SHOPPING & SERVICE
NEW VINTAGE GIFT BOUTIQUE
Briefly Beautiful
Susan Curtis opened Briefly Beautiful, a vintage gift boutique, earlier this year as a homage to the clothing and accessories of her past. The University City shop stocks colorful women’s clothing, as well as collectibles, fragrances, and accessories. On any given day, a customer may walk out with a dress in a bold ’70s print, a vintage apron, a chunky bracelet, or a bottle of perfume from Demeter Fragrance Library.
NEW VINTAGE CLOTHING STORE
Euclid Vintage
St. Louis native Matt Kraus has always been a fan of thrifting. In college, he realized that other people were interested in his finds, which eventually led him to open Euclid Vintage last year. The Central West End spot specializes in ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s T-shirts, in addition to stocking an ever-changing array of jackets, jeans, hats, and other accessories.
LOCAL EYEWEAR BRAND
Carsten Boyd
St. Louis transplant Ramón Asunción Jr. describes his eyewear line, Carsten Boyd, as “sophisticated, classy, and unique.” He launched the brand in late 2021, bringing together his interests in design and fashion. A pair of Carsten Boyd sunglasses is meant to last, which is why Asunción sends his designs to Italy, where local artisans with decades of experience make every pair.
NEW HANDCRAFTED JEWELRY STORE
Collections by Joya
Collections by Joya started in 2016 as a way for owner Betsy Blancett Nacrelli to share the beautiful jewelry that she discovered on her world travels. After finding success selling her pieces in stores and at various events, she opened the flagship location in Webster Groves last year. The store stocks handcrafted jewelry made by artisans from all over the world and features Joya’s popular custom charm bar, where customers can create their own unique piece.
Making Moves
A range of top local shops now have new digs.
Webster Groves was a popular destination last year for businesses on the move. Paisley, Never Enough, and KIND Apothecary, all longtime Old Webster-based boutiques, relocated to new, larger homes with better visibility nearby. Paisley was later joined along Lockwood by Collections by Joya, which opened its first permanent shop. A mile away, Papillon Press opened in Webster’s Old Orchard area, while neighbor Union Studio said goodbye to its former Tower Grove location. Meanwhile, MoModerne Design Shop made the jump from Watson to City Foundry STL, and Maplewood-based Treasure Aisles Antique Mall expanded to the building next door. In Kirkwood, Fox & Hound Antiques opened a second location along Argonne Alley, and Rusted Chandelier moved from downtown Kirkwood to Manchester.
CUSTOM HATS
Hawthorn Hat Co.
Michelle Senay has long admired Western wear, and in 2022, she realized there was a local market for custom wool hats after she personalized one for herself. She started Hawthorn Hat Co. and now creates and sells custom hats—which come in a variety of sizes, colors, and brim and crown heights—using leather bands, fabric scraps, branding, jewels, and other decorations.
BUILDING MATERIALS & DIY KITS
Make It Mid-Century
The midcentury-modern enthusiast Susan Halla owns Make It Mid-Century, an online company offering door kits, shutters, laminate, ceramic tile, fabric, and home décor to “rescue mid-century homeowners from bland chain store improvements.” Since launching the company in 2017, Halla has designed and sourced her own materials to provide niche products for commercial and residential clients who want to restore the character of their space or simply make it pop.
STL-INSPIRED HANDBAGS
Manolo Bouvier
Manuel de Jesús Garcia Cruz launched his first handbag collection, a homage to his adopted hometown of St. Louis, at a Missouri History Museum fundraising event in April 2024. “The Louie” is the first silhouette from his fashion label, Manolo Bouvier. The hybrid tote bag/handbag comes in a variety of colors and “reflects the elegance and roughness that St. Louis has to offer,” he says.
OUTSIDE APPAREL
Ope Outdoors
Many people bring home a gift shop souvenir when they visit a national park, so entrepreneur Juno Musonda decided to create merchandise that celebrates the parks he loves to visit in Missouri and Illinois. Taking its name from a common “Midwest nice” saying, his company, Ope Outdoors, sells T-shirts, hats, and other items featuring Musonda’s own designs. He strives to create products that will last, both because of their quality and because of the timeless appeal of the designs.
NYC–TO–STL FASHION
Artemas Quibble
Natasha Chekoudjian and Jason Ross founded Artemas Quibble, a line of handcrafted belts, jewelry, and leather goods, in 2012, while living in New York City. Their work quickly garnered attention in the fashion world, appearing in GQ and Vanity Fair, among other publications, and their pieces have been worn by such celebrities as Keanu Reeves, Daniel Craig, and Gisele Bündchen. In 2020, the couple moved to Chekoudjian’s hometown of Webster Groves, where they’re continuing to build the business.
WESTERN WEAR
Tecovas
Last year, Western wear company Tecovas opened its first St. Louis location in Plaza Frontenac. The Austin-based brand creates boots, apparel, and accessories that “honor the true spirit of the West.” The Plaza Frontenac location also offers complimentary de-bossing, leather branding, and boot shines.
