Maria and Pasquale (Cap) Capozzi

Pasquale (Cap) Capozzi arrived in Nelson in 1907.  After three years working numerous jobs he made his way to Kelowna and opened Capozzi’s Cash Groceries on Bernard Avenue.  After his store was well established he became involved as an agent for many of the farmers in the area.  This led him to join his neighbouring store owner, W A C Bennett, in forming a winery, using apples grown in the area.  The switch to grapes proved more successful with the resulting Calona wines established in 1931.  One of Cap’s landmark development projects was the Capri  Hotel and Shopping Centre.  In 1921 he married Maria Mussatto and they raised three sons Joe, Herb and Tom.  Pasquale was proud of his fellow Italian countrymen and often sent out customers from his store to meet them.