Flowers by Evans in its hey-day, around the mid-1990s. All photos in this article except for maps are courtesy of Stefanie Campbell. The business was handed down to daughter Stefanie in 2001, then spelled “Steffanie.”
It was just a small building on Reynolds Road in 1979. From that year until 2001, it was Flowers by Evans, then it was passed down to a daughter, to become Flowers by Steffanie in its final two years. For newcomers to Bryant, this might not mean much. But for those who knew the owners, Evans Caple and her husband Raymon and family, it was an institution.
Evans and Raymon Caple with their dog Honey Bea. Honey Bea. Raymon was a beekeeper for twenty years.
According to Evans’ daughter Stefanie Campbell, the business began at the corner of N. Reynolds Road and Ethel, where Liberty Real Estate is now. They moved in 1987 and installed a modular building at 2101 N. Reynolds Road, next to the Bryant Post Office.
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- Later location at 2101 N. Reynolds Rd, 1987 – 2017.
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- Early location at N. Reynolds and Ethel, 1979 – 1987.
Mrs. Caple stated that local resident Dan Shearer installed the modular structure and it lasted all these years, except that it has fallen into disrepair recently, so it is coming down. Related story link at end of this article.
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- Inside 1
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- Inside 2
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- Inside 3
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- Inside 4
Caple was a pioneer of sorts in Bryant. Another daughter, Susan Gardner, went on about her mother’s accomplishments. “Born in Bryant, Hornet graduate, female business owner. Before that she was the Church Secretary at Bryant FUMC for years. She was the first female Bryant Chamber of Commerce president and she continues to support many local business owners and local charities.” Caple was also President of the Arkansas Floral Association in 1993.
Their mother still lives on the same street where she was raised – four blocks from the house she was born in. Mr. Caple passed away in April of 2017.
“I don’t know what Momma’s immediate plans are for the land,” stated Gardner, “she is in no hurry to sell but probably will after a time. But rest assured whatever she decides she will have the best for Bryant in her decision.”
Meanwhile, the building itself is being taken apart and pieces that can be re-purposed are going to families and different organizations. For example, the little shingled roof from the sign out front will become the roof on a child’s playhouse.
The former florist building at 2101 N. Reynolds Road is about to be dismantled. Useful parts will be donated to families and organizations.
“My dad passed in April this year. So this year has been rough,” stated Stefanie. But my husband and I decided to take on the tear-down to ensure that it’s legacy lives on. We feel that it would be easier on Mom. If it was torn down out of love and re-purposed not just going to the landfill.”
Read more accolades and memories from the Bryant community in Stefanie’s Facebook post. You can also follow Stefanie’s adventures in taking over her dad’s beekeeping hobby at The Bee Man’s Daughter on Facebook. Finally, you can scroll to see the related article on what was in this location most recently.
RELATED STORY:
“Next door to the Bryant Post Office, in the little green and white manufactured structure…” READ MORE.