St. Louis Woman's Exchange Makes Historic Move to Colonial MarketPlace in Ladue

The Woman’s Exchange of St. Louis called an emergency meeting of the board of directors on Dec. 30. The executive board had been considering moving to the Colonial MarketPlace in Ladue (located at Ladue Road and Gay Avenue) since the previous August.

Candace Williams, president of the organization remembers the meeting like it just happened a half hour ago.

“I got to the meeting an hour early to answer any questions that might come from our members. I had packets all made up with information from everything we had found and researched concerning the move.

"We took a vote of our board of directors and every single one of them except for two voted for the move. There were lots of hugs and high fives. We broke out the champagne we had hidden away.”

Moving is a momentous event for this not-for-profit organization that has operated a tea room, kitchen and boutique at the same location at Clayton and Price roads in the Clay Price Shopping center since 1974. The move one mile east will be the seventh in the organization's history, dating back to its origins in 1883.

The Woman’s Exchange is part of a national organization in 19 different cities, mostly found in the Northeast in cities like New York, Philadelphia, Boston and others. However, St. Louis along with Memphis are the only two who operate tea rooms and stay open year-round.

Williams estimates the move will cost the organization $450,000, figuring the build out; moving costs; purchase of new equipment, display areas, purchase of tables and chairs etc.

“We’ve always wanted to move to have more room for our nonprofit area. We have people who make original items and we sell them on consignment. We advise them on what to sell them for—often they have priced the items too low,” said Williams.

By moving, the exchange will gain 2,000 feet of additional space. Right now, they have around 4,000 feet, scattered throughout their building.

The boutique carries everything from dainty cherry dresses for young girls to baby quilts; jewelry, hand towels, purses and a host of other original items. The sale of these items stokes the stove for the nonprofit endeavor.

The exchange will open its new doors on Monday, June 17, the week before Father’s Day.

“We think we will get that young woman professional who has not patronized us before. They will discover all of our children’s items," said Williams.

You have Brown Shoe right across the way; the Center of Clayton; the Clayton Schools and we think a lot of new people will discover us,” said Williams. “I am most concerned that we can keep up with bigger crowds,”  she said.

This will be a beautiful, amazing new building and will help secure our place in the community as a non-profit organization.”

The overall goal is to raise $700,000 to complete a variety of projects. In 2006, the Woman’s Exchange launched its Immigrant Training Program, giving the kitchen staff the skills and experience to gain skills then transition into the local work force.

Those interested in helping support the cause should go to their website.