Our Story

Merz Apothecary and Smallflower.com

The Original International Apothecary® 

Merz Apothecary has been a Chicago institution since 1875 that maintains a unique balance between modern (allopathic) medicine and traditional remedies. Now owned by the Qaiyum family, Merz Apothecary and the Shops at Merz operate with the belief that true health involves feeling good mentally, physically, and emotionally.

Despite the growth and attention, the store has not lost its focus on the original apothecary concept. The staff hails from around the world and collectively speaks more than ten languages. Customers seek out the well-trained staff for the 149 years of health and product knowledge it has inherited. The location and people have changed over the years, but Merz Apothecary's goal has remained the same: providing superior and personal service for each customer's total well-being.

Abdul Qaiyum and his son, Anthony, founded Smallflower.com in 1998. The challenge here was to meld the Old World approach and knowledge of Merz Apothecary with the New World technology of e-commerce, without losing the vision and character that make Merz Apothecary special.

Since launching Smallflower, the Qaiyum family has been able to expand Merz Apothecary & Smallflower to include private label brands Q Brothers, a men’s grooming brand launched in 2014 and KOBO Candles, acquired in 2022.

When you shop at Smallflower you can be confident that you're dealing with a staff that has intimate knowledge of the products we offer. We're always listening to our customers and that knowledge directly shapes the information and products we provide to you.

Our Mission

We create the Merz Apothecary experience. We provide the world’s best natural and unique products for health and personal care and share sought-after knowledge and guidance with honesty and passion. Through gracious service to our customers and each other, we strive to improve the lives of those we serve.

 

If you're ever in Chicago, please stop by our stores and say hello! 

 

Merz Apothecary & The Shops at Merz

4716 North Lincoln Avenue
Chicago, IL 60625
(773) 989-0900
Open Monday through Saturday, 10AM to 6PM