WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) – A staple of the Wichita community is reaching a historic milestone this week. Tilly’s Flower Center, the second-oldest business in the city, is celebrating its 150th anniversary on August 14th.
To mark a century and a half of serving local families, the family-owned shop is giving back to the community in a big way: handing out 60,000 roses to customers and honoring local non-profits.
A Century and a Half of Family Legacy
The history of Tillie’s Flower Center stretches back to 1876, when current owner Kenneth’s grandfather first established the business as a greenhouse. Among his grandfather’s was Tillie, Kenneth’s mother, who joined the business and introduced her true passion to the shop in the mid-1920s: cut flowers.
Under Tillie’s influence, the business evolved into the Harry Street Greenhouse and Flower Shop, and eventually, Tillie’s Flowers. After Tillie passed away in 1975, Kenneth and his wife took over the operations. Today, the legacy continues to bloom as Kenneth’s daughter runs the daily operations, keeping the business in the family for a fourth generation…