this is us
in Hasselt, and by extension the whole Province of Limburg, the renowned flower and plant shop – thomas – is regarded as the benchmark.
This flourishing business is not only well known for its impressive building – an innovative architectural structure of steel and glass – but also, and above all, for its extensive collection of plants, flowers, flower arrangements and bouquets and the stylish interior decor collections.
graines d’or award
in 2010, thomas won the prestigious Graines D’Or Award for the most innovative garden centre concept in Europe – in recognition of the efforts that are being made every day to provide customers with a fabulous shopping experience, a principle that is being upheld with unfailing enthusiasm.
specialist shop
to the rhythm of the seasons, the thomas team play to their strengths. With ingenious selections of home, garden, kitchen and patio products that add value to life, thomas stands for lifestyle sans pareil. The most beautiful and highest quality offerings, all gathered under one roof. An open house full of atmosphere; an oasis brimming with inspiration for home & garden.
history
while thomas is nowadays known for its extravagantly broad range in an ultra-modern setting, the foundations date back to 1952, when François Thomas met the ravishing Josephina Arrazola de Oñate.
history Arrazola de Oñate
Her name evokes a rare flower, and from their marriage also blossomed a love for flowers. The newlyweds opened a humble flower shop and tree nursery in Diest, but not much later they relocated a wholesale company to the Leuvensesteenweg, and they opened a flower shop in the Sint-Janberchmansstraat. However, the harsh winter of 1962 decreed otherwise and, in addition, a fierce fire also threw a spanner in the works. The couple started again, in 1967, near the Poor Clares convent on the boulevard in Hasselt. It seemed fertile ground, because in the blink of an eye, the flower and plant specialists were soon proving to have set the benchmark. Not least for their farm-fresh choice of flowers they’d buy at the early morning market in Brussels, or for their unique offer of plants delivered by Ghent growers. The shop was bursting at the seams and, as if symbolically, thomas relocated again to Kuringen, on the road between Hasselt and Diest. The brand new steel construction evidenced ambition, and was even nominated in 1997 for an architecture award for ‘steel construction’. In the meantime, their four sons had joined the family business, but then, fate struck again.
flowery phoenix
in 2002 the business burned down again. A setback that did not stifle their ambitions in the least, because in 2004 thomas rose again from the ashes, larger and grander than ever before. In addition to flowers, plants and decorations, the team resolutely went for a total experience for which a choice of interior brands was also added. thomas flourishes as never before, and remains faithful to the mission that was envisioned from the very start: an extensive and inspiring choice of high-quality home and garden items. The years of experience can be regarded as their humus, fertile soil wherein only the very best will thrive thanks to the dedicated care of the thomas team, always aiming for full customer satisfaction.