Courtesy Lauren Thorp
In between running around after her 3 and 1-year-olds, St. Louis native Lauren Thorp somehow finds time to run Bonboni Home & Gift Co. The shop, which opened in November on a quiet street in the Shaw neighborhood, offers an eclectic mix of new and vintage items for the home. Thorp recently took time out of her busy schedule to talk about the shop and how she makes it all work.
Why did you decide to open Bonboni?
I’ve wanted a shop for years but never pulled the trigger because I have young kids. I love staying home with them, so I really just wanted to have a part-time shop. But I could never figure out how to make a part-time shop work. In 2016, my husband and I were in the market for a house, and we stumbled upon the house we have now, which included a shop on the side of the property. It was perfect. We own the building, so I don’t have to worry about the overhead and rent.
Where did the name come from?
I discovered that in the ’40s—I don’t know the exact date—the building was a candy shop. I found an old photograph of the proprietor of the shop who lived in the house we live in now. She and her daughter were handing out bubble gum rations during World War II. Each child got five pieces of candy. As a nod to its past, we named it Bonboni.
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Lauren Thorp is the owner of Bonboni Home & Gift Co.
What kind of items do you carry?
We have a huge mix of products. There are old things, salvaged things, antiques, new handmade products—all mixed together in a very eclectic style. … We have a lot of gift items as well, like jewelry, handmade neckties for men, and dolls for children.
Does it match your personal style?
My style is pretty eclectic, too. … It’s a little bit farmhouse, a little bit bohemian, a little traditional, a little glam, kind of all mixed together. But I find keeping the color palette the same really helps bring cohesion.
How do you balance being a mom with running the shop?
Oh, it’s really hard. The word “balance” I don’t love, necessarily. That implies a scale that’s balanced, with both arms equal. Nothing is ever equal. Sometimes I have to put a little more mental energy into the shop. Sometimes that’s running smoothly for a week, and I can put a little more mental energy into being present at home, cooking dinners regularly, and doing puzzles with the kids all day. It’s always sort of a juggling act.
Is Bonboni only open on Saturdays?
Yes. We definitely are a destination shop, which I think works in our favor. … But when [the kids] are in school and I have a little more breathing room, I’d love to expand the hours. I love working in the shop. It brings me so much joy to do the merchandizing and changing things around and then talking to customers. I just love hearing their stories. It’s really fun to get to know people, especially in the neighborhood. I never ever dread going to work, which is one of the best feelings in the world.
Bonboni Home & Gift Co. is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays. Visit the shop’s website (http://www.bonbonistl.com/) or Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/BonboniSTL/) to see what’s currently in-store.
