To submit a letter to the editor, click here.
To pitch a ‘My Turn’ guest column, email jdalessio@news-gazette.com.
URBANA — Twenty-seven years ago, Ron Bailey had “a burning desire” to run his own business.
He decided to purchase the Blossom Basket florist shop, which belonged to the Cain family at that time. The Cains had previously bought it from their aunt, who first opened the shop in 1954, Bailey said.
“This was an ongoing business that my whole family could be involved in,” he said.
Since Bailey bought the business in 1998, seven of his 10 children have worked in the shop at one time or another.
However, he is now closing down the family business to simply focus on family.
“I’m 70 years old,” he said. “My family needed me to spend more time with them at home. And we also have a farm, which I’m very active in.”
Blossom Basket, located at 1002 N. Cunningham Ave., officially closed July 31.
“I’ve just got a few things that I’m still finishing,” Bailey said.
In addition to the business’ longstanding presence in the community, some Champaign-Urbana residents might also remember its longtime Good Neighbor Day tradition.
Every September, the business would give away thousands of free roses by the dozen, often with help from community partners such as The News-Gazette. Residents were typically expected to bring nonperishable food items in exchange for their bouquet, with these being donated to a local charity. Additionally, recipients were asked to keep one rose for themselves and spread the love by giving the rest to others.
Bailey estimated that the tradition ran for 20 years, with its last iteration in 2019.
“When COVID hit, of course that shut everything down,” he said. “COVID was devastating to small businesses like ours. And that’s why we quit doing it.”
Blossom Basket closed its Champaign shop at Village at The Crossing in late 2021.
Bailey has mixed feelings about closing for good. On the one hand, he feels it’s “a bit of a relief,” but it’s also “very bittersweet” to let go of what’s been his family business for nearly 30 years.
“We want to thank the Champaign, Urbana, Savoy communities for supporting this for all these years,” he said. “We’ve done literally thousands of weddings and thousands of funerals and tens of thousands of birthdays and anniversaries. And we just really appreciate everyone’s support over the years.”
