ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - One of the most unique and wild shops in St. Louis is on its way out of town. The Gringo Jones Imports building in Shaw is up for sale as the owner is planning to move back closer to home in Southern Illinois.
The owner of the eye-catching retail store which features giant animal sculptures and colorful works of art, Leon Jones, says he's looking at smaller properties in the Salem, Ill. area. Jones says at 73-years-old he wants to downsize to something that will still keep him busy, but doesn't need a big money-making business.
There's no timetable on when the location will close, but he says he plans to hold a going-out-of-business sale when the property is sold.
"It might take a month, or it might take five years. There's just no way of knowing," Jones says. "And either one is OK."
The two-story property has three bedrooms and three bathrooms, garage in the back and 13,483 square feet of living space. Some listing photos show what the current living space looks like:
Jones says his business has been in the Shaw location for 25 years, moving there after he started the business in Webster Groves. As for what will happen to it next...
"It would be a good restaurant," Jones says. "The location is so good, it would be suitable for lots of different businesses."
He says several people have told him he "absolutely can't go out of business," but he says ready to get back closer to his roots and the ride was "better than I ever thought."
"(I'll remember) meeting thousands of incredible people," Jones says. "I'm always saying we have curb appeal, but we don't have snob appeal. And the people who come in here are fun ... The kind of people I like to be around with."
If you're interested in the property, call STL BAUM SQUAD at 314-220-7787 or email them: Stlbaumsquad@mo-re.com
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