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Over 100 years ago Frank and Vincent Gorly (brothers), and their cousin, who already owned the famous furniture store Hebrung and Grimm, opened up Grimm and Gorly Florist. The first Grimm and Gorly Flower Shop was located on Washington Street, Downtown St. Louis which was once called the hotel district. The shop was so popular they decided to expand across the river to East St. Louis and opened up a shop on 11th and State street. Frank and Vincent’s sister Josephine Gorly Stolle ran the East St. Louis store. After a few years Josephine gave the shop over to her daughter Melba Stolle Klapp of Belleville, IL. Melba was friends of Paul Reis, who managed a popular restaurant called ‘Dutch Girl’, which is now know as the historic ‘Fischer’s’ restaurant. One evening, in 1955, while Mrs. Clapp was dining at the restaurant Paul managed, she ask her good friend if he would like to buy her flower shop, and he said yes. He did so well with the shop in East St. Louis that he opened a 2nd one in downtown Belleville. The one in Belleville was so popular that he closed the East St. Louis one and moved the Belleville one to a larger place on East Main and Charles Street. After 45 years Paul Rice retired and sold his flower shop to Jeff Bair, who has carried on the tradition of outstanding floral arrangements and wonderful service that has made Grimm and Gorly a household name for over 100 years. |
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