Mister Guy Ladies Store in Ladue Goes to the Dogs

Dog Days at Mister Guy Ladies Store last all year. Seriously. 

Walking into the store on the shady walk at the Market Place at Ladue, take a look at the left store window. You will see a little pink doggie bed with the name,“Lucy,” embroidered on a blanket. Here is where Lucy the Pub resides until someone walks through the door. She then jumps from her bed and rushes to greet the customer, hoping for some ear scratches at the least, belly rubs at the most.

Lucy belongs to saleswoman Shannon Langenstein who brought her into her life when Lucy was four weeks old. At that time, Shannon had recently lost her first pug, Maggie, and was feeling the need for more canine companionship. Some good friends had a litter of pugs, and one of them picked out Shannon.

Lucy took up residence in Mister Guy at age 10 weeks. Now, at 4 years old, the pudgy little dynamo has become the official store mascot.

Owner Carla Felumb, said Lucy has “definitely added a lot of personality. We have always wanted a dog in our store and after Shannon lost Maggie, we immediately said she would be our store dog.

“Since she was just a puppy when Shannon brought her,” Felumb said, “people have watched her grow and she has gone from being a little baby puppy to being a wonderful friend and she has gotten to all of us.

“She has aunts here, a couple of grandmas,” Felumb said. “She’s a really good dog and we’re very lucky to have her. She has not one mean bone in her body.”

Whether you want to call her a mascot or ambassador, Lucy greets everyone. She has a veritable fan club with kids of all ages, pre-school to teenagers. Not only do parents and grandmas bring their kids and grandchildren in, people and customers will bring their dogs in to come see Lucy.

“We have one customer who brings his Italian Grayhound in to visit,” she said.

While Lucy usually rests in her window bed, when she especially tired, she will retire for her “real” sleep in the first dressing room where she also has a bed.

“People don’t bother her and she won’t bother them when they go in,” Felumb said.

Customer Jessica Brown witnessed Lucy’s interaction with children. 

"I bought pants there recently,"she said. "While I was there, a couple brought their little girls to bond with Lucy, and to give her biscuits in exchange for  tricks (rolls over, gives a high-five). I went back to pick up the altered pants, and she dashed over to the mailman who is also a great fan, then two more children came to see Lucy.

She said that while Lucy is Shannon's dog, “all of the staffers and family take turns watching over her as well as taking her out for her walks. It's during her walks that Lucy will usually be greeting myriad of folks who want to pet and talk to her. She's a star!”

Lucy especially likes it when people sit on the couch, so she can jump up and give them special attention, either by curling up behind them or giving them her unique brand of hair styling by rooting around in their hair.

Rita Lovell, sales person, told of the time when a gentleman sat on the couch, whereupon Lucy promptly jumped up behind him, and put a paw on each side of his neck.

“He was just fine with it,” she said.

That same habit almost had a disastrous end with one man, Felumb said.

“One day a gentleman, whom we knew had a toupee, came in and sat on the couch,” she said. “Lucy trotted to the couch, jumped up and was ready to do her hair styling when I quickly walked over and picked her up just in time. We were saying, oh we don’t want her to get hair on your coat!”

As for Lucy, it's really a dog's life. Ample sleep. Ample treats. Ample loving. Life is good.

So, if you want to put on the dog, literally, stop by Mister Guy Ladies Store and take a rest on the couch between browsing amongst their wonderful offerings. It’s a well known fact that stroking an animal lowers blood pressure. And you might get a new hair style to boot.

Mister Guy Ladies Store

9831 Clayton Rd.

Ladue, MO  63124

314-991-5262

www.Misterguyclothiers.com