Missouri Mercantile Brings Local Products to Westport

Missouri Mercantile expanded into a second retail location in Westport just in time for the Christmas season.

Missouri Mercantile expanded into a second retail location in Westport just in time for the Christmas season. “We love it here,” said Cindy Millikin, manager of the Westport Store. “It’s a perfect location. There are a lot of businesses here at Westport, plus with the hotel a lot of people coming to town for business meetings or training or just to visit St. Louis. We get the out of town crowd from that, plus a lot of locals come to Westport for lunch because of all of the restaurants. Then they stay to shop, which is perfect for us.” Millikin started working for Missouri Mercantile almost by accident. “I was a customer. In 2004 they sent out an email asking for some part time help at Christmas. That was six years ago and I’m still here. …

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Maryland Heights Stockings

Fill a Stocking Suited for the Locally Minded

Mall parking lots are a mess and Wal-Mar lines are downright scary. This week we’re shopping around here in Maryland Heights to find five perfect stockings for the special people in your life.

Shoping local isn't only for summertime produce at the farmer's market. There are plenty of excellent winter-time options to fill your locally-minded friend's winter stocking. A careful shopper can find locally made foods scattered through the shelves of Schnucks. If you prefer them concentrated in one place, you can also check out Missouri Mercantile in Westport Plaza. Plenty of locally made items are availible in the $8-15 dollar range, but since we wanted a respectably full stocking, we opted for cheaper items on the sweeter side. For under $20, this is a stocking any locally-minded person who spends quality time in the kitchen should thoroughly enjoy. There's a great deal of debate on the benefits of eating local honey made by bees …

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Lunch in 30

Balducci's Winefest

Locally produced wines, excellent sauces, and large, affordable portions make it no surprise every table was taken when we lunched at Balducci's Winefest.

Despite the hand painted sign, Balducci's Winefest is easy to miss from the outside. It's sandwiched between a brewhouse and a coin laundry. The door opens to a rich wood interior leading you downstairs into the basement. I showed up at 11:40 a.m., when there was already a good crowd. By noon, every table in the house was full. This is always a good sign in a restaurant. Balducci's started as a vineyard, and their wines' importance continues today. The basement restaurant space feels like someone with a large wine cellar decided to open a restaurant. The booths are old church pews with numbers so you'll know what isle you're on. I sat on number 12, across from number 7. All around you are posters of wine festivals and a few photos of …

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