Trying to find a good coffee shop or clothing store to buy from in the St.Louis area can be difficult, especially with all the major retailers. Supporting small businesses is  a win-win situation; you get good quality and carefully made products, and help a deserving business grow.

Mochi Donut factory near Manchester opened in 2022, and has become popular among teens. 

The business is family owned by the Hensons. They grew up in the Philippines where Carlo began his career in the food business. Once the couple moved to the United States, Jaen began her own small business. 

“Initially I started a side hustle while working full time. I had a photo booth, and I was selling purses. I started Ebay and Etsy, selling matching outfits, like mother and daughter ones.”

Being educated on how the industry works, Jaen believed her skills would assist her if she started a new business. After planning and preparing, the couple decided to open the shop in 2022. 

The shop offers a variety of donut and boba flavors, the most popular being the fruity pebbles and cookies and cream donuts.  The main ingredient in these donuts is Mochi, a type of rice from Japan. 

“Carlo’s cousin flew to California and someone introduced mochi donuts to him, [and since] we didn’t have mochi donuts here, Carlo suggested we make them.” Jaen said.

 Although the donuts are fried, the Hensons believe they are a better alternative. 

 “It’s more of a modified donut, it’s healthier because it’s made of glutinous and it’s fried in shortening.” Jaen said. 

Even after two years, Jaen still finds growing a business difficult. 

“Having a business is trial and error. It’s a never ending process. As you go you are learning a lot, and there’s many competitors. So [we try to] apply the best process to help us grow. Currently we are adding new products, like the Katsu sandwich and croissants.” Jaen said. 

Apart from the donut’s unique texture, the shop’s physical appearance also has an impact on its customers. With bright teal walls and white furniture, the interior has a soft atmosphere, which compliments the displayed donuts for that day near the register.

“[Our theme] is just a minimalist, clean and inviting look. Everyone can feel at ease coming here, especially if you’re studying. “ Jaen said. 

Alongside having a full time job, Jaen still tries to help her husband. A small room at the back of their shop serves as her office, which she abandons when customers pile in. 

As a hardworking couple, their shop has been doing well, and is a great place for anyone interested in trying out amazing donuts while studying or talking to a friend.

The lack of aesthetically pleasing coffee shops in St.Louis affects locals greatly. Although it is located in St.Charles, Mocha Point’s rich history and distinctive interior ensures excitement among its customers. 

The owners are the Othman brothers, Addel and Sarem. They were raised in St.Louis, and having a close connection with their Yemeni heritage, decided to open a coffee shop. 

“It was towards the end of my education at Maryville University. I personally didn’t want to take the corporate route, and me and my family were all into tea and coffee. So my brother and I had the idea to open an Arab style coffee shop in the STL area. You’ll see a bunch of these in New York, Michigan and Chicago, but not many in STL.” Addel said.

As a new business, it’s become popular among locals, and what makes it different is its authenticity and unique schedule. The coffee beans and tea are imported from Yemen, a country located in the Arab Peninsula. Their most admired beverage is their tea. 

“The Adeni chai [is the most popular]; Aden is a city in Yemen. Our most popular food item would be the honeycomb bread.” Addel said.

The light bread is stuffed with cheese, then soaked in a sweet syrup and topped with black seeds. 

In comparison to other coffee shops, they have late hours.

“The coffee shop down the street has a weird schedule. We’re a late night coffee shop, so we close at ten, and on weekends, at midnight. A lot of the locals here love coming to the shop late at night, drinking coffee, and getting their work done.” Addel said. 

Running a small business has its pros and cons. In some parts, owners aren’t limited and have the freedom to pick and choose the vibe they want their business to give. 

The layout and design of the shop has a large effect on its audience and marketing. Mocha point’s aesthetic incorporates Yemeni and American culture.  The logo consists of a Jambiya, a curved Yemeni dagger, to exhibit the Yemeni heritage. Inside, neutral furniture is accompanied by large plants and marble tables. Upon entering, a framed photo of Socotra Island in Yemen and harvested beans is displayed.

Despite its welcoming atmosphere, Addel wishes he wouldn’t have rushed the process.

“I would have taken some more time, and not rushed opening the business. Maybe changed the layout. When you’re the owner, you look at little things that no one ever looks at. Like [one of our] paintings, maybe I should have done a different painting. If I were able to take a second look at the layout, I would have changed it.” Addel said.

Despite the struggles of growing a business, the Othmans don’t regret their decision.

“I like being my own boss, and the sky’s the limit, nobody’s holding me back.” Addel said.

Lastly, closer to Summit, lies Autumn Grey Boutique. Near the 141 intersection, the store sells everything from permanent bracelets, themed cup coasters, and candles, to a separate section for men and children.

Owner Blair Collum started her business online six years ago. Doing everything on her own, she’s made sure to keep her business growing naturally. In 2023, Collum decided to open the storefront. 

“I’ve never taken out a loan or paid for followers so it’s all been very organic. I’ve done everything by myself.” Collum said.

Similarly to other small business owners, Collum has realised how much of an impact social media has on her customers. Being her main source of advertisement, she finds it difficult to get her name out there. Although they have been open for two years, they are still unknown to some.

“We have people come in everyday asking if we just opened,” Collum Said.

With the decline of boutiques in the area, Collum believes her business has made an influence on her customers. 

“We are the only boutique in the Valley Park and Fenton area, so its made a huge difference for people [wanting] to buy local and to be able to buy accessories, clothing, and gift items. During Christmas time we have a ton of gift items for people who don’t want to shop at the big box brands; Those who don’t want to shop at T.J. Maxx or Target, they want to shop local,” said Collum.

What makes this boutique different from others is their large audience. Having younger employees, Collum believes they can cater to highschool girls as young as sixteen and early college students. When creating this business, one of Collum’s goals was to insure everyone felt comfortable in their clothing, wherever they were. 

“My mom needed clothing that she could wear both to work and out in public without having two separate wardrobes so that was my goal. Clothing that you could wear to work, then go out with your girlfriends, wear on a date night, or wear at home.”

The boutique mainly serves as a preppy shop with tons of basics to choose from. 

“Our Judy blue jeans are super popular. The moms love them because they can size down in them.” Collum said.

Although she doesn’t not create the clothing herself, she has the freedom to modify some of the items she chooses to sell. 

“We can private label things. We can take samples and change colors and necklines, but we have not gone into the design process of our own items. I will have to bring on several more people, but I do like the idea and the ability to change certain schemes.”

In addition to clothing, they also sell candles and have permanent bracelets available.

“We have Sweet Grace [candles and air fresheners] which is a huge seller for us. Every candle or item sold by them, they will donate a meal to orphans. We have sold their products for two years now.” Collum said.

With permanent bracelets becoming popular, Autumn Grey has a dedicated corner for customers interested. Many stores who also offer these services are either too far, costly, or require appointments. At this boutique down the street, they insure affordable prices and allow walk-ins. 

“They are a best seller and we love doing them. All of our girls know how to do them, so you never need an appointment which is really nice. We try to keep the price affordable so that everyone can do them, and we run specials on them randomly.”  Collum said.

Lastly, to cater to those accompanying their wives or daughters, Collum decided to create a small area for children’s toys and mens gadgets. Originally she had planned to create a section with a TV and couch for men to watch sports, but that didn’t work out. Instead she offers mens toiletries and tools.

“My five year old son picks out a lot of the kids’ stuff we carry. He enjoys it so the warmies [stuffed animals] are hand over hand the most popular.” Collum said.

Although some of these small businesses are further away, they are great places to visit when nearby. They are hardworking businesses that care about their customers and deserve our support.