Like most small-business owners, Bonboni Mercantile Co. owner Lauren Thorp pivoted to online sales during the pandemic. She was pleasantly surprised by the response. By spring, when she was limiting the store’s capacity to three people, there was a line down the Shaw neighborhood shop’s block, and some visitors waited almost 30 minutes just to enter. Now, the shop at 2246 Klemm is seeing numbers comparable to pre-pandemic summer days. Here’s a preview of what you might find inside.
Green French stoneware plate set
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“I love the material and matted sheen of these plates,” Thorp says. “The color is cheery and brings a smile to my face.”
Stinson bag
“I gravitate toward bright, saturated colors, and this bag is evidence of that,” she says. The tote is handmade from sisal, with leather handles, and its tassels provide a pop of color.
“House of Vermeer” original painting
“Jessica Hitchcock is a talented local artist, and this is one of my favorite paintings of hers,” says Thorp. Hitchcock even once painted live in her shop, and Thorp’s husband later gifted her with the artwork Hitchcock created that day.
Handmade bunny doll
“Andrea Martin hand-makes cute woodland stuffed animals and goes above and beyond by creating cute outfits for them,” says Thorp. Note the hand-embroidered carrot on the bib of this particular bunny’s overalls.
Vintage vessel candle
Thorp offers a line of candles, Be Bright, which she hand-pours in her studio that’s attached to the shop. Customers choose from a selection of vintage vessels, then pick a favorite fragrance, and Thorp creates a custom candle for them.
Watercolor art print
“This print by local artist Cat Merrick shows the diversity and beauty of the historic pavilions at Tower Grove Park,” says Thorp. (It’s a bestseller and comes in various sizes.)
Premium diamond-pattern Turkish towel
“You can use this towel at the beach or pool, post-yoga, or as a picnic blanket,” she says.
Kantha Talia necklace
Women artisans in India make these necklaces, handmade from upcycled saris wrapped around beads. “Each is completely unique and adds a whimsical finishing touch to any outfit,” Thorp says.