PERSONALIZED PRESENTS
Wrapped + Written
Designer Leah Spiros can be found doing live calligraphy or engraving at events across town. Through her company, Wrapped + Written, she personalizes everyday objects by hand using calligraphy, painting, gold leaf, and engraving. By embellishing wine bottles, ornaments, and a wide variety of other items, Spiros adds beauty and meaning, making an ordinary object extraordinary.
Regional Retail
A look at locally inspired gifts from the new Chuck and Lou in St. Charles
WELLNESS
ROOM TO RUN
Running Niche
Running Niche recently expanded its storefront in Botanical Heights. In addition to offering footwear and gear, the shop hosts weekly 3-mile runs into Tower Grove Park during spring, summer, and fall from its South City storefront.
NEW DOWNTOWN WORKOUT SPOT
Locust Street Athletic and Swim Club
Situated in the lower level of the 21c Museum Hotel, the Locust Street Athletic and Swim Club houses a range of state-of-the-art strength and cardio equipment, sauna and steam rooms, spa treatments, personal training, and a beautifully restored four-lane tile lap pool. Day passes and memberships are available.
NEW ATHLETIC FACILITY
Kirkham Fieldhouse
In Webster Groves, the new indoor facility hosts practices, clinics, and private lessons for a variety of youth sports: baseball, softball, lacrosse, soccer, and more. The fieldhouse includes two 4,000-square-foot turf fields and performance training areas. Housed inside the facility, Ironwood Wellness also offers individual, semi-private, and small-group training services.
PEDAL TO THE PITCH
St. Louis Urbanists
St. Louis Urbanists—a grassroots advocacy group working to create safer and more effective infrastructure for pedestrians, bicycle users, transit riders, and even car drivers in the St. Louis region—has started a “bike bus,” or caravan ride, for CITY SC home games. The rides leave from Amsterdam Tavern 75 minutes before kickoff, pick up riders along the way, and return along the same route after the match.
IN A PICKLE
Padel + Pickle Club and Chicken N Pickle
With pickleball being all the rage, two new clubs offer an alternative to playing at the park. Padel+Pickle houses six European-style panoramic padel courts and eight CushionMaster II pickleball courts. In St. Charles, Chicken N Pickle features 11 pickleball courts and other games, as well as dining, drinks, fire pits, TVs, and a stage for live music.
Park Places
New additions to local green spaces
New Hoops: Forest Park finally has basketball courts. This summer, the Nicholas J. Booker Basketball Courts opened just north of the visitor center, with two full courts and two half-courts. And last fall, Tower Grove Park opened two basketball courts near the intersection of Arsenal and Bent. Chain of Rocks Park: Great Rivers Greenway worked with a variety of stakeholders to create this new green space just to the west of the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge, including enhanced security, new natural features, and visitor amenities. Love Bank Park: Formed from two vacant lots near the corner of Nebraska and Cherokee, the park offers basketball courts, chess tables, a picnic and seating area, and space for community events.
TRAVEL
NEW OUTDOOR ESCAPES
Finley Farms and Thunder Ridge Nature Arena
Bass Pro founder Johnny Morris’ outdoor-inspired attractions somehow continue to get bigger and better in southwest Missouri. At Finley Farms in Ozark, guests can enjoy farm-to-table fare at Ozark Mill Restaurant while overlooking the Finley River. And in nearby Ridgedale, catch a show at Bass Pro Shops’ Thunder Ridge Nature Arena, which hosted the Rolling Stones this summer.
NEW FAMILY ADDITIONS
Kansas City
KC is known for football, fountains, and barbecue, but there’s a lot more to enjoy. The city recently opened the world’s first women’s professional sports facility: CPKC Stadium, home of the Kansas City Current. Pennway Point is a new entertainment district, complete with a Ferris wheel. Last summer, the Kansas City Zoo opened Sobela Ocean Aquarium, housing sharks, octopus, and more. And in North KC, The Rabbit hOle is a new museum devoted to children’s literature, with such characters as Curious George and Madeline.
NEW RIVERSIDE PARK
Memphis’ Tom Lee Park
While St. Louis has long had its own impressive riverside park, Memphis recently redeveloped 6 miles along its riverfront. Opened last September, Tom Lee Park is a gathering space for Memphis residents and visitors alike. There’s a playscape, a sunset canopy (providing shade for basketball games, yoga classes, and small concerts), Hammock Grove, and even a Ben & Jerry’s that overlooks the river.
SALT MEETS SONG
The Salt Shed
Located in Chicago’s Salt District, The Salt Shed is an indoor/outdoor music venue that opened in 2022 in what was once Elston Dock, a former distribution hub for local salt. The alfresco space offers food and beverages before indoor concerts. At other times, you’ll find markets, yoga classes, and food festivals.
