Goodwill Opens St. Peters Location

A line wound around the side of the store as eager customers clenched their shopping carts waiting to be among the first to enter the newest business in St. Peters.

Just before 9 a.m. on Thursday morning St. Peters Mayor Len Pagano cut the ribbon to officially open MERS Goodwill's St. Peters store. 

"This is the fun part of my job," Pagano said. 

Joined by St. Peters Alderman Terri Violet, Ward 3, a slew of Goodwill people and Fredbird, the mascot for the St. Louis Cardinals, Pagno signaled the opening of the new store. Almost immediately after the ribbon hit the ground, customers bolted inside the store to begin shopping. 

Pagano said he was thrilled to have another business in the community.

"I'm excited about the jobs," he said.

MERS Goodwill Lewis Chartock President/CEO was also pumped about the business opening. He summed up his feeling for the day in one word. 

"Marvelous," he said. 

Chartock said the goal when opening the store, which was just a shell when construction started this summer, was to have the grand opening before Thanksgiving. He said that the day before Thanksgiving is a busy time at the store.

"The people of St. Charles and St. Peters have been welcoming as any community," Chartock said. 

Chartock said the communties have been very generous and have allowed people to have quality goods.

"We never take donations for granted," Chartock said. 

The new store is now open for business. The store is located at 620 Mid Rivers Mall Drive.