Letter to the Editor: Kinsch Florist & Garden Center Seeks Community Support for Off-Site Sign

I am writing to you in hopes of gaining some exposure for additional support we are needing from Palatine residents. Currently, we have close to 700 customers that have taken part in our on-line survey of their support of an off-site sign.

We are looking to place the sign on the corner of Rose Street and Palatine Road on a residential property. The current homeowners are huge supporters of ours and have offered us use of their property at no charge. They strongly believe in promoting local business. 

The Palatine Zoning Board voted 3 to 6 against the proposed signage this week. The matter is now going to vote with the Village Council this coming Monday at 7 p.m. We will be much better prepared with a Power Point presentation on Monday.

We are in awe of the local businesses, customers and residents that have rallied for our plight over the past few days—overloading the village manager and zoning director with emails. We were advised by our local alderman to gain as much supporters as we can to show up at the meeting.    

We are finding that this is becoming a much larger issue to people than just a sign. It is more about supporting local businesses and protecting the integrity of small town America. Plus the fact that the village has allowed off-site signage—and are even charging rent (Wendy's "Turn Here" sign on Northwest Highway.). Why can the park district put signs in residential areas, in which we have paid a ton a taxes for through our business (Palatine Hills Golf Course)?

Kinsch Village Florist & Garden Center has been doing business in Palatine for over 75 years. We moved our garden center business into Palatine from Chicago. When we moved to Palatine in 1938, there was virtually under 2,700 residents in Palatine and we were surrounded by farming fields.

My husband, Ken Kinsch, is a fourth generation garden center business owner.  He and his sister, Valerie, are now attempting to run an aging locally owned family business that is now struggling due to various economic challenges. 

Some of the challenges we have are the big box stores now going into the plant selling business, our devoted clientele of 50-plus years dying off, online national flower ordering services and mostly, our location.

We are tucked a block off of Palatine Road. We feel it is now vital to the sustainable of our business to place a sign on Palatine Road. Drive-by traffic is just too valuable to a business like ours.  

Over the years, Kinsch's has given back considerably to the community through festivals, field trips, donations, etc. Almost all of the programs were barely  break-even and not necessarily put in place to make a profit, but to give back to our customers and community. Now we are asking for support to help our business stay around for another 75 years!

Diane Kinsch

Letters to the Editor can be emailed to angela.sykora@patch.com. You can also get your message out by posting on the Patch Boards.