In Oldtown O'Fallon, Illinois next to the VFW is an old building built in 1894 that Ellen Leaf-Moore and her husband Tim are constantly restocking with new merchandise.
"We originally started as a gourmet food business, tea, olive oils, balsamics and it just grew from that, Tim Moore explains.
Stroll through Fezziwig's Marketplace and you'll find cute baking cups and cupcake kits, soups and sauces.
"I worked for Pottery Barn and Williams Sonoma for a long time and am very picky about what things we actually carry in here. If we try ten things one item might actually make it in," Leaf-Moore says.
I have to say the chocolate truffle hot chocolate was so good I went back for a second sample.
"So this is something we're calling scents of the season. This one is called Sleigh Ride," she explains grabbing a candle.
There is a wall of loose leaf teas, 120 of them actually and as a certified tea educator and specialist she knows what's in each and every one of them.
"This is called Spiced Christmas. So this is a beautiful black tea it's got some little peppercorns in there and a lot of that really strong cinnamon flavor."
There's also a teaching kitchen.
"We do cooking classes, decorating classes, tea school. Sometimes we'll do a wine school it's really fun."
If you want a personalized gift basket, well they can do that too.
"You can pick things out and we'll put it in the gift basket for you and arrange it and tie it up and you're on your way or if people just say look Ellen I need this and I'll say do they have a family? Do we need to do something with pancake mixers and syrups."
And this time of year, there's one more thing behind the store that makes this place special. Christmas in the Carriage House features furniture from Peonies and Milk.
"So they do up all of these cool pieces of eclectic furniture and put their spin on it and make it beautiful and then Ellen and our team come out and accessorize it for the holidays," Moore explains.
All of which is for sale in a really charming space.
"What we've been told it's one of three standing livery stables in St. Clair County," Moore adds.
As you can see a little window shopping doesn't do Fezziwig's Marketplace justice. This is a place you have to step inside and stay for awhile.
Fezziwig's Marketplace is at 225 West First Street in Oldtown O'Fallon, Illinois. It's open everyday. Christmas in the Carriage House is open now through December 3rd. You can reach this cute store by calling 618-726-2230. You can also click on this link.
