Courtesy of Melissa Abreu
Starting the second week in September, Kirkwood residents will have a new place to grab a bottle of wine—or stop in for sips and socializing. Opening at 2033 Hosea L Williams Drive, Dom Beijos is a Portuguese wine shop with more than 70 varieties by the bottle. Owned by local resident Melissa Abreu, it will offer two wines by the glass each day, in addition to beer, meat, cheese, and chocolate.
“I love wine tremendously and wanted to open a retail store my whole life,” Abreu says. “I’m from Georgia, but my family is Portuguese. I love the culture and wanted to bring that heritage to my neighborhood.”
She says Dom Beijos will stock as many Portuguese wines as it can, as well as Old World and California varietals. There will be both complimentary tastings and more formal (paid) tastings. However, the selection will be focused around the $15 price point to ensure the shop is accessible to neighbors on a regular basis.
“You don’t have to spend $50 to buy a nice bottle of wine,” Abreu says.
In addition to six-packs, Dom Beijos will stock a cooler with single bottles and cans of local beers, including offerings from Creature Comforts and BlueTarp. There will be between 12 and 20 options at all times.
The 1,200-square-foot space does not have a bar, but it does have a counter, where Abreu will uncork bottles and pour glasses of wine for guests. Seating is limited to eight people outside (split between the front and back patios) and 16 inside (think counter stools, a sofa, a loveseat, and a communal table.)
The store will sell prepackaged snacks designed to be paired with wine. This may include cheese, meats, nuts, preserves, and bread. Abreu is hoping to work with local vendors such as Pine Street Market, the Spotted Trotter, and Sweet Grass Dairies.
“When Portuguese people greet each other, they give each other tiny kisses on the cheek. This is ‘Dom Beijos,’” Abreu explains. “The phase is associated with feelings of happiness and love; being with your friends, and all the feelings you acquaint with having wine.”
She says she designed the Dom Beijos space to feel cozy and comfortable, describing it as “antique-y with a very European, Old World feel.” The walls display paintings from a rotating selection of local artists, beginning with watercolors by Sara Haskew.
