Foam microbrewery coming

I’ve been dropping tidbits about this project for months so I figured it was about time I produced some more details. Especially since this Benton Park West microbrewery will finally be open soon.  I managed to meet up with owner Mike Glodeck yesterday and finally got a chance to take a look inside. Read more

The Stable microbrewery

About a month ago I posted about a couple of microbreweries coming to the Benton Park Neighborhood of St. Louis in the coming months: Mattingly Brewing Company and the Stable. Info has been scarce on the Stable until I got a email from a reader a couple weeks back. Thanks to that contact, I had the opportunity to tour the facility this morning and chat with one of the owners. I’m happy to say that the project is coming along great and that they are on track for a June opening. Read more

Cinco de Mayo on Cherokee

The tradition continues. Its not as glamorous as Mardi Gras or St. Patrick’s Day, but Cinco de Mayo holds its own. If you’re looking for an “authentic” Cinco de Mayo celebration instead of hitting up your local Chevy’s, you might want ot head down to Cherokee Street in the South St. Louis neighborhood of Benton Park West this weekend (May 3, 2008). Seeing as the celebration actually takes place on the 3rd of May, its not really a true Cinco de Mayo party, but its the spirit of the event that counts. Read more

Two new Benton Park microbreweries

They say that good things come in pairs. I’ve always been rather fond of microbreweries, so I guess in stands to reason that they would hold to this rule. If everything goes as planned, the Benton Park Neighborhood of South St. Louis, will be home to two such establishments by the end of 2008: Mattingly Brewing Company and The Stable. Read more

Cherokee vs. Manchester: One’s got it wrong, the other’s got it right

I wish something would happen with Cherokee Street between Jefferson & Gravois. The acquisition prices for buildings are still reasonable and the architecture is gorgeous. Can you imagine what a building like the old Cinderella movie theater (2735 Cherokee - left) would look like if it was redeveloped? Unfortunately this is going to be easier said than done.

No offense to Alderman Craig Schimd (20th Ward), but his stance on rejuvenating the commercial district along Cherokee is really off the mark. I am no expert on his methods, but I do know that he is doing everything in his power to make it impossible for restaurants and bars to move in. He seems so obsessed with keeping away the “brown baggers” that he is running away those that might go in for a more classy atmosphere. Whats wrong with a nice martini bar? Or a wine & cheese place? Nearby Park West Grille (just north off Jefferson) seems to be doing ok with this kind of environment.

The area of Cherokee that goes through his ward, which runs from Ohio to Louisiana, is pretty dead in terms of positive development. The Benton Park West and Gravois Park Neighborhoods surrounding the district are in the same boat. I just don’t understand the die-hard opposition. Look at all the neighborhoods that have come back to life because of the influx of traffic caused by the opening of recreational establishments: the Central West End, Downtown, Lafayette Square, Soulard, Benton Park and even Forest Park Southeast (The Grove).

If you build interesting commercial venues, people are willing to come even if the area isn’t the greatest. Just look at Manchester in Forest Park Southeast. If you would have told me five years ago, that it would be a great nightlife destination, I would have laughed in your face. Today, the commercial district is home to places such as:

• White Flag Art Gallery
• FIVE
• Sweetie Pie’s
• The Kentucky Club
• After
• Atomic Cowboy
• Big Wheel Ad Agency
• Church Key
• R-Bar
• Novaks
• Freddies
• Newstead Tower Pub
• Agave Tequileria
• AMP
• Gramophone (coming soon)
• Everest Coffee (coming soon)

Thats a lot of growth really fast! And as this commercial sector has taken root, rental rates have skyrocketed and interest in residential development has gone through the roof. Now developers are fighting over vacant lots for infill and existing buildings for rehabs.

Since this method has worked so well for other neighborhoods, why not try it along Cherokee? Come on Mr. Schimd, lets forget our personal feelings towards alcohol and realize that thats how restaurants make money! If you let them build it, more commercial establishments will come. And so will the residents.

Fortunately there is some hope as a small portion of the district runs through Ken Ortmann’s
9th Ward. His section (running only two blocks from Ohio to Jefferson) is being targeted for a large new restaurant/bar called Foam. Details are scarce at this point, but it will supposedly be divided into a bar, a restaurant and coffee house. An interesting concept and one I hope works out. If this establishment would prove successful it could help promote the rest of the district. There are a lot of great buildings available in the area and something needs to get things moving. What do you think is the answer to getting this area moving?

* NOTE - If you live or own property in the 20th Ward, I encourage you to talk with Alderman Schmid about this problem. If the area would improve, anyone owning property in the vicinity would have have a nice payday. For info on how to contact the alderman, visit this website: http://stlcin.missouri.org/alderman/alderman.cfm?Ward=20. For more information about the commercial district check out there website:http://www.cherokeestation.com/

Cinco de Mayo along the burgeoning Cherokee Commerical District

*NOTE - This article was originally written in May of 2007 for the newsletter.

Cherokee Avenue is one of those streets that has held onto the title “up and coming” for some time now. Whether deserving of this label in the past or not, the street is slowly coming into it’s own. It has gradually found it’s own identity as a haven for Mexican-Americans and artists alike.

The 2007 Cinco de Mayo celebration held along Cherokee, just to the west of Jefferson is a perfect example of how far the area has come. The crowds during the festival could just as easily been ripped straight from the playbook of the Soulard Mardi Gras celebration, albeit on a much smaller scale. The fact that so many people showed up in this humble little corner of South City is an example of why the area isn’t so humble anymore.

Attendance figures for the event were not available as of writing this article, but the streets were full all day long. The main draw seemed to be the margaritas, authentic Mexican cuisine and artisan displays. Each year seems to bring bigger crowds and more interest in the area. As people flock to the festivities they witness the potential neighborhood possesses.

A drive through the area still shows that there is a significant undeveloped segment of the neighborhood, but the energy for improvement is there. Best of all, prices are still within reason, making the district an intriguing development target. As a commercial sector, Cherokee east of Jefferson, has already made tremendous strides and has found it’s own niche has continued to improve the residential community around it has improved as well. A similar fate might well await the improving Benton Park West portion of the Cherokee District.

There are lot of opportunities in the area and with the promising price-to-rent ratio found in the area, those opportunities could be good ones. In ten years, this area could be the “New Soulard.” Mark your calendars, that day will be here before you know it.