Maria Tailoring and Dry Cleaners Prepares to Close

Angie Williams' dolls had handmade clothes when she was growing up in Bolivia. 

She sewed the doll clothes herself, and started making her own outfits in high school. When she came to the U.S., this talent led her to eventually open her own tailoring store and dry cleaners in Chesterfield: .

"I always had it in me, that fashion, clothing and all the aspects of it," she said.

On Saturday, though, she'll have to close the business.

"The last year it just went flat because of the economy," she said. "People would much rather feed their family than get clean clothes or alterations."

She has been at the location in Chesterfield, near the intersection of Olive Boulevard and Highway 141, for four years. Before that she owned an alteration business in Olivette.

Williams, 46, has met many great people through her business, she said, but added being a small-business owner has unique pressures.

"It's great, just the feeling that you have your business, but also its a huge responsibility that you have to meet all the needs of every single customer," she said.

Judi Diamond, who came in Thursday to pick up a pair of altered jeans, described Williams as incredibly sweet, and said her work couldn't be better. The Creve Coeur resident said she's brought her clothes to this store for years.

"I know there's probably places closer, but I would drive the extra couple of miles," she said.

Williams first came to the U.S. in 1986 after leaving high school. It's somewhat of a tradition to leave where you grew up and try to get different experiences, if the money is available, she said.

She came to the St. Louis area because some relatives lived here. She then worked for Lord & Taylor and eventually moved to Virginia.

Her two daughters, ages 20 and 23, still live there, but they never took to sewing. Both were afraid of pricking their fingers with a needle growing up, she said.

After 13 years with the company, she returned to St. Louis and opened her business.

Diamond isn't sure where she's going to take her clothes once the store closes Saturday.

"I'm sad," she said. "Its just another small business this economy ruined."

Williams hopes to find a new job in the same field, but isn't sure yet where she'll work.