d.41 Event Space

Dee and Anne Dalton opened Dalton’s Flowers in 1941 growing beautiful flowers and plants in greenhouses located on the current property. Raising their family in the house next door, the business flourished with the help of family and friends and became an institution of Downtown Overland Park. Dee and Anne will always be remembered as gracious, generous people who never hesitated to lend a helpful hand to those seeking gainful employment or welcome hungry folks into their home for a hot meal. 

 

Bill Dalton, the fifth of eight children, was a visionary. As Dee and Anne retired from the business, Bill stepped into their role, transitioning the original business from greenhouses to a retail setting; this was the start of what became Dalton’s Flowers & Gifts. He seized on this opportunity and opened a sister store, The Lower Level, in Kansas City River Market in the mid 1970’s. 

 

Years later, on a hot summer Sunday afternoon in 1987, a fire destroyed the flower shop. It was a complete loss. Bill, once again with help from family and friends, had Dalton’s Flowers back in business the very next day. Using temporary trailers and store fronts, business proceeded as usual and plans were underway to rebuild. In the spring of 1988, the project was completed. From the ashes arose an architecturally modern 7,500-square foot building which included a solarium/retail space, bricked fountain, office suite, and a state-of-the-art floral design area and cooler system.  Along with his sister Kathleen and brother Bob, Bill and his family continued to work tirelessly for the next 30 years expanding the floral and retail business.

 

Operating for overs 75 years, the business has seen its fair share of peaks and valleys. The family encountered a new problem; what is the future of the business? The third generation of Dalton’s realized several family members held wedding ceremonies, receptions, candle lit dinners, and other various parties in the retail space. These were widely successful events with outstanding feedback. What could be done with this unique retail space to compliment Dalton’s Flowers? 

 

An event space! The ultimate DIY project!

 

Spending countless week nights and weekends renovating the solarium/retail space, Bill’s children and family friends transformed the area into a charming, intimate event space. The team handcrafted every piece of the herringbone patterned wall. They designed and built the natural wooden bar top, repurposed the display cooler into an inviting cedar sitting area, stripped and sealed the natural concrete floors, and painted the interior and exterior of the building. With the new look and feel, the team decided this space warranted a new name; something modern but nostalgic. The importance of paying homage to the past while keeping the name fresh. After much debate and discussion, the name was finally settled! d.41. “d” representing Dalton’s Flowers and Gifts and “41” representing the year the business was established by Dee and Anne.  

 

This is our story. We hope to become a small part of yours. Welcome to d.41!