WICKER PARK — If you see people walking down Damen Avenue carrying Christmas trees, chances are good that they bought their Fraser Firs in Big Star's outdoor lot, where independent merchant City Tree Delivery has set up shop for the fourth consecutive year.
"We don't live too far from here," said Kelly Smith, a Wicker Park resident who was holding the front end of a 7-foot tree while her roommate, Erin Perone, held the back end on Sunday.
Smith said getting a tree from City Tree Delivery has become a holiday tradition for the past three years.
Tree growers across the country have faced six years of decreased demand and low prices, the Associated Press reports. This year, though, growers who survived the downturn are getting an average of $2 more per tree, AP said.
City Tree Delivery, now in its sixth holiday season of business, and fourth in Big Star's outdoor lot at 1531 N. Damen Ave., is owned by Roscoe Village resident Chris Hohenstein. City Tree sells Fraser firs ranging from 5 to 12 feet tall. The company, which operates out of a parked RV strung with Christmas lights, also sells garlands and wreaths.
The trees at City Tree cost $12 per foot.
North Center resident Simeon Meldrum-Taylor, who was tying a tree to the top of his car on Sunday, said that he checked out four other city pop-up lots before deciding on City Tree.
"It's fresh, tall, moist, very full, symmetrical and shapely," Meldrum said of his 9-foot tree, which he said spent $136 on.
Hohenstein, who has a day job in marketing, started the company as a side gig in 2007 after he realized there was no full-service local company that is eco conscious and could provide full-service from set-up to tree removal.
"We get to help people celebrate their Christmas and make everything simple," Hohenstein said.
For an additional $35, there is the opportunity to have your tree removed and recycled at the end of the holiday.
Since he opened on Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, Hohenstein has sold over half of last year's volume in three days, he said.
The trees are trucked in from a farm in Michigan, Hohenstein said.
"We hope to sell out and will stay open, weather permitting, until Dec. 21, the Sunday before Christmas," Hohensteinn saif.
A team of 16 seasonal workers, most of whom worked for City Tree in previous seasons, are helping Hohenstein.
"They are musicians and band guys as well as photographers and artists. I love the team, my guys are great and dependable. I consider them friends," Hohenstein said.
The friendly service and convenience has brought raves from customers, who have given City Tree all 5-star reviews on Yelp.com.
"Customers are excited to come back. We know a lot by first name, people are welcoming and comforting and understanding if something goes wrong," Hohenstein said.
Early Monday, Hohenstein said that a third year customer didn't like their tree after it was delivered and set-up, and requested a new one, which he obliged.
City Tree Delivery's Big Star lot hours (weather permitting; call ahead if unsure) are noon to 9 p.m. Monday and Friday; 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday; 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Credit card sales are preferred. The delivery map goes as far north as Devon Avenue and as far south as Cermak Rd. Ph: 312-476-9627.
