Cherokee Street. Throughout my time here at Washington University, I have heard the name quite a few times. Mostly, it pops up when I ask upperclassmen how they get out of the campus bubble.

This neighborhood is best known for its vintage and antique shops, galleries and killer Mexican food. (It has the highest concentration of Latinx-owned restaurants and stores in the city.) In an effort to experience all St. Louis has to offer, I dragged my friend out of her room on one very grey-skied day to the eclectic Antique Row.

Photo by Katherine Dawson

Cherokee street is home to the largest concentration of Latinx-owned shops and restaurants in St. Louis.

Upon arriving, the never-ending red brick and homey vibe made clear that we were entering somewhere new and special. The secluded street is lined with trees, various sculptures, paintings and accents of bright color, making it a vision to walk through. It looked like no place I had been in St. Louis.

For our first stop, we decided to fill up on some baked goods at Whisk: a Sustainable Bakeshop. This adorable cafe opened in 2012 and has been offering delicious, sustainable and allergen-friendly (I am vegan and my friend is gluten-free, so this was perfect) treats ever since. I ordered a thumbprint cookie, a pastry I have had significant trouble finding a plant-based version of, and some calming tea to wash it down. We sat down, amidst the colorful posters, string lights and paper flowers, and simply enjoyed our food, the atmosphere and good conversation.

After finishing up at Whisk, my friend and I decided to simply walk up and down the famous street and enter any store that looked interesting. First, we settled on Wax Rats Records. The contrast between the airy, pastel vibe of Whisk and Wax Rats was a bit jaunting. The hole-in-the-wall store was painted black from top to bottom and records filled the shelves. We perused the aisles and left with some pretty great deals.

On our way over, our driver suggested we check out a vintage store, Cherry Bomb Vintage, and I certainly do not regret taking his advice. It was overflowing with vintage hats, jewelry, shirts and dresses.

And so we headed back out into the rain until we spotted the cutout of a purple cow, leading us to the most adventurous stop of the day. Walking into Purple Cow antique store felt like walking into my great-grandmother’s garage. Old books, childhood toys, glass baubles, costume jewelry, records and vintage magazines chaotically covered the store at every turn.

For the final stop of the day, we spotted Cherokee Antics, which sells unusual little trinkets, drawings from local artists and connected to probably my favorite vintage shops of the day. Its selection was astounding and extremely stylish. My friend bought some amazing jeans for a phenomenal price.

I’m not sure if it’s clear, but I am now basically obsessed with Cherokee Street and will be going back regularly. Despite the drizzle and the dreary skies, I can honestly say I cannot imagine a better day than wandering around Cherokee Street, taking in the street art, talking to shop owners and discovering peculiar odds and ends.