SHAW, Mo. (KMOX) - One of the most unique shops in St. Louis has decided to keep its doors open after an uproar of support. Gringo Jones Imports, which was going to close its doors and move to a smaller location in southern Illinois, is now staying put.
The building's listing has been pulled from the market and the owner, Leon Jones, tells Fox 2 he had some good offers on it but his customers begged him to stay. There was even a woman all the way from Scotland who said he shouldn't leave town.
"We had so many people, it was almost embarrassing," Jones told Fox 2. "Hundreds of people came by or called and said, ‘You can’t close, you can’t close, you can’t close.’"
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In April, Jones told KMOX he was going to hold a going-out-of-business sale soon after the property was sold. He said he wanted to downgrade and move to a property near Salem, Ill., which is back closer to his family. But a deal fell through on him.
The 73-year-old says his business has been in the Shaw location for 25 years. He moved there after starting the business in Webster Groves.
"I'm always saying we have curb appeal, but we don't have snob appeal. And the people who come in here are fun," Jones says. "The kind of people I like to be around with."
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