The Firecracker Press

Wandered in this weekend during a visit to Cherokee and was amazed that I hadn’t ever heard of this place. Awesome prints with clever slogans made on an authentic printing press by cool people. It’s worth checking out just to see the space. They have a ton of reasonably priced prints. Check it out if you’re in the neighborhood. The one tricky part is that they’re usually only open on Saturdays.

I always enjoy visiting Firecracker Press to check out their latest prints and designs. The colorful and unique artwork fills their little shop on Cherokee Street. Many of the creations have a St. Louis theme to them and are printed in poster form, or as calendars, coaster, stationery and just about any form that can possibly be printed. I’ve got several prints hanging in my house and wouldn’t mind having a few more. This is the perfect place to shop for a unique gift for the artsy person in your life. 5 stars for a small independent business with local flavor!

Wish there were more stars for this place!!! Love firecracker press! First time in I had such a problem picking from all the cool stuff. 2^nd time in I bought 200 $ worth of amazing Christmas gifts. If you know letterpress, and I know letterpress, this is no normal store! This amazing letterpress shop sells amazing gifts and even holds classes for anyone wanting to learn! I took letterpress in college and I have to tell you there is an amazing collection of equipment and type at this place. Step back into time here when printing was an amazing craft, they do amazing wedding invites to fine art broadsides here. Check it out you will be impressed.

In the spirit of upcoming Passport to Cherokee Week (
), I’ve decided to drop four stars of greatness upon the Firecracker Press. I’m not sure I 100% «get» their concept, but it’s okay, because I don’t 100% «get» the concept of 97% of the businesses on Cherokee, which is part of what makes Cherokee the best street on the face of the fricking planet.
So imagine Obama’s iconic campaign poster where he’s, all, color blocked and stuff. This place is full of art that kind of looks like that, but more grungy, and a little less spectacular, and makes you want to vomit a little less.
They’ve got all kinds of stuff. Cards, posters, crap like that. Lots of text. Lots of St. Louisy (that’s a word) stuff. Some offbeat stuff. The stuff they design is mainly for events, I think. It’s like boring promotional material that is so cool you’d steal it from an event. It’s got a signature look.
Anyway, though a tad pricey, you could score some pretty hot hipster shit from this place, and if you’re having an event or need some graphics done, I’m thinking you should probably toss these guys to the top of your list.

Why doesn’t Firecracker have more reviews? They have worked hard to make their wares seen all over town.
I’m certain that tons of folks have seen their 2 – 4 color posters for shows around town. They have great design sensibilities and their stuff is always high quality. Come during a Cherokee Street event and see the presses in action!
if you’re looking for good local art or would like custom posters, stationary, etc. done — this is a great choice.

Firecracker Press does some incredible work. As artists, they’re unparalleled around town — nobody makes a better poster, I don’t think. They make all sorts of incredible items: cards, posters, tags, books, pamphlets, and more, and it’s rare to find something there that hasn’t been made with the utmost artistry.
That being said, I feel so-​so about their store. The employees have often been ever-​so-​slightly standoffish and occasionally border on rude, even last time, when I dropped over $ 50 on the stuff. It’s been a little frustrating and makes me feel a little unwelcome.
Nevertheless, these guys have a right to have attitude — they’ve earned it. And although Firecracker Press products are not cheap, neither is the work they do. I will continue to visit, shop, and enjoy.

I’m kind of a design geek. I’ve been known to pick up books based on cover design alone (I know, I know… I’ve found myself inadvertently reading young adult fiction as a result and I feel like I’ve been burnt by this experience enough that you don’t need to scold me). So when it comes to making a good impression with my correspondence, good visuals are a must.
Et voila! Firecracker Press! Only the most lovely of letterpressed sundries for your loved ones! The storefront has only helped to step up their game and provide a home for other local artists to showcase their wares.
Eric Woods also does fantastic custom jobs. Their concert posters are fun and cute without being cloying and I contemplate stealing every one I see in public. Eric also sat down with me and my fiancé for literally hours in the planning of our wedding invitations. He understands the desire to set the tone for an event, and did an amazing job. His attention to detail and creativity is impressive, to say the least. And all of my invitees so far have been duly impressed… by our good judgment in vendors, naturally.
Of course, this is all a little more expensive than your average Kinko’s job, but if you believe in supporting local businesses it’s totally reasonable. And honestly, in looking at other letterpress vendors they charged about the same without doing custom design jobs, so keep that in mind.

In St. Louis, if you’re seen an amazing letterpress concert or event poster, chances are, Firecracker Press made it. They’ve been around for a while, but their former location, were much less accessible.
Now that they’ve relocated to a storefront on Cherokee, you can go in, buy some posters from previous shows, get really adorable stationary, shirts, and blank books. Most of which, of course, are flawlessly letterpressed (or screenprinted).
They have open houses at night sometimes and you can check out how they make things. The machines alone are impressive and it’s fun to see them running.
The prices are pretty up there. More than I would like to pay, but the goods are fantastic.