Life is being breathed back into a St. James building that formerly housed a business which touched much of the community decades ago.

Chris and Tara Peters last week opened Garment Factory Mercantile Antiques, Craftiques, Boutiques, an antique mall located at 124 S. Seymour, across from St. James High School. It’s the historic location that formerly housed Rice-Stix Garment Factory, a business that in the 1940s made dresses and jean jackets.

“We purchased the building in late 2024 and really didn’t know what we were going to do with it,” said Chris Peters.

“Dick Elgin sent us a postcard that said, ‘Do something with this building!’” said Tara Peters. “Chris always has enjoyed history and antiques. And when Dick sent that postcard it ignited that dream.”
“The building lends itself to it,” Chris said.

Indeed, the building and business combines history with antiques and much more.
The Peters didn’t know a lot about the history of the building after purchasing it, but have been finding out more and more about the former business there.

“Gene DeLuca said he was a bundle boy at the old Rice-Stix factory,” T. Peters said. “He said he took the jackets to the next station to have collars put on them. We’re asking people who might have some history on the business to contact us. We would like to do something on the history.”

The Peters have renovated the old Rice-Stix Garment Factory building into dozens of booth spaces for lease to vendors while keeping the feel of the garment factory which used to be located there. In the back area of the first floor the original wooden floor is still in place, with tape still on the floor where individual sewing machines were located.

Garment Factory Mercantile Antiques, Craftiques, Boutiques opened for business Wednesday, July 1. An official open house grand opening will be scheduled later.

There is 24,000 square feet on two floors in the building, with most booths on the first floor already filled.

“As of July 1 we had 82 booths (filled),” Tara said. “I think we’ll end up with 100 booths on the first floor. Our goal was to have all booths sold, and we were within three of being sold out of what is built out. In the current building we have some bigger booths, to fit the needs of the vendors.”

“It will probably be the fall before the top 12,000 square feet is available,” C. Peters said.

The booths currently filled offer a wide variety of interesting items.

“We have a wide range of vendors,” T. Peters said. “There are primitive antiques; handmade jewelry; homemade candles; new and vintage clothing. It’s not the usual antique mall. There is a lady who takes antique glass and makes amazing bird baths. And there is a lady who takes furniture, paints it and gives it new life. There is a guy from Rosati who makes homemade quilts. There is a mix of some new, old and handmade. We have someone who does personalized woodworking. A lot of the antiques are primitive. Joe Cardetti has a booth with leather-backed books from the 1600s. Since St. James is a veteran-centered community, there a husband-wife team from Fort Leonard Wood who collects vintage camouflage and creates new hunting apparel as well.”

In addition, a photography studio is located in the building and furniture painting classes are being offered.

“We are also working with other local establishments to help meet customers’ needs, like Ozark Bitter-Sweet in St. James and Red Door in Rolla,” T. Peters said. “These vendors are literally their own community; they have been great to work with. The excitement has been amazing.”

And the Peters hope to expand services over the next few months.

“We will have a little café,” T. Peters said of future plans. “And we’ve had a request to make our front room a community room, to rent out to host meetings, showers and those kind of things.”

Business hours for Garment Factory Mercantile Antiques, Craftiques, Boutiques is 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Sundays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. It will be closed on Mondays.

For more information for booth space and pricing call or leave message at 573 724-7383. A Facebook page and website are in the works.