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Let’s face it: the lure of convenience at Amazon or your local big-box behemoth is real. However, St. Louis has great boutiques where you can find much better, more unique finds, from clean, retro furniture to designer items on the cheap, to sassy mugs and t-shirts for the bad boss in all of us. You just have to put in the work. Shopping local is a scavenger hunt, and the fun isn’t just in finding the merchandise inside the store, but also in finding the stores themselves. These hidden gems are scattered around town for you to discover. And when you do, you’ll feel good knowing your money is staying here in St. Louis to support your neighbor. Drop in, say hello to the owners and discover something new. —Rosalind Early

SCREENSHOT ON TWITTER

STL PoliticalClips.

The @StlPoliticClips account is one of the most important Twitter followers you can follow as a St. Louisan right now. A community-based research project started by Joshua Lawrence (@JoshuaLawrenc_) captures important moments from the St. Louis Board of Aldermen and posts short video clips of them on Twitter, helping St. Louisans who who don’t have the time (or attention) for six-hour meetings to stay connected with local government. The account not only posts potentially viral clips of aldermanic meetings, but also transcribes the dialogue and tracks the bills being discussed in a public Google Doc. @STLPoliticClips is a testament to how committed residents are to making the city a better place, making local government accessible to the public and deserves a round of applause. – Jenna Jones

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Protagonist cafe.

The epidemic has affected many things for us: gatherings with friends and family, indoor meals, small businesses. Still, against all odds, a bunch of new indie bookstores have opened in St. Louis, and we love seeing them. In May Ymani Wince brought the Noir bookstore (2317 Cherokee Street, no phone) to Cherokee Street. Noir, which means black in French, includes books related to the black experience. South city neighbor Spine Indie Bookstore and Cafe (1976 Arsenal Street, 314-925-8087) opened the previous fall in Benton Park, stocking only books from independent bookstores and publishers. Readers hungry for more than prose can also find something to eat: Spine offers pastries from Delish, sandwiches from Elaine’s, and drinks from Blueprint Coffee and Big Heart Tea. For bibliophiles looking for a more robust drinks menu, Protagonist cafe (1700 South Ninth Street, 314-833-3085) opened in Soulard just before the pandemic, serving lattes, pour-overs and espresso alongside a collection of more than 5,000 used books. And in St. Louis County, specialty store Betty’s books (10 Summit Avenue, Webster Groves; 314-279-1731) It opened in late 2021, bringing comic books, comics, children’s literature, and manga to Webster Groves. – Monica Obradovic

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The Nook.

If you want to get stylish while supporting a great cause, look no further than Forai, a nonprofit that teaches St. Louis immigrants to make textiles and jewelry. American volunteers train the women to make bracelets, bangles, bibs and jewelry bags. Jen Owens founded the company in October 2009 after a transformative Thanksgiving dinner hosted by two Bhutanese families. The families lived in refugee camps in Nepal for 16 years before finally coming to America. The women knew very little English, and after years of being forgotten in the camps, Owens wanted to do something to help them earn extra income for their families. Forai – short for “Friends of Refugees and Immigrants” – allows women to learn crafts, get paid to produce products and work at home. Once they have mastered the necessary skills, they can even take home the equipment provided by Forai to work on their pieces. The program trains a maximum of a dozen craftsmen and 20-30 people from the sewing team each year. You can find Forai’s handicrafts in various shops around the city, including Nook (9794 Clayton Road, Clayton; 314-695-5435)nonprofit store benefiting St. Louis Children’s Hospital, or online at forai.org. —Rosalind Early

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Missouri is independent.

During the departure of the Missouri is independent In October 2020, editor Jason Hancock quoted the fabulous investigative journalist Wayne Barrett, who most notably worked at our former sister paper, the Village Voice. Barrett famously described journalists as “the people’s detectives”. The description defined Barrett’s work and came to define the Independent too. The nonprofit, online-only publication combines all the pillars of a good news source: fast, accurate, thorough, fair, and most importantly, present. As newsrooms have shrunk due to the perilous times of recent years, no other news source in Missouri has stuck to the statehouse with such devotion. The IndependentThis rock star team of longtime Missouri reporters not only covers the day’s breaking news, but also produces the state’s most important investigative journalism and presents it in a no-fuss, straight-to-the-facts style. free. There are no ads. No paywall. Just pure “detective” work for people. This is the second year in a row that we have selected the Missouri is independent as the best news source and we hope it won’t be the last. – Monica Obradovic

GREEN SHAG MARKET

Green Shag Market.

