Celebrating 125 Years in Business

Since 1898, Leider Greenhouses has been proudly supplying Chicago and the surrounding suburbs with fresh, high quality plants. You can find a history of our business by clicking here.

This page serves as a place for us to share some of our memories and stories, while also hearing from you too! What are your memories of our business? Did you work here in years past? Do you remember when you first “discovered” our products? We would love to hear from you! Please use the form below to share, then keep scrolling to read stories from our family, employees, and customers. If after reading, you would like to share your reactions, please feel free to use the submission box below.

125 YEARS OF MEMORIES

FAMILY STORIES

A visit from grand duchess charlotte of luxembourg

In 1940, the Grand Duchess Charlotte of Luxembourg visited Leider Greenhouses in Evanston, IL. At the time, the United States had not yet joined the war, and she was living in exile from her own country after the Nazis invaded. The Grand Duchess toured the United States to rally the Luxembourg-American community to support the Allies in World War II. On her trip, she stopped in Chicago to meet prominent Luxembourg families - including the Leiders - and encourage them to support the United States join in the war effort.

Follow this link (minute 35:40) to watch part of “Charlotte, a Royal at War” (a documentary) which features archival footage of her trip to the greenhouses.

american committee for luxembourg relief

Following the Grand Duchess’ visit to the United States, this committee was founded to collect donations in support of the Luxembourgers war effort against the Nazis. This effort raised $17,000 - or $300,000 in today’s dollars. Michael M. Leider (2nd generation), whose name is listed on the above donations request, was a part of the Chicago-based committee.

poinsettias on christmas day

This old family film features Michael Martin Leider (2nd generation), his wife Mary Leider, Mary Leider’s Aunt Mary and her husband Will Kaffer, celebrating Christmas Day with Jim, Margie, and Gerry (3rd generation), circa 1946. We love this video because of the beautiful poinsettia shown off by Michael Martin - it reminds us of the pride we feel each November when we grow impressive poinsettias for our customers. At this time, poinsettias were grown in terracotta pots and from root stock that was harvested in California and shipped across the country. Similar to today, the crop would take a minimum of 4-6 months to grow.

“Damien: omen ii” films at leider greenhouses

In 1977, scenes included in the horror film, “Damien: Omen II”, were shot at Leider Greenhouses. It was huge news that our greenhouses would serve as a set for a Hollywood film! Jim Leider negotiated with the studio, 20th Century Fox, for compensation in use of the space, as the filming process would be disruptive to the production schedule. Peggy Leider, wife of Jim Leider, along with other employees, served as extras in the film. Speaking of his wife in the film, he said, “My wife is a star.”

evanston, IL

One of the original delivery trucks from when Leider’s was based in Evanston, IL.

MARGaret LEIDER daley

Margie Leider (3rd generation), is the second child of Michael Martin Leider and Mary McIntyre. She has fond memories of growing up next door to the greenhouses located on Oakton and Asbury in Evanston, Illinois. At an early age, Margaret learned the art of disbudding mums and removing pollen from Easter lilies. She learned that at every stage of the growing process there were tasks that were a key component to happy customers.

Michael Martin Leider taught his daughter that protection of blooming plants to be sold was a testament to the quality of the plant. Prior to what is known today as a “sleeve” covering a plant, Margie learned a technique to utilize old newspapers to wrap plants so they could be transported to various places without harming the product.

In the early 1950’s the main flowers grown were lilies, mums, poinsettias, and hydrangeas. As the years moved on, and the business expanded more plants were added to the selections offered and more space was needed. Several of Margie’s children went on to work during winter and summer vacations at the greenhouses in Buffalo Grove.

SARA leider BREEDEN

Sara Leider Breeden is a 4th generation Leider family member. She currently lives in Mt. Prospect with her husband and daughter.

“I have memories of going to the garden which was in front of the greenhouse with Nana and Pop. Pop would drive his Mercedes through the grass and mud right up to it! I also remember Nana making anything “apple” from the apple trees that used to be on the greenhouse property, as well as canning the white peaches - which I still love to this day. I worked there 2 summers as well, in the office and in the Garden Center.”

Liz Leider Peterson

Liz Leider Peterson is 4th generation Leider family member. She currently lives in Libertyville, IL with her husband and two daughters.

“Michael Leider, or Pop, as I knew him was a presence! He always made sure that me, my sisters, and cousins knew we were Luxembourgers. He would say you are 100% Luxembourger. We didn’t dare argue with him about that or anything else even though we knew our Nana was proud to be Scotch/Irish.

This picture was from dinner at Nana and Pops place in Northbrook. Nana was a great cook and always had the table set so nice. She was elegant and I always remember feeling like I was at a fancy restaurant when we ate there.”

JIM LEIDER FAMILY CHRISTMAS CARDS

Grandchildren of Jim Leider (3rd generation) have fond memories of taking the annual Christmas card family photo. Year after year, dressed in matching outfits, we gathered for our family photos. One of the most memorable, pictured above, is of (most of) Jim Leider’s grandchildren in the greenhouses dressed in flower headbands.

gerry and judy leider marriage

While searching the Evanston History Center archives, we came across this marriage announcement for Gerard (Gerry) F. Leider (3rd generation) and Judy (formerly Yates) Leider. Gerry worked alongside his brother, M. James Leider, for decades in Evanston and in Buffalo Grove. Gerry and Judy’s son, Gerard (4th generation), was born in the apartment above the old warehouses and offices in Buffalo Grove!

