I’ve always had a fascination with main streets. I guess since I grew up near Downtown St. Louis and didn’t necessarily have a Main Street to call my own, I thought they were the coolest things! In past summers, I try to pick a fun project to work on and this year I thought it would be neat to document different main streets.
Festus Main Street – Then and Now
A shoo-in on this list was Festus Main Street. My family and I moved out of St. Louis and to Festus when I was 12 and I thought Main Street was the coolest. Little did I realize how much growth the area could have and how much more I would love it now.
As I walked around the street, I realized many businesses that have been there since I can remember. The Festus Flower Shoppe, The Optical Shop of Festus, Petit Paree, Fishers Barbershop Delux, Father Time Clock Shop, Pogolinos The Bridal Shoppe and Gordon’s Stoplight Diner are all landmarks to Main Street. But there are definitely new places that are new and haven’t been around as long: Main & Mill Brewing Company, Queen Anne’s Lace, Twin Cities Best Kept Secret, Four Brothers Mead, The Prom Store and so many more!
Boutiques and Shops
Some new boutiques have opened up on Main Street in the past few years, giving some great options for gifts, clothing and more! The Daisy Chain’s name was inspired by multiple ladies named Daisy in their family. The store offers gifts, antiques and a special exhibit on the Historic Tanglefoot Association, a non-profit organization of business-owners and citizens in Festus and Crystal City.
Another shop I visited on my Main Street tour was Streetside Whimsy with The Selfie Studio. Owned by a fellow photographer, Paige Butler, she decided to take her desire to own a shop with her passion of photography and meld them into one. Upstairs, she has a studio made up to provide great selfies while downstairs houses her boutique filled with adorable clothing, jewelry and household items.
My favorite boutique on Main Street which I frequent is Strings. They sell some of my favorite boutique brands, delightful accessories, fun graphic tees and have some of the friendliest ladies working there! I’m constantly replying to one of their Instagram posts saying that I’ll have to come pick that item up!
I checked out a find-all type of shop that had just a little of everything, Kennedy’s Catchall and Auction. It was a delight to talk with the woman working at the front counter. When she found out I was a photographer, she showed me some cameras she hadn’t set out yet to see if I had any interest. This is a shop where you can find something new each time you visit!
Coffee Coffee Coffee
Lastly my time on Main Street can’t come to an end without coffee and Main Street offers several options, all with local roasters. The Brick Bistro and Brew serves Mississippi Mud Coffee along with their pizzas, sandwiches and cuisine. You can find Pine Mountain Country Coffee House and Mercantile serving Park Avenue Coffee alongside their ice cream creations and mercantile items. The Corner Cup Micro Bakery, my personal favorite and often a work spot, not only serves up scrumptious baked goods but they serve Kaldi’s Coffee.
As you can see, I put a small dent in the massive number of businesses that are now located on Festus Main Street. It was a delight to capture some moments during my walk, talk to shop owners and locals and enjoy this main street I call my own!
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