Historical November–December 2012 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
Walking into Miss M’s Candy Boutique on a recent evening, I was greeted by a delicious aroma – simultaneously fruity, chocolaty, and flower-sweet – and shelves of colorfully wrapped candies and candy-themed toys.
My inner child clapped her hands; my outer adult smiled broadly. Owners Sharon and Lee Echols opened Miss M’s two years ago for that very reaction.
In a stressed and frazzled world, they wanted to create a business that was fun and made people happy when they walked in the door. Mission accomplished! Miss M’s (named for the Echols’ daughters Megan and Morgan) is located at 6193 Delmar, just east of Skinker and next door to the PinUp Bowl.
The Loop location was chosen after a year of site scouting and careful observation.
According to the Echols’ research, spaces for rent in higher-end malls are expensive, generic, and unevenly traveled.
The Delmar Loop business district, by contrast, is vital, unique, and growing, thanks to the expansion of commercial development eastward on Delmar and the attractiveness of the area to tourists.
A devoted following of neighborhood kids has been an unexpected and delightful bonus. Both Sharon and Lee Echols grew up in St. Louis – she in the city proper and he in University City – but neither realized just how many families lived in the neighborhoods near Delmar. Local children of all ages drop by regularly, both on foot and – thanks to the new lollipop-shaped bike rack in front of the store – on bicycles.
The evening of my visit, third-grader Jaliyah Battle was carefully selecting small wrapped candies to transform, with the help of a glue gun, into colorful necklaces and bracelets.
The young entrepreneur, a regular at Miss M’s, sells her pretty and delicious creations to classmates and friends. Miss M’s impressive candy collection accommodates a wide range of tastes and dietary requirements, including sugar-free, kosher, and organic sweets. Miss M’s also carries a mouth-watering selection of specialty chocolates and old-fashioned, cane sugar-based treats like Tootsie-Pops and Chic-O-Stix. Curious, I asked Sharon Echols what her youngest customers are craving these days.
She replied that sour candies are most popular: Best-sellers include Sour Patch Kids, Pixie Stix, and something called Toxic Waste. Yes, Toxic Waste.
In addition to sweet and sour edibles, Miss M’s carries a large selection of candy-themed merchandise, including electronics, board games, jewelry, purses, tote bags, and candy-scented lotions and lip balms.
The shop also takes custom orders for candy centerpieces and arrangements.
The Echols’ candy creations for weddings and other special events have drawn rave reviews across the St. Louis region. Happily surrounded by Miss M’s colorful and delicious bounty, I purchased a bright yellow candywrapper wristlet and filled it with a big handful of… Hershey’s Kisses. Next time, maybe, I’ll try the Toxic Waste.
Original photograph caption
Megan Echols and Jaliyah Battle, third-grade candy lover and jewelry entrepreneur.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, November–December 2012.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times2012_11.pdf, printed page(s) 7; PDF page(s) 7.
