Derrick Rose Opens Flower Shop In Chicago To Hand Out Thousands Of Free Roses
Derrick Rose brought in the new year by spreading love within his home city in an extra special way. On Jan. 2, the NBA legend opened a flower shop in downtown Chicago and invited fans to come and share the experience together. Paying homage to his last name, the 3× NBA All-Star gave out thousands of free roses as tokens of his appreciation.
According to CBS Chicago, people from all over the city gathered outside of the State St. store starting as early as 5 a.m., and the line stretched down multiple blocks all day. Rose’s Flower Shop’s slogan, “Stop and smell the roses,” reminded people to enjoy the moment celebrating the newly retired player and his love for his city.
A recap video made by an attendee said the ambiance inside the store felt “cozy and warm” with roses everywhere. Guests were welcome to walk around and pick their own bouquet of flowers, which would then be shipped out afterward to anyone within at 15-mile radius of the location. There was also a VIP area where people could enjoy drinks, and of course, a meet-and-greet area to snap a pic with Rose himself.
Derrick’s wife, Alaina A. Anderson Rose, also shared a video of her making her own custom bouquet at her husband’s shop. Check out her clip along with videos from the day below.
In 2008, Derrick Rose was drafted first overall by his hometown’s team, the Chicago Bulls, in the NBA draft. He went on to solidify himself as the “Windy City Assassin” with his performance throughout the years, as he was named the NBA Rookie of the Year in 2009 and became the youngest player to win the NBA Most Valuable Player Award in 2011 at the age of 22 years and 7 months.
Throughout his career, he also spent time playing for the New York Knicks, Memphis Grizzlies, and more. The 35-year-old hooper officially announced his retirement from the NBA in September 2024 after a 16-year career full of “highs and lows.”
“Thank You, My First Love…,” he wrote at the time. “You believed in me through the highs and lows, my constant everything else seemed uncertain. You showed me what love truly meant. You turned the court into my sanctuary, a home where I could express myself freely. You made every early morning and late night we spent together worth every drop of sweat.”
Check out VIBE’s list of best Derrick Rose mentions in rap lyrics here and enjoy more highlights from Rose’s Flower Shop below.
