Provisions St. Louis sells happiness.
As 1960s folk rock plays in the background and eucalyptus incense burns in the corner, customers can peruse whimsical décor, festive barware, engaging books and brilliant accessories. The shop emanates a sophisticated yet playful air, attracting aspirational shoppers who want their homes to look, feel, sound and smell the same.
“We work hard to ferret out merchandise that isn’t widely available in other gift boutiques,” Debra Hunter, who owns Provisions St. Louis with her husband Ross, says. “We search vendors from all over the world to find wonderful niche products.”
From embroidered floral throw pillows to artistic wooden board games to a Betsey Johnson necklace layered with gummy bears, every item has a colorful, creative nature.
After moving from San Francisco to St. Louis, Debra and Ross opened Provisions St. Louis in the Central West End in November 2018, using their extensive retail experience to curate products that make gifting easy.
“The Central West End was one of the first neighborhoods that we visited,” Debra says. “We immediately fell in love with it – and consequently, the entire city.”
Over the years, the couple has leaned into some of the best-selling products, including birch trays. Meant for parties, they’re almost too beautiful to use. Imagine fanciful scenes where speckled koi swim among Granny Smith apples and dogs wear flaring horns full of flora and fauna on their heads – you can’t cover that up with cheese and crackers!
Taking up significant shelf space, candles are also a big hit. “Candles are the perfect gift,” Debra enthuses. “They come in various styles, they fit into any design, and they smell fantastic.”
Different lines resonate with different people. Botanica candles transport you to the Pacific Northwest with cool, fresh scents or the Golden State with the aromas of redwood, sage and sea salt, while Moodcast candles reflect personas such as homebody, stunner, luminary, daydreamer and sinner. The tarot card candles featuring The Empress, The Lovers, The Sun and The Moon are also fun.
“I don’t know about you, but I love to shop when I’m on vacation. By buying something special at a store like Provisions St. Louis, I’m making a memory of a certain destination and the experience I had there.”
Debra Hunter
Provisions St. Louis has an entertaining selection of books, too. “We’re not a bookstore, and we don’t try to be a bookstore,” Debra says, “but we have a lot of books that round out the home environment, whether you’re looking for a great cookbook [such as Mark Pupo’s Sundays: A Celebration of Breakfast and Family in 52 Essential Recipes]; an inspirational guide [such as Bari J. Ackerman’s Bloom Wild: A Free-Spirited Guide to Decorating with Floral Patterns]; or a unique read [such as Ross Gay’s The Book of Delights].”
Another distinctive gift – that you can easily pack in your suitcase if you’re traveling – is a handmade worry doll. According to legend, Guatemalan children tell one worry to each doll when they go to bed at night. They place the dolls under their pillows, and in the morning, the dolls have taken away their worries. We think that the magic works on modern-day adults, as well.
With every item, Debra and Ross hope to create an elegant bohemian vibe for urban hippies from near and far. And while a shopping trip to Provisions St. Louis serves up a feast for the senses, their particular brand of customer service takes the experience to the next level.
“Customer service is our top priority,” Debra says. “We want to make every guest feel welcome, seen and heard, and we want them to leave delighted. With so many people working remotely, we’re becoming more and more isolated, so I believe that it’s essential for us to have a brick-and-mortar location. It gives us the opportunity to socialize, connect and create a sense of community.
“I don’t know about you, but I love to shop when I’m on vacation,” she continues. “By buying something special at a store like Provisions St. Louis, I’m making a memory of a certain destination and the experience I had there, and I especially like to shop at brick-and-mortar locations because they’re a beautiful slice of the local scene.”
