By Javier Puga-Phillips | CNA Board Member, AL4 CNA Social Committee Chair
A new concept arrived in Concordia when certified sommelier Brant Ozanich and expert florist Gabby Terraciano opened the doors of Dogwood in April.
Dogwood is a wine and flower shop. “Wine and flowers are the perfect marriage,” Brant declared. In fact, he and Gabby are newlyweds and have taken the pandemic to relocate from San Francisco to start a new chapter in their lives.
“We always wanted to open our own business, and the pandemic gave us the extra time we were needing to do so,” Brant shared. They got married and opened their dream shop one month apart last spring.
Dogwood has an extensive selection of wines and flower arrangements ready for any occasion. As for the selection process, Brant noted, “We made a list of the wines we wanted to see in our shop and started selecting based on that list.
“We prefer wines grown on the West Coast from independent family-owned wineries and European wines.”
The flowers, on the other hand, are locally sourced, and Gabby and Brant are big believers in supporting women-owned businesses.
The couple met in San Francisco, but both have always had a soft spot for Portland. “Portland has always been a great city for us. We love the people, weather and vibe of the city,” Brant reported. When they came to Portland, they made a reservation in a popular restaurant on Alberta Street.
When they were ready to take the leap of faith and open Dogwood, they went back to Alberta and walked the street over and over again, realizing the need of a wine or flower shop.
They came across 4932 N.E. 30th Ave., where the shop is now located. “As soon as we walked into the space, we knew this was it,” Brant pointed out. They knew immediately that the Concordia neighborhood was home for them.
The decision on the shop’s name was almost as easy: Brant’s and Gabby’s love story began with dogwoods. “They were one of the first flowers I picked up for Gabby,” he explained.
Dogwood features a wine club that explores different regions of the wine world. Its focus is on enjoyment and education. The owners are also planning a combination of classes to get the community involved. Visit DogwoodPDX.com or Instagram.com/DogwoodPDX for details.
CNA Social Mixer
Concordia Neighborhood Association partners with Dogwood for a Halloween mixer from 7 to 10 p.m. in the new store. Dogwood plans to serve appetizers at the free wine tasting. Space is limited, so RSVPs are due at Social@ConcordiaPDX. org, and proof of COVID-19 vaccination is accepted at the door.
Nota del editor: Artículo disponible en Español, visita ConcordiaPDX.org/Dogwood.
Javier Puga-Phillips holds the At Large 4 position on the Concordia Neighborhood Association (CNA) Board of Directors, manages rentals of the McMenamins Kennedy School Community Room and chairs the CNA Social Committee. He is a real estate professional locally, and he is a published author and motivational speaker in Latin America and Spain.