melone said quality is the key to her business.

“We have repeat customers,” Melone said. “I buy premium flowers. I buy flowers every other day so they are always fresh. A customer has told me her roses lasted eight days. Our designs are never the same, that’s why I never get tired of arranging flowers.”

For Valentines Day has a variety of flowers and plants decorated and still has local delivery available. The florist, which opened up at 9 a.m. today, has been serving Chicago Heights and its surrounding communities for 33 years.

Down the road in South Chicago Heights, Valentine cakes and doughnuts were flying off the trays at Hi-Way Bakery.

“We don't do well in holiday bakery items,” said Hi-Way owner John Koester, referring to the business's cookie sales, but doughnuts and cakes are a different story.

Everything at Hi-Way Bakery is homemade and reasonably priced, according to Koester. Doughnuts are less than a dollar and Valentine cookies are 85 cents and $1.25. Already Hi-Way Bakery is selling Paczkis along with apple fritters and almond pretzels. 

For those who don’t have a Valentine or want to lose one, Koester has come up with a bit of an unusual item, his un-Valentine cookies, with such phrases as “kiss my [expletive]” and “love sucks” written on them. 

opens up on Valentines Day and every day except Christmas at 5 a.m.

Chicago Heights and South Chicago Heights have gifts of every taste for your Valentine, or not.

Check out our Viewfinder series Thursday for more Valentines Day photos of these Heights businesses.