The St. Charles community is a really tight knit community and has been for a long time. One place in particular that understands what that means is The Glass Workbench. It has been around for over 50 or 60 years shaping the St. Charles community. For most students, after school life means homework, sports or hanging out with friends. But for senior Anderson Day, it also means helping carry heavy boxes of stained glass, organizing shipments and supporting his family’s business that has been a part of the St. Charles community for decades.
The business, known locally as The Workbench, has been in the Day family for generations.
The shop first opened in another part of Main Street, but later moved to its current location at 318 S Main St, St Charles, MO 63301 around 1990. Today, it continues to serve as one of the area’s most well-known stained glass stores. Growing up around the business shaped Day in unexpected ways.
“It gave me more experience that allowed me to learn things most people wouldn’t learn until they’re older and have their own business,” he said.
His main job now includes helping carry heavy shipments of stained glass cases into the store and organizing them in storage. Balancing this with school and everyday life isn’t always easy.
“It can be hard to include the physical work of moving shipments on top of having school or trying to go to the gym,” he said.
Even with all that he doesn’t feel like he has big responsibility in his family business, but just feels responsible for helping where and when he can.
Former employee and SCHS sophomore Avery Thro had a different experience, but shares the same appreciation for the store’s impact on the community. Avery worked there for two years mostly handling the register and daily cleaning.
“I think it’s different from most jobs,” she said, “just because it’s like some older people down there shopping for that kind of stuff.”
This makes the environment very unique and an entertaining place where people from the community can feel welcomed and make connections.
Despite being a student while working, Avery found the job very easy to manage.
“It’s pretty manageable with homework and stuff,” she said. The Workbench wasn’t just a workplace for her, it was part of her extended family, since “the owner is my mom’s aunt”
The Workbench affects the community far beyond its front doors. Day pointed out that “most of the churches in the area, their stained glass was made at our store,” a sign of how deeply the business is woven in the local community.
Not only has the Workbench impacted the community, but it’s also left long-lasting memories for SCHS students. Junior Tola Messner remembers visiting the store with her dad when she was younger.
“In elementary school, I went with my dad and brother to get my mom and Mother’s Day gift. We got her little glass animals,” she said.
