The origin story of Grafik House, the newest branch of Tom Huck’s Evil Prints, starts with a dartboard and the need to expand the printshop. Huck’s prints are well-known in St. Louis and abroad for their larger-than-life size and extraordinary craftsmanship, but the master printer and his team found themselves outgrowing their space. Grafik House, under the direction of co-owner J.T. Felix, expands the crew’s screen-printing and educational capabilities, and creates a dedicated retail space.
Ending the workday with darts at the pub next door to Evil Prints had become a tradition for Felix and Jackson Kissel, marketing and events manager. After the latter was gifted a dartboard, they realized that “after scouring the walls inside Evil Prints (which is covered in art, posters, toys, and countless other collectibles), we decided we couldn’t put it up. There was no room.”
Stay up-to-date with the local arts scene
Subscribe to the weekly St. Louis Arts+Culture newsletter to discover must-attend art exhibits, performances, festivals, and more.
The two began to joke about renting the empty space two doors down for the new board, but then the idea began to grow. As Felix explains, “within this span of time Evil Prints had grown. We acquired a beautiful Takach Lithography Press and simply realized we needed more space to do this right. Jackson and I talked about what we could really do with the space and realized that Evil Prints needed two things: retail area with clearly marked/priced items and an expansion for commercial jobs. After talking with Huck and deciding the name, we pulled the trigger on the space.”
Grafik House plays on a diner aesthetic with the retail space in the front window and the print facilities in the back. You can shop for everything from $2–$5 stickers and zines to prints ranging from $20–$200. The retail space has a record-store feel to it. It’s not over-curated and allows the shopper to explore their way through the rotating selection of artwork from local and national artists. The facilities of both locations are accessible by monthly memberships and residencies, and the expanded screen-printing facilities in the new branch have given members a more conducive environment for that medium.
Stop by Grafik House to do some shopping for your walls at home or sign up for one of their upcoming classes. Make it a date night on February 12 for their special Valentine’s Day edition of Prints and Pints, or check out the rest of their spring programming.
