Western Springs Native Opens Lavender Gift Shop in Hinsdale

A mother-daughter team who spent years living in Western Springs recently opened a new home decor and gift shop in Hinsdale. 

Fourth-generation Hinsdalian Cathy Danly always dreamed of opening her own store, and now she’s brought it back home to open Lavender, located on Hinsdale Avenue.

The dream came to fruition when her daughter, Brittany Zoufal, was moving back from Indiana and looking for jobs. The timing worked that they decided to find a space for a new business.

“I always wanted to open my own business,” Danly said. “I love to shop and I think I’ve got a good eye for things. I purchase the things I’d like to see in a store.”

Zoufal studied apparel merchandising and fashion design, with a minor in business, while attending Indiana University. And while going to school she also got experience working at O’Child children’s boutique.

When she graduated, the owner asked her to manager a second location opened in Columbus, IN. Zoufal said that experience has been invaluable.

“I would have no idea where to start,” without the experience, she said. She worked at Kirschbaum’s Bakery while growing up in Western Springs, and Coach after high school. That’s when she really fell in love with retail. “It’s nice meeting people.”

The store, which is located on the second floor of 10 W. Hinsdale Ave., offers a wide range of gifts and home decor items, or as Danly explained, “everything from furniture to lip balm.” There’s candles, handbags, books, tabletop items and lots more.

“I love to shop and I think I’ve got a good eye for things,” Danly said. “I purchase the things I’d like to see in a store.”

“We looked at what people offered around here to make sure we had a different selection and weren’t stepping on anyone’s toes,” Zoufal added. “We just try to find something unique, with a story behind it.”

Lavender is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday; and is closed Sundays. They are currently building a website that will feature an online store, but in the meantime you can check out Lavender’s page on Facebook for more information.