A Wine By Any Other Name… Flower Shop Winery an Pizzaria

One could say that wine is in Bret Kappus’ blood. He grew up watching his grandfather make elderberry wine on the family’s land in El Reno (It’s been suggested that grandpa was a bootlegger, but hey, we don’t judge). He went to school to learn the wine business. And now, one might say, business is “blooming” at his tasting room/restaurant/event venue, The Flower Shop Winery and Pizzeria in Yukon.

In 2017, Kappus bought two buildings on Main Street, just on the west end of the downtown business district. One of the buildings was an original homestead in the City of Yukon, the other had served as a well-established florist for many years. Work soon began to renovate, build-out and add outdoor seating. They opened for business in September 2019 with high hopes of bringing quality wines to Main Street Yukon. But, as so many stories from the past few years have gone, March 2020 hit, and The Flower Shop was forced to close.

But a little old pandemic didn’t stop Bret. He continued to make his wines, and he took advantage of an idle kitchen to experiment with making pizza from scratch. When the winery reopened, they were ready to launch with a pizza and salad menu, a vast variety of wines to choose from, and good quality, locally brewed beers to round out the selection, all served in a family-friendly environment.

The Flower Shop is more like two venues in one. The former florist building is used primarily as a dining area; the homestead house can comfortably seat up to 40 people and is perfect for smaller events such as showers, small weddings, or other private groups. A Wine and Palette event once a month which is open to the public and offers a different project each month.

As a tribute to the building’s history, Bret not only named his venue The Flower Shop, he also has named all the wines and all the pizza selections after flowers, which lends a bit of whimsy to the menu. And what a menu it is. What type of wine do you prefer? A sweet Moscato? Or does a bold shiraz tempt your tastebuds? You can even find dessert wines available. Whatever your liking, you’ll find it at The Flower Shop.

So, what could be better than enjoying a tasty pizza with a glass or a pint you ask? How about a large dog-friendly patio to relax on, maybe with some live music for accompaniment? The partially shaded, partially covered patio offers ideal seating during the warm months, and an impressive lineup of local bands will be gracing the stage every Friday and Saturday through September. Check out the calendar of events on their Facebook page and you’ll notice some of the most recognizable names in local talent, including Jason Young, Born in November and Adam Agular.

After all the hard work that has gone into building a flourishing business, it would only seem natural for Bret to take a break and relax for a while. Not the case. Paul Boyd, manager of The Flower Shop, filled us in on upcoming plans. They recently purchased land across the street from the main location and are currently working to create a food truck garden with beverage service and a stage for more entertainment, which will be a whole new concept and draw for downtown Yukon. There are also plans to open another location in Chickasha this summer.

With all The Flower Shop Winery and Pizzeria has to offer, there are plenty of reasons to cruise out west on Historic Route 66 to sip a glass, have a slice, and groove to some tunes this summer.

And tell ‘em The Brew sent you.