By Trent Modglin

Marigold Gift Shop
29 S. Prospect in Park Ridge
ShopEdie.com
224-985-3135

Family history: Amy DeGrazio began working at Wehde Shoes in Park Ridge in 1985 when she was in high school. She would later buy the store from the retiring owners in 1996, at the age of just 26, and her grandmother Edie, who was her fashion influence growing up, would send her articles and ads from different shoe stores to keep Amy on her toes. “She was a proud grandmother, and she always wanted me to be aware of what other people were doing.”

But proud as she was, not even Amy’s grandmother could’ve imagined that Amy would be responsible for opening eight Edie Boutiques and two Marigold Gift Shops in a span of five years. “It was a little fast,” Amy readily admits, looking back with a laugh. “But it was a matter of seizing the opportunities and getting in the right spot. Location is everything, and we had to make sure of that.”

Location certainly was everything when the former Dick Pond space became available last year because the proximity allowed Amy to knock down a wall to connect the new Marigold to her more established Edie, making life easier for clients and staff to seamlessly move back and forth.

Marigold is full of bright colors this season and — with the anticipation of warmer weather — an influx of items perfect for a patio like welcome signs, floral creations, serving dishes and margarita pitchers.

Photo by Nikki Allen Creative

Instant hit: Marigold actually helped carry Edie through the roughest stages of the pandemic because it opened its doors at a time when people weren’t necessarily looking for a new outfit for a dinner outing or company Christmas party, but rather when the focus was on styling their homes and sending gifts to loved ones they hadn’t seen much of outside of an occasional Zoom or FaceTime.

At first glance: This is a beautiful, bright and friendly store that will take you some time to move through simply because of the amount of eye-catching inventory like picture frames, wall art, dishware, candles and an assortment of other home décor.

And thanks to the creative eye of Amy and her staff — as well as the arrival of new shipments 3-4 times per week — it’s a store that’s constantly evolving with an infusion of fresh displays, assuring customers of a uniquely different experience with each visit.

Think spring: Marigold is full of bright colors this season and — with the anticipation of warmer weather — an influx of items perfect for a patio like welcome signs, floral creations, serving dishes and margarita pitchers.

“‘Think spring’ definitely has a different meaning this year,” says Amy, “because it feels like we are literally coming out of the dark. Covid and the winter have made it so dark and so negative for everyone that I feel like this is our coming-out party.”

Have a lonely vase or basket sitting at home? Bring it in to have it paired up with a customizable silk floral arrangement that will breathe life into your living room or sun porch.

Flower show: Make your way to the back of the store to discover Marigold’s flower bar, run by Lisa, an “amazingly talented” florist with 25 years of experience. Have a lonely vase or basket sitting at home? Bring it in to have it paired up with a customizable silk floral arrangement that will breathe life into your living room or sun porch.

These hand-tied creations can easily be mixed and matched with various containers, offering homeowners plenty of design flexibility. “I like to talk to people so I know where they’re going to be putting the flowers, their design aesthetic and so forth,” Lisa says. “It’s like a consulting business, and it makes it easier for me to create just what they’re looking for so they’re happiest with the final product.”