HOOPS & HOOSIERS
Bicentennial Unity Plaza in Indianapolis
Last August, a new plaza opened in the heart of Indianapolis to celebrate 200 years of unity. Located just north of Gainbridge Fieldhouse, home of the Pacers and Fever, the downtown plaza provides a place for pickup basketball games, pickleball, roller-skating, and more.
DYLAN & DRINKS
The Last Refuge in Louisville
Fans of Bob Dylan can find refuge in a historic Louisville church that dates back to 1880. Opened earlier this year, the bourbon bar boasts ornate rooms with plush couches and stained-glass windows, a menu with shareable plates, and live music on Fridays.
COMING ATTRACTIONS
A look at much-anticipated projects across the Midwest
Oasis at Lakeport at Lake of the Ozarks is expected to become a premier tourist destination with amusement rides, an indoor waterpark, public boat slips, restaurants, and other attractions. Nashville Yards is a 19-acre mixed-use development project that’s expected to bring more than 350,000 square feet of retail and entertainment space to Nashville. In Kansas City, plans for the second phase of Pennway Point call for redeveloping the historic Carter Waters building into boutique retail, office, and event space. And just to the west, stretching over the Kansas River, Rock Island Bridge will be America’s first entertainment district over a river. The development is slated to include a 300-person event space, an area for farmers markets and festivals, and a host of outdoor activities.
FAMILY
NEW PLAYSCAPE
Brentwood Park
Like a child’s dream, designed with input from the community, the new and accessible playscape in Brentwood Park features a zip line, climbing wall, net climber, splash pad, waterfall, mommy-and-me swing, special sensory areas, and more. Organized by age groups, the 3-acre, $7 million playground connects to the Great Rivers Greenway trail system.
NEW FAMILY FUN
Game Show Battle Rooms
Game-show fans are immersed in the action at the newest entertainment destination at The District in Chesterfield. Game Show Battle Rooms takes versions of classic TV game shows and brings them to life on full sets.
NEW MINI-GOLF COURSE
Magic Mini Golf
Located in the East Delmar Loop, the latest development from Joe Edwards features 18 holes of miniature golf, two shuffleboard courts, a Ferris wheel, pinball, and basketball arcade games, as well as food and a full bar. Designed in Edwards’ signature retro style and accented with display cases of his personal golf- and magic-themed collectibles, the venue is perfect for a family night, date night, or private event.
NEW PHOTO-OP SPOT
Museum of Illusions
The newest addition to City Foundry’s entertainment offerings, this fun, family-friendly destination features plenty of Instagram-worthy optical illusions and interactive playrooms for all ages. It even includes St. Louis–specific additions to displays, such as images of city hall, the Gateway Arch, and a model St. Louis smokehouse.
NEW FAMILY EXHIBIT
The Magic House’s Story Time Magic
Kid-lit classics come to life at the beloved museum’s first major exhibit installation in 15 years. Immersive playscapes include a Winnie the Pooh–inspired treehouse, Peter Rabbit’s garden, and the house from Goodnight Moon.
Shop Small
New stores for little ones
The Little: This quaint neighborhood toyshop in Webster Groves offers “intentional toys for magical moments” including costumes, science and STEAM toys, musical toys, puzzles, games, and more. Charlie Rae: A stylish, handpicked selection of top baby and toddler clothing brands, as well as in-house designs at affordable prices, can all be found in this Edwardsville boutique. Daffodilly: This Webster Groves store carries adorable baby and children’s clothing, as well as matching designs for Mom and Dad, personalized items, accessories, toys, and games. The Ellenor: A specialty baby/kids’ boutique in Webster Groves, The Ellenor offers custom embroidery on a variety of products, starting at just $13.
NEW ESCAPE ROOMS
Adventures of Intrigue
In the Jefferson Underground building, Susan and Jim Seubert have built an immersive escape room experience featuring more than 15 theme areas with intricate sets created by local artisans and inspired by New York’s Museum of Intrigue, which advised on the project. Adventures of Intrigue offers packages for date nights, families, birthday parties, team-building events, and more.
NEW BASEBALL DESTINATION
The Rawlings Experience
St. Louis baseball fans have a new hangout beyond Busch Stadium. Last spring, legendary equipment manufacturer Rawlings opened The Rawlings Experience alongside its corporate headquarters in Westport Plaza. It offers such attractions as the Rawlings Gold Glove Vault, baseball artifacts, and a full baseball and softball gear retail store.
KIDDING AROUND
Some of STL’s most beloved family attractions continue to grow.
Union Station’s Midway: Set to open during Memorial Day weekend 2025, the expanded amusement area will include three new rides: a train-themed coaster, a pirate-ship-themed ride, and a swing ride inspired by the 1904 World’s Fair. Saint Louis Zoo’s Henry A. Jubel Foundation Destination Discovery: Replacing the former Children’s Zoo, this new attraction will prioritize animal encounters. It’s slated to open in 2026. Saint Louis Zoo WildCare Park: Scheduled to open in 2027, this new safari experience will allow guests to get up close and personal with giraffes, rhinos, kangaroos, and more on 101 acres of grassland in North County.
