The old Carquest Building in downtown Mexico on Jackson Street has been transformed into two new businesses.

Carl and Melody Peiter purchased the building this past spring not really knowing what they were going to do with the building while already running two other businesses. The building is now occupied by Elly’s Closet, a children's clothing and consignment shop, and S&S Small Engine Repair, in the back of the building.

“I guess that wasn’t enough and we weren’t busy enough,” Carl told a group of people from the Mexico Chamber of Commerce during a ribbon cutting on Tuesday, Oct. 3.

In 2018 the couple purchased S&S Electric and the thought was maybe that business would move to the old Carquest Building but it wasn’t practical. The Peiters also run a courier business.

The only small engine repair shop in Mexico closed down this past spring and Carl saw the need for a shop so the idea started moving. At the same time, Melody got the idea for the consignment shop after their second daughter gave birth to a granddaughter, Elly, on March 18. 

Melody began talking with her mother and friends about the idea before she spoke to Carl about the idea. She got the blessing from her daughter to use Elly’s name for the shop. Melody said her better judgment told her to hold off because the couple already had a lot going on but she couldn’t sleep because she couldn’t stop thinking about the idea, but she still didn’t want to tell Carl.

“Lord no, we’ve already got two businesses. I can't do this,” Melody said. “We prayed about it and the more I thought about it I couldn’t get the idea out of my head. I know he’s going to say, ‘Let’s do it.’ And I’m not ready for that.”

Melody got the sign she needed when Carl came home one day after a doctor’s appointment. Carl was talking with his nurse, who happens to also know Melody, about the building. The nurse told Carl the building would be perfect for a children’s clothing store. Carl asked the nurse if she had been talking to Melody and they hadn’t spoken about the building at all.

“That’s when Elly’s came to be,” Melody said. “The Lord put this idea in my head and I didn’t know how it would turn out.”

Melody said she’s been overwhelmed with the support so far and the amount of stuff that’s been donated. Melody said the Lord keeps sending her signs she made the right decision. Recently she commented about the need for boys’ clothing. Soon after Carl shows up with a van full of boys’ clothes that were donated to him during a trip to Hannibal.

“I knew as it stair-stepped into place the Lord had just put it into place,” Melody said.

For now, the shop is just doing children’s clothing but if someone donates adult clothes they will keep them on hand for fire victims. Melody said she is selling some plus-size adult stuff.

“I know plus size is a big need right now,” Melody said.

The shop will be a 50/50 consignment and she will try and keep prices as low as possible.

“Our goal with Elly’s is for anybody can come in and shop,” Melody said. “I don’t want my prices so high that nobody can come in and touch it.”

Melody said if a child in need comes into her store she will pull out of her stock to help.

“If a child comes in and they need clothes I’m going to pull stuff off the rack and give it to them,” Melody said. “We just want to be a blessing to the community.

Melody said they will continue to let the Lord guide this adventure.

“The Lord sends it when we need it,” Melody said. “He’s awesome and I cannot give him enough credit because he’s orchestrated this whole thing. We’re excited about the things we can do.”