Pass the Past, a Vintage General Store opening on McPherson

There’s exciting news on the retail front in the Central West End. Pass the Past, a Vintage General Store, is set to open Memorial Day weekend at 4744 McPherson (next to Mission Taco Joint). Proprietors Erica and Eugene Tsimerman, above, are busily spiffing up the space and will be stocking it with a collection of mid-century to 1990’s home goods, furniture, women’s and men’s clothing, handbags, and accessories.

Eugene explained that they chose the name, “Pass the Past,” because “we’re passing vintage from the past to a new life.”

The Tsimermans have literally lived all over. Eugene’s family left Ukraine in 1989 and eventually moved to St. Louis. Erica, who is from Indianapolis, met Eugene in 2008 in Las Vegas. After losing touch for a few years they reconnected in New York, moved to Des Moines, IA, married in 2016 and  moved back to Brooklyn in 2017.

While they were living in Des Moines, Eugene’s mother suggested they start an Etsy shop selling vintage items they had collected on their travels. Then, after they moved back to New York, they would frequently sell their collection at flea markets around New York. “Vintage has always been part of our wardrobes,” Erica said.

Eugene’s work for a U.S. company took the couple to China. At the time Erica planned on continuing working remotely as a fabric buyer for the brand Theory, but those plans fell through. “Things have a way of working out though,” Erica said. “I got to spend time exploring Asia at my leisure with Eugene. We were able to travel to Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore and Japan.”

When Covid19 surfaced in China and the country began to lockdown, they quickly came back to St. Louis to be closer to family. “Of course we had no idea that St. Louis would soon be on lockdown too.” Eugene added.

“The pandemic jumpstarted the business we started in 2016. Our vintage sales tripled. People were sitting at home without much to do, so they were shopping online,” Eugene explained.

The Tsimermans decided to get serious about it, and began searching for a retail space in the city. They chose the shop space on McPherson because they love the walkability of the Central West End and, “the architecture reminds us of our old Brooklyn neighborhood, Clinton Hill.”

Pass the Past, 4744 McPherson Ave., opening Memorial Day weekend. The website isn’t live yet, so until then, email: [email protected], for more information.