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Driving around the St. Louis metropolitan area you will find bright yellow vans that read “Sams” across the side. Inside the vehicles of this Frenchtown, business is trained and dedicated professionals who devote their time to creating clean spaces for the community. Local resident, Jeff Sams, started this business 35 years ago with a cleaning…

As you step into Course Coffee, you’re greeted by the smell of freshly roasted coffee, the sound of community chatter and the sight of handpicked vintage furniture and decor. This newly-opened shop is located at 1218 N 2nd street. Course Coffee is run by the owner, Brandon Runk, his wife Sarah Runk and his cousin-in-law…

Frenchtown is now home to a shop where you can grab a hot cup of coffee and a fresh pastry. Grass Valley Roots at 903 N. 2nd Street, has now expanded their vintage finds shop to include this local coffee house. Community Uplifting In May 2018, owner Laura Henry opened the doors to Grass Valley…

What was once a vacant warehouse now stands as a new, modern storefront for Grateful Thread Interiors at 221 Franklin Street. Owner, Jill Ryan, decided to move her drapery, upholstery and interior design business from New Town to Frenchtown two months ago to add retail space. Wishing for Something More After studying various forms of…

Need a holiday getaway? Frenchtown has you covered. With plenty of places to grab treats and shop, we’ve created a quick itinerary for a weekend visit to historic Frenchtown St. Charles. Day 1 | Settle In Drive out on a Friday evening to the Victorian House at 709 N. 4th Street. This bed and breakfast…

Foundry Art Centre studio artist, Laura Hohn, was first exposed to art at a young age by her grandmother who was a painter. After visiting an art festival and seeing a potter, she begged her mom to buy her some clay to start creating pottery of her own. This was the start of finding and…

As Ann Croghan, a Foundry Art Centre artist paints with a full palette of colors in studios 15 and 16, she listens to gentle Christian music in the background. Starting as a child, she fell in love with colors, starting with memorizing all 120 colors of the Crayola crayon box. The idea that red-orange and…

At the end of every summer, Main Street is filled with booths of local artists offering their work to the local community to shop and explore. From Sept. 13-15, the Mosaics Fine Art Festival will be celebrating its 25 year anniversary. Where Art and Education Collide In 1992 the Mosaics Art Festival Association was established…

McNeil Motorcars and That Detail Girl at 1801 N. 2nd Street focus their businesses around more than just car servicing. They say their hearts go to the people they work for and create a friendly, open environment in their shop. Shane McNeil of McNeil Motorcars and Krista Grabenhorst of That Detail Girl are using their love…

Lydia Crespo spends her days in her studio at the Foundry Art Center with her ears filled with upbeat music and surrounded by an array of color and dye splattered across her workspace. Racks are stacked high with handcrafted clothing and accessories. Shelves hold an assortment of the produce used to create natural dyes. Crespo…

Immerse yourself in history now through Sept. 13 at the Foundry Art Centre with the 250 Years of St. Charles Exhibition, offering a look at the rich architectural history of the area. The exhibition is free to attend during Foundry hours in Gallery III. The exhibition was chosen in recognition of the 250th celebration of…

As you approach Studio 14 of the Foundry Art Centre, you see something completely different. Colorful, woven baskets sit on display and decorative bowls line the walls. There is a divider separating a portion of the room where the artist is at work. That artist is Sofi Seck. Originally from Senegal, Africa, she specializes in…

As you enter Fast Lane Classic Cars, you’ll find neon signs lining the walls next to dozens of classic cars in rows with the light hitting them just right to see the fresh detailing work making you feel like you just traveled back in time. “You don’t have to be a classic car person to…

When you walk into Awe Shirts you’ll be greeted with the sight of friends and family sitting and working in the back of the shop while laughing and catching up. This Frenchtown shop is owned by friends Carolyn Aubuchon and Shannon Hancock. They specialize in custom T-shirts and other apparel like shorts and hoodies. The…

Inside the walls of Kende’s Printing, machines are running and employees are working hard to print up to 750,000 envelopes in a single work day. This local shop has the ability to cover large and small needs for printing, numbering, folding and glueing. Owner Ken Lafser has had businesses in five different locations in the…

When the first Friday of the month comes around, a line wraps around North 2nd Street in Frenchtown. Eager customers are waiting outside of Secondhand Chic Marketplace to get first pick at the month’s selection. Owner, Laura Morrison, opens the door and waits at the counter for about 20 minutes during the calm before the…

As you walk down the aisle of the Foundry Art Centre, you’ll discover glass windows showcasing artists at work using mediums from cloth to clay. As you walk through the doors of Studio 5, you’ll find walls and tables filled with iconic scenes from the St. Louis and St. Charles areas. It’s no surprise the…

With tall ceilings and plenty of space, the old Steel Shop here in Frenchtown is the ideal spot for Climb So iLL’s newest location. The modern-style indoor rock climbing gym is set to open their new location at 650 North Main Center in suite 105 later this year. Currently, they have a location at 1419…

White Traditions Bridal House brings family and friends of brides together down in Frenchtown for an exciting day to shop for the perfect dress. The bridal house sells a variety of on-trend wedding gowns from sizes 6 to 28 in a no-pressure environment where brides have the luxury of enjoying the dress shopping experience. The…