Under the Yellow Umbrella: Two Real-Life Etsy Stores in Historic St. Charles
There are several locations in the St. Louis area that I consider to be my “happy places.” The Saint Louis Zoo is one such happy place. Or anywhere in Forest Park, really.
Another happy place is Historic Main Street in downtown St. Charles, Missouri.
There’s a lot going on on Main Street. Whether you’re interested in history, shopping, or dining, there’s something for you.
One of my favorite shops is Under the Yellow Umbrella. It bills itself as a real-life Etsy shop, with dozens of vendors selling everything from personal care products to St. Louis sports fan gear to handmade crafts and 3D printed gifts. You’ll also find candles, food items, jewelry, and much more.
Even better, in June of 2026 the company opened a second store. Here we’ll talk about both of them.
Getting There
The original Under the Yellow Umbrella (Google Maps link) is located at 335 N. Main Street in St. Charles, MO 63301. It’s on the far north end of Historic Main Street. The second store, Under the Yellow Umbrella South (Google Maps link) is on 418 S. Main Street. This location is just south of Kister Park.
You can get to both of them by taking Interstate 70 to the Fifth Street exit, and then go north before turning right on Boone’s Lick Road, which takes you into the St. Charles Historic District.
Alternatively, you can reach Main Street from the north by way of Interstate 370 at the Third Street exit. You’ll take a roundabout onto Second Street, which takes you into the historic district. Be aware that, in 2026, there may be some road construction on Second Street that will detour you around side roads to get into Main Street.
Parking
You’ll find parking all up and down Main Street and in the surrounding streets. For the original location, I like to park one block to the east of Main Street on Riverside Drive, where there are several decent-sized lots from the north end by the Foundry Art Centre to various lots across from Frontier Park. There are also parallel parking spots on Riverside Drive itself.
For the south location, you can park in the large lot on the south end of the Main Street/Frontier Park area near the Lewis and Clark Boat House and Museum.
There’s also parallel parking on Main Street right in front of both Under the Yellow Umbrella locations. Just keep in mind Main Street can be busy with car and foot traffic.
Most parking in and around Main Street is free. If you have trouble finding places to park – which can happen during busy festivals – St. Charles has an app for that.
Costs and Considerations
Under the Yellow Umbrella is open every day, Monday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
You’ll find in a range of prices. Among the more budget-friendly items are 3D printed figures, keychains, and straw toppers that might cost around $5 and up. I’ve purchased Cardinals-themed dish towels for $15 a piece here, and various crocheted or knitted plushies for around $20.
There are some more fragile items throughout the shop, so you’ll want to keep a close eye on young children.
Things to Do
There’s a lot to see here, with 70-plus vendors. The store is divided into three main rooms or sections. You’ll typically enter in the section that includes the checkout counter. Here, you’ll find options for custom shirts featuring local sports teams, local or state universities, St. Louis or St. Charles vibes, and more. There’s also licorice and other food gifts, along with 3D printed dragons and other gift items.
Straight back from the main entrance is an area featuring more 3D printed toys, keychains, and other items featuring popular characters, dogs and cats, and more. You’ll also find custom wreaths, dish towels, baby onesies, and more featuring local sports logos. A variety of yarn crafts are located here as well.
The third room in the shop, to the left if you’re facing the checkout counter, features various jewelry, body butter and lotions, candles, yarn crafts, pot holders, keychains, art, home décor, and more custom shirts.
Our Thoughts
We’re always delighted to browse at Under the Yellow Umbrella, where there are things at a variety of price points that appeal to the whole family, whether younger or older.
We have also found the shopkeepers to be friendly and helpful, including once when we bought a custom-printed shirt and realized soon afterward that the shirt was the wrong size, through no one’s fault. We brought the shirt back to the shop and they immediately printed a new shirt in the correct size.
If you like supporting local small businesses, or if you’re in the market for custom-printed clothing, you should definitely check out both locations.
