When Kismet Creative Center closed its doors in 2018, St. Louis lost a quality record store and consignment shop that also hosted hundreds of community events and concerts during its four years in the Cherokee Street neighborhood. Now, the duo of Tom Maher and Sonia Dae Slankard, who co-owned the space, carry that experience forward with Kismet Records (3302 Meramec), now open in Dutchtown.
“Kismet was where art and music intersected. We were holding space. As a store it was for collectors, and as a venue it was for musicians,” Maher says.
Get a guide to the region’s booming music scene
Subscribe to the St. Louis Music newsletter to discover upcoming concerts, local artists to watch, and more across an eclectic playlist of genres.
True to the spirit of the original storefront, the new Kismet Records hosts small concerts and gatherings such as poetry readings and workshops. But instead of moving store shelves and displays to make way for musicians, all of Kismet’s events now take place at the Annex, a 40-capacity room on the other side of the same building (4209 Virginia).
“The majority of the shows at the Annex have been local bands. It’s always rewarding for me to sit and watch a performance. To be honest, we almost never turn anyone down who wants to play,” Maher says.
The Annex has hosted approximately 30 concerts to date, with performances by St. Louis artists such as Two Hands One Engine, Damon Smith, and The Vertigo Swirl. The modest stage is a small-yet-effective centerpiece of the quirky space, adorned with patchwork and abstract art—a reflection of the kaleidoscopic vision shared by Maher and his creative partner, Slankard.
While the Annex has been utilized as a concert space, the room also hosts pop-up shops, collaborations, and creative workshops. The pair hope to produce a wide range of live events for the cozy South City venue by working with a variety of local artists and performers, including musicians who are testing out new songs or projects.
“This is a chance for you to practice in a low-risk environment. Maybe bands that haven’t played out in three or four years can come play and take that next step. Bands that have never done it before? This is a safe place to try it out,” Slankard says. As the former head facilitator for Art City at the City Museum, Slankard feels most comfortable when she’s helping others realize their own creative ambitions.
“I would really like to create a space where I get to engage with artists and musicians every day in ways that are nurturing to them and inspiring to me. That’s my big picture ideal,” she says.
When Kismet Creative Center opened in 2014, Slankard and Maher decorated the walls with broken clocks because they wanted the room to feel “timeless.” The space grew organically over four years, filling with consigned goods, clothing, and books among an ever-changing collection of media obscurities. Despite its cramped quarters, the store also hosted events with live bands and a variety of performance artists.
“By keeping the space open and accessible to anybody, we were building a reputation, connections, and friendships that have now stood the test of time,” Slankard adds.
Following the closure of the original concept, Maher ran two different record stores in a half-sized storefront at 2308.5 Cherokee Street, Wax Rats (from 2019 to 2023) and Infinite Spin (2023). After rebranding to Kismet Records, Maher opened up shop in The Wink!, a shared business incubator located in the historic Winkelmann Building at the corner of Meramec and Virgina.
“The Wink! has been very helpful in providing concepts such as Kismet a space to operate with lower-risk arrangements,” Slankard says. Their membership with The Wink! provides access to the Annex, and Kismet Records is eager to give opportunities to those that just need a place to share their work with the world.
Maher, a lifelong record collector, spends much of his time sharing obscure music with anyone lucky enough to drift into his shop on any given day. Meanwhile, Slankard works for Property Solutions, helping to build connections and foster growth for businesses in the Dutchtown neighborhood. Together, the two are just as dedicated as ever to helping those in the St. Louis arts and music community.
“It’s all about holding space. Someone wants to try something, and suddenly they’re given that chance to do it. Maybe they want to sing their songs or put their paintings up and they’ve never done it before,” Slankard says. “For me, that’s the magic.”
Kismet Records is open Thursdays from 2–6 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m.–5 p.m., and Sunday from 12–5 p.m. For booking or other collaborations, contact [email protected].
