Wheaton Nurseries Receives Outpouring of Support After Gift Shop Fire

Family-owned business vows to rebuild after devastating blaze damages historic building.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 6:34pm

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A high-end, photorealistic studio still-life photograph showing a collection of charred and damaged items from a fire, including a partially melted candle, a cracked ceramic figurine, and a singed floral arrangement, all arranged elegantly on a clean, dark grey background.The Wheaton Nurseries gift shop fire left behind a somber collection of damaged and destroyed items that once filled the beloved local store.Wheaton Today

Wheaton Nurseries, a beloved family-owned garden center in Wheaton, Illinois, is receiving an outpouring of support from the local community after a fire caused significant damage to its gift shop on March 23. The fire, which appears to have been electrical in nature, destroyed many cherished items in the shop that had been part of the business since it was founded by the current owners' grandparents in the 1970s. Despite the heartbreak, the Wheaton Nurseries team is determined to rebuild and continue serving the community that has rallied behind them.

Why it matters

Wheaton Nurseries is a longstanding institution in the city, with roots dating back to 1895. The gift shop fire has disrupted a beloved local tradition and threatened the future of this family-owned business. The community's response highlights the importance of small, independent retailers to the character and identity of a town like Wheaton.

The details

The fire caused extensive damage to the gift shop portion of the Wheaton Nurseries property, which was originally the grandparents' home. The building contained many family-valued items and keepsakes that held deep sentimental value. While the garden center itself was not impacted and opened for the season on April 1 as usual, the gift shop will require restoration or rebuilding before it can reopen. The Wheaton Nurseries team is working to determine a timeline for the shop's return.

  • The fire occurred on March 23, 2026.
  • Wheaton Nurseries opened for the 2026 season on April 1.

The players

Wheaton Nurseries

A family-owned garden center in Wheaton, Illinois that has been in business since 1895.

Angel Bartels

The daughter of the current owners, Steve and Carrie Lederman, who shared her devastation over the fire that damaged the gift shop.

Ralph and Agnes Lederman

The grandparents of the current owners, who bought the property in the 1970s and turned it into the gift shop that was damaged in the fire.

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What they’re saying

“I was devastated. It's been in the family for a very long time. It was originally my grandparents' home.”

— Angel Bartels, Daughter of current owners

“It wasn't just a place to shop, it was a place to slow down, to bring your kids, to make memories. A place where little hands left messages on the chalkboard for the next child to read ... messages of kindness, encouragement, and imagination. It became part of our story.”

— Wheaton Nurseries

What’s next

Wheaton Nurseries is working to determine a timeline for restoring or rebuilding the damaged gift shop building, with the goal of reopening it as soon as possible.

The takeaway

The outpouring of community support for Wheaton Nurseries after the gift shop fire demonstrates the deep emotional connection local residents have with this longstanding family business. As Wheaton works to rebuild, the nursery's resilience and the town's commitment to preserving its unique character will be on full display.