Amid art galleries and Mexican restaurants, new boutiques have opened along Cherokee Street, adding to the neighborhood’s already diverse mix. Whether you’re looking to pamper yourself with handmade bath products, decorate your home with vintage finds, or design custom clothing, these three shops are worth a visit.
Photography by Johnny Pelhank
Bespoke
2650 Cherokee, 314-665-2665
A custom design showroom, shop, and studio, Bespoke sells made-to-order garments for both men and women. The store’s matriarch, Dorothy Jones, is a former costumer, corset maker, draper, patternmaker, and fashion designer. She creates perfectly tailored blouses, skirts, and bridal gowns, as well as men’s waistcoats, for all shapes and sizes. Jones can customize
almost anything, from a garment’s silhouette to its fabric and more intricate embellishments.
Photography by Johnny Pelhank
Buddha Body & Bath
2304 Cherokee, 314-560-1548
If you’ve recently visited a craft show or farmers’ market in St. Louis, you may have seen Kathleen Behrmann selling her homemade soaps and bath products. Having developed a loyal following, the retired elementary-school principal opened her own storefront in November. Behrmann uses such natural ingredients as coconut and palm oils to create soaps, lotions, candles, and bath oils, which are available at the shop alongside locally made jewelry and accessories.
Photography by Johnny Pelhank
Future Ancestor
2617 Cherokee, 618-924-3775, future-ancestor.com
Brian and Julia Leenig have a passion for vintage home décor. After running an online store, the couple opened a brick-and-mortar shop in December. The aesthetic is decidedly midcentury, with notes of Danish, rustic, and industrial decor. The shop carries furniture, art, accessories, and handmade items from local artists. “In our own home, we mix vintage with high- and low-end pieces, and we love quality handmade items,” says Julia. “We bring all of those ideas to the store.”
