Melody Mollet said she was on the lookout for a place on Festus Main Street to open her business, Decades Antique Mall and jumped at the chance when a spot became available.
She opened the shop she co-owns with her husband, Sean Mollet, at 207 E. Main St. during the Twin City Days festival in September.
“I was looking for a retail space so I could venture out on my own and have my own shop,” she said. “I have several family members who own businesses in the Festus area. My sister, Daisy, – she’s a beautician here on Main Street – snapped a picture of the inside of this building. And I was like, ‘That’s it.’
“The very next day I had an appointment to see the inside, and I told Erin Mercer, who owns the building, ‘I need this.’”
Mollet said she rents the 3,000-square-foot space and offers customers a variety of vintage items for purchase.
“So, it’s called Decades Antique Mall, but I would say it’s more eclectic,” Mollet said. “Lots of vintage clothing, brass jewelry, mid-century modern furniture. I have a lot of art. I have sports memorabilia. Sports cards. We are going to be bringing in other collectible cards, such as Pokemon.”
She said Decades Antique Mall fills a need in the county.
“I know there is a need for a vintage clothing store not only for (the Festus) area, but the surrounding communities – Hillsboro, De Soto, Arnold, Ste. Genevieve, Bloomsdale,” Mollet said. “Because, all these kids, they’re driving into the city to get their vintage clothing. It’s clothing for men and women. I have anything from extra small to XXX. And I do like to focus on the higher-end, name-brand items. There is a lot of interest in vintage clothing.”
She said her inventory continuously changes.
“I would say we have a lot of unique and signed art,” Mollet said. “I have prints. I have oil on canvas. My goal is to offer some unique furniture pieces, as well. I have an original 1962 Broyhill sofa.”
Among memorabilia recently for sale in the store was a football autographed by Roland Williams, a member of the St. Louis Rams football team that won Super Bowl XXXIV in 2000.
Mollet said she acquires many of the pieces she sells from estate sales, but she also buys items from individuals.
“A lot of people come in and want to know where or how we acquired our items,” she said. “What I tell people is if people don’t want to have an estate sale with hundreds of people walking through their house, they’ll contact me and I will do a complete estate buyout.
“I will buy small collections,” she said. “For instance, someone came in and asked if I was interested in his records, 45s. I purchased five or six. Another person came in and asked if I was interested in buttons. I bought her collection.”
Mollet said that while she has sold vintage items for many years, this is her first brick-and-mortar store.
“I’ve been doing this for well over 20 years,” she said. “This is my first retail location. I’ve done a little bit online. I was located in several other antique malls (selling items from within businesses owned by other people). It’s my first retail space where it’s 100 percent me.”
Mollet said Decades Antique Mall holds a monthly silent auction of high-end purses, which has been a hit.
“Individuals would have to come in to see what purse is being auctioned off for that month and they would have to sign the paper with their bid,” she said. “I have anywhere from Gucci to Kate Spade, Louis Vuitton, Tory Burch, Coach, Dooney & Bourke.”
Mollet said she is originally from Ste. Genevieve, and she and her husband live in St. Louis County now but hope to move south in the future.
The hours of operation for Decades Antique Mall are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.
She said her first few months of business on Festus Main Street have been encouraging.
“People are still discovering us,” she said. “I am thankful for those who have come in and shopped. I personally see the growth of Main Street since I’ve been here.”
For more information, visit the Decades Antique Mall on Main Street in Festus, MO Facebook page, visit the store’s website at decadesantiquemall.com or send emails to decadesantiquemall@gmail.com.