Do you need quality mid-century modern furniture? Mushroom shaped cookie jars? Elvis’ velvet painting? Vintage clothes to rival those of vintage Hollywood stars? The Green Shag Market (5733 Manchester Avenue, 314-646-8687) helps you find the vintage products you need—and even the ones you don’t. The market brings together different vendors, each with a different retro aesthetic. One booth offers a ’70s feel with groovy lava lamps and wicker peacock chairs, while the other suggests early Mad Men with clean lines and rounded corners. It’s basically a treasure chest for adults, and treasure hunters won’t have to dig too far to find items they’ll love. All merchandise at Green Shag rotates frequently, so each visit offers something new. Prices range from bargain to high-end (especially for furniture and original artwork). The Green Shag is open for weekend trips only, Friday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. – Monica Obradovic

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Spine Indie Bookstore and Cafe.

Spine Indie Bookstore and Cafe (1976 Arsenal Street, 314-925-8087) much more than a place to browse the shelves while sipping a cappuccino – although it’s a great place to do that. Spine is one of the best places in town to catch local talent. The store’s annual calendar of events is jam-packed with poetry and prose readings, which is perhaps not unexpected for a bookstore. But owner Mark Pannebecker also books standup comedy, singer-songwriter showcases and storytelling classes inspired by the long-running NPR show. The Moth. In addition, many of the books adorning the shelves have local roots. It’s not unusual for a bookstore to carry a handful of books by local authors, but Spine is a consignment retail bookstore, so it’s especially welcoming to writers who want to get their work into the hands of readers. If you want to know what St. Louis says, sings, jokes or writes, Spine is the place to do it all. —Ryan Krull

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Mesa Home

You can expect good finds Mesa Home (2619 Cherokee Street, no phone). The tiny store on Cherokee Street packs a punch in its small space with a strong selection of vintage clothing from the 1970s, 80s and 90s. Owner Annie Jones and her staff meticulously select the most stylish finds, and some pieces are recycled and reworked before being sold. On a recent Saturday, we found vintage jeans with hand-dyed patterns, tie-dyed pants, and jeans with vintage fabric. (Check out @mesa_home on Instagram for a preview.) Mesa also carries sustainable swag for little ones with Mesa Baby, where shoppers can find vintage clothes for kids. Beyond the cool threads, what makes Mesa Home so enjoyable is its connection to the community. Mesa sells home goods and artwork by local artists and makers. And for the past six years, the store has hosted the black-owned Black Friday pop-up market, showcasing the work of black artists, creatives, makers and brands. – Monica Obradovic

BENEFICIAL PHOTO

Apotheosis Comics and Lounge.

Hanging out at a comic book store on a Friday night might not be your favorite plan. But Apotheosis Comics and Lounge (two locations, including 3206 South Grand Boulevard, 314-802-7090) much more than a comic book store. While selling all the expected timeless comics and comics, Apotheosis is also a place to watch open mic comedy, play board games and sip cocktails. The store opened its second location at Cherokee Street and Jefferson Avenue last fall after its four-year flagship location on the South Boulevard was a success. The Cherokee Street location is more of an event space, with game tables and arcade games in the back. As for the South Grand original, its shelves full of comics have made it a new St. Louis classic. – Monica Obradovic

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Byrd designer shipment.

Where do Ladue’s best-dressed women toss their best clothes when they’ve run their course? Judging by the racks full of amazing finds Byrd designer shipment (8825 Ladue Road, Ladue; 314-721-0766), this stylish store in the Colonial Marketplace strip mall. Byrd’s succeeds where other consignment stores fail with smart organization (by size range, then color) and an impressive selection of new dresses, tops, jeans, and even stilettos from all the brands you want, from rich bitch designers like Versace. way to childhood favorites Kate Spade and Alice + Olivia. Let’s face it, the women who resell to Byrd don’t wear these items more than once or twice before discarding them, so the clothes are usually of-the-moment and in great shape. In addition, shopping here is particularly pleasant. The lighting has such a flattering glow that you’d swear you were in an expensive boutique. The bonus? The staff are so warm and friendly, you’ll know it’s not. – Sarah Fenske