STL Style on Cherokee Street

By Mary Cullins

Part of my childhood was spent on the corner of Cherokee and Compton at a hot spot called “Thurmer’s”. At that time, owner Norb Thurmer, sponsored fast pitch softball teams, served the best steaks in town, and catered to sports addicts and their families. That was then.

Today if you visit that same corner you will discover that things have changed. The garden shop is still there across the street; it is open year round, and sitting where the tavern once was at 3159 Cherokee is an art store called Peridot. Next to that at 3155 Cherokee Street is the shop I went to visit.

STL Style is a local business selling namely tee shirts where the owners (twins) want to dress you up in their love of St. Louis. I met Jeff and Randy Vines at their shop for a personal tour, but it was the brothers’ love for all St. Louis neighborhoods and “Cherokee West” as they coined it that really impressed me.

Their excitement about the new businesses on this end of Cherokee was contagious. They stated that to them, “Cherokee Street is to St. Louis what St. Louis is to the nation. It is authentic, under the radar, somewhat misunderstood, but always delivers an amazing experience.”

Their store has been open for about a year now, but their website www.STL-style.com has been operating for 10 years. In addition to tee-shirts with 50 different STL designs they also sell messenger bags, totes, hats, mugs, and baby tees. If you are like me and prefer small shops to crowded malls this is a great neighborhood to do some holiday shopping.

In addition to the flower, art, and tee-shirt shops you will also find Jackson Pianos, Tower Taco restaurant, a used book store, and St. Louis Curio shop.

Jeff and Randy said all the businesses along Cherokee street do not compete with each other, but they collaborate. That is how I felt when I went back to this corner, collaboration of old and new; I miss the good ‘ol days at Thurmers, but I welcome the revitalization of this wonderful childhood place where I spent so many summers!

For more pictures click (here).

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Posted by The Core Editor on Nov 12 2010. Filed under Entrepreneurship, Feature Story. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.