A Beverly Garden Business Blossoms into the Future

In the heart of Beverly Farms, Chapman’s has quietly remained a family-run flower shop that has—apologies—blossomed for more than a century. 

And, for more than half that time, Chapman’s Florist and Garden Center has been in the hands of the McGuire family since Colleen McGuire Malik’s parents purchased it from the Williams family in 1958.

“They bought it before I was born,” said Colleen. “I was raised here.”

Now, Colleen’s daughter, Brianna Malik, has the potential to carry the business into a third generation—a full-circle moment for the family and the business that provides floral design services for large and small events, bouquet arrangements, serves corporate clients, and sells all manner of garden plants, flowers, and landscape accessories.

Growing up, Colleen never felt pressured to take over her parents’ business. In fact, her parents discouraged it. “Don’t ever take this business over. It’s too hard,” she recalled them telling her.

Colleen followed her own path first.  She attended Simmons College and graduated in 1981 with a degree that suggested a different path: international business.

After about a month post-grad working an office job, Colleen realized she couldn’t stand working a desk job.  About a month into a desk job, it was clear that corporate office life wasn’t for her.  After calling her father to see if he needed help at the shop “just for now,” he took her up on it, and it all just clicked for Colleen.  That was 38 years ago. To Colleen, Chapman’s is more than a flower shop.

“Sometimes you feel like you’re more of a therapist than a florist,” she said. “You’re dealing with people during the most intimate moments of their lives. The first prom, the funerals, birthdays, anniversaries, so it’s very emotional.”

Her daughter, Brianna, agrees.

“I think it’s a staple,” she said. “It’s just kind of a household name for everyone in the area.”

Colleen credits her father, Ray McGuire, for instilling a deep-rooted love of gardening in the business.

“He was a true farmer,” said Malik.  “He taught people how to garden. So, a lot of the landscape and gardens around here, the owners were trained by my dad on how to make a beautiful garden. He was doing it long before Martha Stewart.”

Like her parents, Colleen has maintained a family atmosphere at Chapman’s.  And while they grew up in and around the business, she never pressured her children to take over the family business.  But, in December 2023, Brianna left a sales job and returned full-time.  Working together now feels like destiny.

“It’s just wonderful, this is what my parents felt like when I came to the business,” said Colleen.  “She’s so talented, she’s young, she’s on the pulse of what’s in and what’s out, and she’s great with customers.”

Brianna says the transition to Chapman’s felt natural.

“If you ask my grandfather, he’ll tell you that it was always me that he knew was going to take it over. I have an older sister and a younger brother, but he said, ‘It’ll be her.’ I never saw myself doing it until very recently,” said Brianna. Still, the future remains uncertain.  If Brianna chooses not to take over long term, Colleen says she will sell the business when she retires.  But for now, the pair are embracing their shared experience, especially during their busiest time—wedding season.”

“Weddings are like our bread and butter in the summertime,” said Brianna.  “Basically, from June to October, we’re booked every weekend.”

Seven years ago, Chapman’s expanded its offerings with a gift shop, Juel Gifts & More, owned and operated by Karen Juel, who grew up in Manchester.  The boutique features scented soaps, lotions, oils, jewelry, clothing, and specialty gifts.  It’s a synergy that has really worked, both professionally and personally.

“It was a friend of mine who actually approached me [about it], and it has been a great addition to the business,” said Colleen.

Inside of Juel’s, there’s a highly curated array of items— clothing items, jewelry, baby shower gifts, knickknacks, scented soaps, candles, and oils.

In the end, it’s the rich history, multi-generational roots, and ever-growing inventory that has sustained Chapman’s for more than 100 years in Beverly Farms.  And while no one can predict the future, for now, it remains an—again, apologies—“un-flora-gettable” part of Beverly’s story.

“We’re going to keep doing what we’ve been doing forever, and I think people have been pretty happy with that,” said Brianna.

Norah Doyle is a student at Endicott College studying journalism.  This story was produced by Norah for the Massachusetts News Service of Endicott College in partnership with the Manchester Cricket.