Today, Gerry and Judy live in Lake Forest, IL and spend winters in Boynton Beach, Florida. The happy couple just celebrated their 53rd wedding anniversary this week (06/20/2023)!

seized by eminent domain

In the early 1960s, the District 65 Board of Evanston filed to seize by eminent domain properties of multiple flower growers on Oakton Ave. to build a new school. M. Leider and Sons, as the company was known in that era, moved to a new property in Prairie View, IL, now known as Buffalo Grove - our current primary location. The article above announces the lawsuit addressing the condemnation proceedings, in which the owners claim the school board did not compensate them properly for their land.

The family deconstructed the greenhouses which were on the original property and rebuilt them at the new location. Those greenhouses are still standing to this day.

EMPLOYEE STORIES

betty horvath

Betty Horvath started working for Leider Greenhouses when it opened in 1963 - in what was then called Prairie View, and now is known as Buffalo Grove. Having grown up on a remote, rural farm in Saskatchewan Province, Canada, Betty was, and still is, a farm girl at heart. When she started working part-time for Leider’s, they were still planting into ceramic or terracotta pots, and she was earning an hourly wage of $1.50!

Betty began as a greenhouse employee, then went on to become a team leader. All of her children took jobs at the greenhouse throughout their high school and college years. When she retired around 65, she found that she couldn’t quite quit the work she had done for so many decades, and decided to come back a few years later to work part-time in an office role. She did not officially retire until she was 80 years old.

In reflecting upon her time with Leider’s, she said that she always enjoyed the work and appreciated all of her coworkers. “To this day I could enjoy dis-budding mums,” she said, “I loved doing that… it was sort of mindless. But my challenge was always to see how many I could do in a day.”

We are so grateful to all of the tireless hours Betty committed throughout her life - and even more grateful that she still stops by to visit us a few times a year, and pick up some flowers for her home. She says, “I have very happy memories of this place. We worked hard… but when your hard work is appreciated [it is rewarding], and I always felt it was…”

rosario de la torre - team leader

Rosario de la Torre has been an employee with Leider Greenhouses since 1984. She has seen the business evolve over three decades, and has contributed tireless hours to our business. She remembers when we installed our Dutch rolling tray system throughout many of the greenhouses, and how that transformed the efficiency of the company. She also has fond memories of helping Mary and Mike (fourth generation) arrange cut flowers during busy seasons like Mother’s Day, when Mary had a floral shop in the city and also shipped to grocery stores.

“I cannot imagine working anywhere else. This place is like my home,” she said, as her eyes welled up with happy tears. “I have been here for so long, and I love it so much. It brings me so much joy and pride to work here.”

jim jaeger - production manager

Jim Jaeger has done just about every task that needs to be done in a greenhouse. While his title may be “Production Manager”, that does not begin to encompass all of his many jobs. He is a grower at heart, electrician by lived experience, and the manager of so many aspects of our business. Jim orders plants, plans growing schedules, conducts maintenance and improvement projects, manages employees, and coordinates shipping schedules.

Jim has been an employee with Leider Greenhouses since 1978. He began working for the company in Buffalo Grove, then worked for another branch of the business in Houston, Texas from 1979-1988. When he returned from the heat of Texas, his role as Production Manager expanded through the 1990’s to get him where he is today - doing a little bit of everything here at the greenhouses. We are very lucky to have this “Jack of All Trades” on our team.

pedro sanchez - warehouse manager

Pedro Sanchez has been an employee with Leider Greenhouses since August 29th, 1974. He is currently our warehouse manager. If you need to find something - a container, sleeve, tool, etc. - he will know exactly where it is. Pedro has a tireless work ethic that is unmatched. At age 71 he is still climbing ladders, lifting more than 50 lbs, driving the fork lift, and keeping our warehouse organized, tidy, and productive.

When talking to Elizabeth (fifth generation), Pedro said, “I worked for your great-grandfather, your grandfather, your father, and now for you. I will do anything to help you and your siblings.” Needless to say, that speaks to the amazing level of dedication and commitment that Pedro has had for Leider’s for decades.

sherry raineri

“I started working at Tropical Plant Rentals in 1982, back when we buzzed around in green Pintos [pictured above]. I learned to drive stick shift going around the greenhouses, and away I went. I worked in the suburbs for awhile then got promoted and transferred to the Chicago Metro Service Area, working out of the Monroe St. Warehouse, [which was] run by Chuck. That's where I met my Husband of 30 years - Pete Raineri. He worked in the Installation Department and me in the Service Department. After we got married in 1985, I transferred to the wholesale greenhouse located on Damen run by Mike Leider. It was a fun time. I also did a few months working at Flower Island in Woodfield. Lots of good memories. I remember the Granddad Leider showing me how to water the plants at the sales office in Prairie View.”

Community

“I first met Mike Leider about 1970 when he was building a new greenhouse supplied by my parent company IBG which was across the street from Leider's. [I worked for] Wadsworth manufactures control systems for the heating and cooling equipment in greenhouses. I could see Mike was quite knowledgeable regarding controls and what he expected of the controls and the company that supplied them. I offered to pay for a long distance phone call to any of our existing customers (which I thought was very generous) but he declined. I thought maybe I had lost the project. I came back about two weeks later and he told me to go ahead with the project. He had flown out to to West coast to see one of his friends who was happy with our Company and our controls. That was the beginning of a long and good relationship with the Leider Family and Wadsworth Controls.” - George Dean

To this day, we have Wadsworth Controls systems in one of our greenhouses. To learn more about Wadsworth, check out their website.

Keep checking back for more stories!

We will be adding to this page in the next year to collect as many memories as we can!

Page curated by Elizabeth M. Leider, fifth generation.