To say Georgetown is fond of red poppies is an understatement. The town square is blooming with the flowers everywhere you look—from public art, to bike racks and benches, to storefront window displays. The obsession started when Henry “Okra” Purl Compton, an Army corporal stationed in France during World War I, gave his mother seeds he gathered from red poppy fields in Belgium. She planted them in her garden and then blooms started sprouting all over town. In 1990, when local groups banded together to plant 100 million seeds, the Texas State Legislature designated Georgetown “The Red Poppy Capital of Texas.”
Named after early settler George Washington Glasscock in 1848, the town 30 miles north of Austin has dozens of businesses situated on the square itself. The downtown contains many of its original buildings dating to the 1870s, and quite a few merchants have framed photos and newspaper clippings that tell the story of their building’s former tenants. Gone, however, are the antiques shops and the landmark department store Gold’s, replaced by trendy restaurants, bars, and boutiques—a handful of which we highlight here. “When I was a kid, there were boarded-up buildings. It wasn’t a cool place,” says longtime resident Lori Mann, who co-owns Georgetown Winery with her husband, Patrick. “Now it’s become very much a hub here in Georgetown.”
Enjoying this article?Williamson County Courthouse
In the center of the square stands the county’s fifth courthouse, built in 1911 in a Neoclassical style by Austin architect C.H. Page. In the 1960s, controversial renovations changed the exterior of the building. The alteration “was coined by a Southwestern University professor as ‘the Massacre of 1966,’” says Ben Geiger, curator of the Williamson Museum. In 2006, it was restored to its original design.
Hydrate
This smoothie and juice bar is located in one of the city’s oldest structures, the Shafer Saddlery Building, built in 1870. It was the site of the log cabin that served as the city’s first courthouse. hydratetexas.com
Lulu’s Pie Shoppe
Chicago native Lisa Franke, whose mother nicknamed her Lulu, sold homemade pies out of a 1967 Mobile Scout trailer before opening the town square location in 2022. She and son Noah make sweet and savory pies and other baked goods daily. luluspieshoppe.com
Blushing Belle Boutique
This women’s shop sells “boho western” clothes, jewelry, and accessories, but it’s best known for its Hat Bar, where shoppers can customize cowboy hats, trucker caps, and more.
blushingbelle.com
The Williamson Museum
Georgetown is the county seat of Williamson County. Learn all about the area’s history in this building that once housed a bank. Before entering, take a selfie at the statue of Robert McAlpin Williamson, aka Three-Legged Willie, the Texas Ranger, founding member of the Republic of Texas, and county namesake.
williamsonmuseum.org
Georgetown Winery
Sip wine made with grapes from a vineyard in Rockdale, about 45 miles east of Georgetown. The shop has been on the square since 2008 and is known for its specialty peach variety. “It’s our most award-winning and our bestselling wine,” says co-owner Lori Mann.
georgetownwinery.com
Gold Burger Diner
Named after landmark Gold’s Department Store, the diner opened in July and is one of four local businesses owned by Cody Hirt and Brad Stritmatter. Their first one, Mesquite Creek Outfitters, is a popular bar and outdoor clothing and accessories shop that’s also on the square. instagram .com
Art Escape
For nearly 30 years, this shop has sold handmade goods from artisans across the U.S. and fair-trade items from international makers. Current owners Loela Barry and Johan Kritzinger, who took over the store eight years ago, are also artists who create wood sculptures and paintings on metal canvases. Here, you can find unbreakable red poppy ornaments from Italy. artescape.com
Handcrafts Unlimited
This all-volunteer nonprofit gift shop has been in its location since 1983, making it the oldest continuously operating store on the square. The merchandise, including quilts, woodworking, doilies, soaps, wreaths, bags, and tchotchkes, is all handcrafted by people over 50. handcraftsunlimited.com
Mikey V’s and Tacos on the Square
Browse the local hot sauce maker’s products, such as Texas Exes, a smoky blend of seven different peppers. The taco restaurant in the back serves dishes like The Texan: shredded brisket birria, refried beans, cheese, and Mikey V’s Fatal Mango barbecue sauce on a flour tortilla. mikeyvsfoods.com
