Ooh, is this the three story building on the southeast corner with the turret? If it is not ghetto (which it might be) a deli and convenience store there would be great. The row of commercial buildings diagonally across the street are all abandoned which gives that corner a bit of a rough feel, although it is a heavily traveled intersection and the school across the street seems well-attended.

Exactly, that row is great. Unfortunately it was originally supported by a high volume streetcar line on Compton and I think probably on Lafayette as well. I am not sure if that much commercial could be supported on that corner today. One thing that it has going for it though is that the rear could be used for off-street parking (probably 10-15 spaces) accessible from Compton.

This thread brings me to a question that I've been discussing with some friends: Of all of the neighborhoods east of Grand, south of Chouteau, and north of Cherokee - which has the largest need and would offer the most support to a small grocery/dry goods store with possible deli?

TGE--

Do you consider Barnett's Market in Tower Grove East to be "ghetto"?

Personally, I think that term is too racially coded and would like to see its use become less acceptable.

Dotage. I shop at Barnett's all the time and wouldn't call it ghetto exactly. I mean, it does have the plexiglass booth and primarily sells junk food, cigarettes and beer, but the employees are nice and it serves some of my needs well. It is much nicer now that they have restored the windows and transoms; much lighter and more inviting. You can code things all you want, or implicitly accuse me of racism, but my usage of "Ghetto" refers primarily to cleanliness and merchandise. There are too many "markets" that sell nothing but chips, high-fructose corn syrup and tobacco (read "disease") rather than actual produce, meat, dairy, prepared foods etc (read "food"). I would like to see more real markets and fewer places where people use their EBT cards to buy red hot cheetos and kool aid for dinner (yes they do).
/Oh, the original Ghetto was the Jewish neighborhood of Venice, and the Warsaw Ghetto is probably the most recognized use of the word. As such, my people are from the ghetto and I don't shy away from the use of this evocative and versatile adjective.

TGE--

I am certainly not accusing you of racism. I don't know you.

I just think certain readers will automatically be offended by that word. You don't have to concern yourself with that if you don't wish and you're clear with your own intentions. But I'm just saying--there are other words or phrases out there to describe convenience stores.

As with any new business in the city, I'm hoping this one involves some thought in design. It would be a great amenity for surrounding neighborhoods. I love that they referenced the historical name for the area, too.

In my commute home last night down Compton I got a glimpse of the estabmlishment through the windows. They have set up several small, tasteful tables and chairs. I hope this is a sign that the venue will not be just a grab-and-go type of store selling cheap snacks, instead sandwiches or other items that you can sit down and enjoy; in store.

We live a block away in Compton Heights so looing forward to the opening.

Things are coming along. The blinds were up yesterday and I saw shelving with a wide variety of products (not chips) stocked. The place is looking good.

I haven't been to it yet, but from the street it looks like the cashier might be behind plexiglass--not necessarily a good sign (and seems somewhat out of place with the nice tables and umbrellas out front). Has anyone been in it that can verify?

With a church and school across the street, they can't get a license to sell booze, right?

^Thanks for the update. I'm going to try and make a visit this weekend, especially if they have ice cream.

Yesterday there were probably eight kids out front from the school across the street at about 3:30 sitting at the tables and eating ice cream. What a difference from when that building was abandoned just a few years ago. I can't imagine the deli is anything special, but I'll definitely stop by for ice cream and bottled water etc. It is on my dog-walking route! I actually think that more of a focus on a soda fountain/ ice cream shop might be a good angle for them. I love the idea of a little neighborhood corner ice cream shop, though whether or not it can sustain itself remains to be seen

They took down the temporary vinyl sign and put in more permanent in-window signage. It is for the better.

Don't get me wrong--I love it when storefronts are redone to show their historic luster--but I will kind of miss Diner's Delight's hole-in-the-wallness.

You can dismiss it as part nostalgia, part reverse-snobbery and you'd be right.

Can't wait to stop in the convenience store/deli. It is on my way to and from work. The window signs advertise that they pretty much carry the essentials, and that is definitely what we need in this area. I've been wanting something like this to open on my side of Fox Park for a long time. I'm sure it will come.

BTW, what happened to the Lafayette Terrace gate just west of this store? I drove through there last weekend, and realized something was missing from the middle of the street. Isn't this the "gate district?"

The gate, as you noticed, is gone. Has been for several months or so. It wasn't really a gate, more of a column in the middle of the road with crumbling concrete and, in my opinion, a crappy 1980's design that was incongruous with the surrounding neighborhood. I was glad to see it go.

That's sort of the theme for the entire neighborhood. Random fences, gates and buildings that really don't fit together. Lafayette/Compton really needs more businesses to keep it from being a pass-through between major arteries.