WE WENT GREEN 90 YEARS BEFORE IT WAS TRENDY.

The Chalet story begins in the era when horse-drawn carriages delivered blocks of ice to homes, when Wilmette roads were named for the farms that lined them, and when sons and occasionally daughters inherited parcels of land from their fathers.

In 1917 Lawrence J. Thalmann ("L.J.") founded L.J. Thalmann’s Architectural Landscaping. After his high school graduation, he would pedal his bike, pulling a red wagon loaded with gardening tools, to client's homes. Not long after, he acquired his first dump truck - the kind you hand cranked to dump its load. All while attending Northwestern University at night and receiving a diploma from the American Landscape School.

In the 1940's, a Swiss Chalet style restaurant in Glencoe that stood in the path of the new Eden’s Expressway was put up for auction. L.J. bought if for $2,751, believing a bid should always be an odd amount. Cut in three parts, it was moved to Wilmette where it became the home and offices for L.J. and his wife Elaine. Due to zoning restrictions, business signs were not permitted, so the company's ads featured the house as an identifying mark. It was only a matter of time before customers were writing their checks to "Chalet." Always customer-centric, L.J. determined the public had named the business.

In the 1950's a new 9,500-square-foot garden center (a whole new concept, a "Garden Center") was added. L.J.'s wife Elaine and their children, Larry Jr. and Diane, managed the growing place, adding a pet and gift department and expanding landscape services.

L.J. had a bit of P.T. Barnum in him. He procured a prototype of one of the first color TV's in Chicagoland for the store. A friend filmed the growth of plants as they bloomed, in time-lapse photography and in color. This was the John Ott Show and it became one of the first color broadcast in the region. This first-of-its-kind show drew crowds so thick that traffic police had to be called in.

The first Weber grill was sold at Chalet. Chalet was the first regional retailer to have "Christmas in July." Doggie fashion shows on runways were produced. Celebrities visited. Charleton Heston, who grew up nearby, would visit his mom between Hollywood movies. After presenting a check for payment, Elaine Thalmann told him "Sorry, we don't take checks." She said this to one of America's most recognizable faces, the character who parted the Red Sea.

Expansion continued when Larry Jr. and Diane took over the business. The landscape division mushroomed, moving to larger facilities twice over time. It is currently housed in an award-winning 28,000-square-foot North Chicago facility to accommodate the over 160 green fleet vehicles and acres of plants and supplies. The Chalet Office Plaza was built. Computers, staff and new product lines were added. So was the Marine Division, which was twice awarded "Dealer of the Year" by Catalina Yachts. Other sports and transportation equipment ventures were launched though many eventually disbanded as Chalet stuck to its core business of green goods and services.

In the 1990’s Larry Thalmann III became president and the business continued to grow. An Education Center was established. Chalet received national awards for landscape and retail excellence. A one-of-a-kind internship program was founded, as were scholarship programs. A 183 acre farm was purchased in Salem, Wisconsin to grow quality plants worthy of the Chalet name. Making a significant commitment to promotion of the “Green Industry,” Larry became president of the Illinois Nursery Association and the Mid-American Horticultural Trade show. More of his staff became Illinois Certified Nursery Professionals than any other business in the State.

Recently Chalet was recognized by its peers and was named "Innovator of the Year" by Garden Center magazine. A new brand - which crystalizes the company's philosophy and practice of providing stellar customer service by hiring the best employees - was manifested in a new marketing look, in-depth staff training and education programs. Always striving to serve its customers and community in exemplary fashion while helping to steward the earth, the business culture at Chalet continues to improve. As Larry III wrote in the company's Vision Statement:

"We will be aggressive in determining our future direction. We will celebrate, but not be held prisoner to the past. We will be aware that no matter how distinguished our history and reputation have been, the past cannot be the future. Issues such as: expanding market share, upgrading and creating new facilities, new products, new services and lines of business will be considered with due diligence and openness. These decisions will be approached with the appropriate degree of speed and caution to insure that we are able to preserve excellence in our current operations while we reshape the future."