MANCHESTER — Since winning the “bloody, bloody battle” for a Costco at the crossroads of west St. Louis County in the mid-2000s, this suburb has some 60,000 cars rolling down Manchester Road a day, said Mayor Mike Clement. Even more are headed north and south on Highway 141.

“If you want to come experience it, come here on Friday, Saturday or Sunday,” Clement said with pride. “It’s backed up.”

Big box stores and small businesses have given the city of Manchester extra clout over the years to invest in projects, including a new police headquarters, and take on various causes, such as protecting its identity in a region that can seem indistinguishable, if not for different tax rates and city boundary markers.

“We don’t even want medical marijuana here,” Clement said. “We are a fairly conservative community.”

But Manchester’s vision is being challenged by skirmishes on the fringe. Doctor John’s Lingerie Boutique, located on the city line with Ballwin, is allegedly violating zoning requirements by selling vibrators and other “novelties” out of a building that has been painted pink. Taking on another type of enterprise, Manchester also put a cap on the number of massage therapy businesses.