Bevo Mill - 4749 Gravois Avenue

the central scrutinizer · PostMar 20, 2009#312009-03-20T16:15+00:00

Matt wrote:Why would Inbev gift real estate that's worth several million if they are cash poor?

Two reasons:

1) I would suggest it is highly unlikely it is worth "several million".

2) Even if it were, a unique property like this could take years to sell, even in a good market.

So it's easier and faster to donate and take the deduction.

Matt wrote:Giving it to the city could be disastrous. Much of the interior decor is valuable and stands a good chance of being pilfered.

A possibility.

Matt wrote:The neighborhood is thriving and the Mill located on a busy street. The primary issue with Bevo has always been with the operators. The food has been simply awful.

If a decent restaurant was located there, the place would be a red hot destination. It also needs a basic marketing plan and advertising budget. And I don't mean advertising in the Journals. Theres no reason why it can't attract tourists like other destination restaurants. The place is authentic (it has a real story), historic, and amazing.

I suspect it is quite expensive to maintain and run. You would need a lot of volume.

publiceye · PostMar 21, 2009#322009-03-21T16:32+00:00

Likely, gone.

http://www.mayorslay.com/desk/display.asp?deskID=1217

An agency of the City of St. Louis acquired ownership of the familiar Bevo Mill building early this year from its previous owner, Anheuser-Busch/InBev. The City did so in order to ensure that the landmark south St. Louis building would remain intact.

The restaurant and banquet area in the windmill are operated under lease by a private company, which came along with the building.

That company has apparently ceased to operate, leaving its rent to the City’s agency unpaid and its obligations to [bridal and other] parties unmet. It is not clear if the operator will be able to make either its customers or the City whole.

beer city · PostMar 21, 2009#332009-03-21T19:25+00:00

Opprotunity-

To any forward thinking restaurateurs out there, this is your chance.

A city with a deep German heritage like St. Louis needs a first class German restaurant; there is no better place than Bevo.

matt · PostMar 22, 2009#342009-03-22T13:40+00:00

Yea, my thought of a destination, marketing, and advertising was national, international, and less local. Don't think it could make it based on local business only.

We can probably make a list of cities and their non-chain establishments that attract international and national visitors.

Hard to believe that St. Louis doesn't yet have a major brewmania beer bar. Bevo could make one of the best.

ben1040 · PostMar 22, 2009#352009-03-22T16:43+00:00

Matt wrote:Yea, my thought of a destination, marketing, and advertising was national, international, and less local. Don't think it could make it based on local business only.

We can probably make a list of cities and their non-chain establishments that attract international and national visitors.

Hard to believe that St. Louis doesn't yet have a major brewmania beer bar. Bevo could make one of the best.

The International Tap House has a great beer selection, but the lack of kitchen, noisy interior w/ concrete floors & exposed steel ceiling, and worst of all being in Chesterfield all keep me from ever going back again.

If you had that sort of beer selection and good food at the Bevo Mill, I will consistently spend most of my paycheck there.

njenney · PostMar 22, 2009#362009-03-22T17:44+00:00

How about a St. Louis version of this Seattle classic? Of course the STL version would have a full liquor license with a beer garden!

http://www.redmillburgers.com

little sal · PostMar 23, 2009#372009-03-23T05:57+00:00

I would guess that AB had not received a rent payment for some time. That probably made the decision to give it away much easier.

threeonefour · PostMar 27, 2009#382009-03-27T22:54+00:00

I didn't hear the entire segment, but the owners of Dreamland Palace in Foster Pond, Ill. (near Waterloo) were on KTRS this morning discussing their plans to submit a bid to the City of St. Louis to operate Bevo Mill.

Earlier this week there was a story on a local TV station that seemed to indicate a deal was already in place, but apparently that wasn't the case. According to the city's website, the RFP for Bevo Mill will be posted by 5 p.m. on March 31.

It's been a long time since I've been to Dreamland Palace, but I really liked it overall, and I think these owners would be a good fit for Bevo Mill. It seems to be the right fit for them as well, as 90% of their customers come from the Missouri side of the Mississippi River, and the owners have connections to and really seem to care about the Bevo neighborhood.

This seems like a logical choice, but it'll be interesting to see if other interested parties express an interest after the RFP is issued.

ben1040 · PostApr 21, 2009#392009-04-21T13:18+00:00

Did anyone else notice that it looks like a car hit Bevo Mill recently?

I was waiting at the light at Gravois & Delor, and noticed the fence around the building is all snarled up. Then I saw a large pile of automobile debris (hubcaps, plastic, and what looked to be a couple hoses or something).

Looked like a car hit at a 90 degree angle to Gravois-facing side of the building, which considering the way the streets all lay out, must have taken some real talent on the driver's part.

Didn't look to be any damage to the building, but it seems like this place just can't catch a break.

moorlander · PostApr 22, 2009#402009-04-22T19:16+00:00

Bevo Mill gets three suitors

St. Louis Business Journal - by Kelsey Volkmann

Three St. Louis companies have submitted proposals to take over the iconic Bevo Mill.

L&M Catering, which operates Gourmet Food Works, a corporate caterer in University City, and Gourmet Food Works Deli in Clayton; Kukic LLC, which operates Taft Street Restaurant; and Orlando’s Banquets & Catering have submitted bids to lease and operate the South St. Louis restaurant, said Otis Williams, deputy executive director for the St. Louis Development Corp.

More HERE

the central scrutinizer · PostApr 22, 2009#412009-04-22T19:40+00:00

Moorlander wrote:Bevo Mill gets three suitors

St. Louis Business Journal - by Kelsey Volkmann

Three St. Louis companies have submitted proposals to take over the iconic Bevo Mill.

L&M Catering, which operates Gourmet Food Works, a corporate caterer in University City, and Gourmet Food Works Deli in Clayton; Kukic LLC, which operates Taft Street Restaurant; and Orlando’s Banquets & Catering have submitted bids to lease and operate the South St. Louis restaurant, said Otis Williams, deputy executive director for the St. Louis Development Corp.

More HERE

I know nothing about the first two, but Orlando's would be a great choice. He knows what he is doing, and he has the capital to do it.

southcitygent · PostApr 23, 2009#422009-04-23T16:48+00:00

The Taft Street restaurant is a Bosnian business so assuming they are associated with them.

saltearth · PostApr 23, 2009#432009-04-23T17:24+00:00

Sadic Kukic is a Bosnian refugee who came to St. Louis with his family. Back in Bosnia (or possibly Croatia) he worked in the restaurant business. He worked at Ces & Judy's catering, based in the county before saving enough to open his first restaurant, the Gulf Coast, if I remember the name correctly, on South Grand. He specifically tried not to target it as a Bosnian restaurant and focused on sea food which was his background from Bosnia.

He subsequently moved and opened Taft Street, which had been a neighborhood establishment (his sister called it a dive bar) and has continued to produce quality food.

He is very active within the Bosnian community and Bevo Days, and given Bevo Mill's location and the current demographics could be a good fit for both pulling from his community which lives in the surrounding neighborhood as well as the broader base of the area that has fond memories of the restaurant.

All in all, it is great to see that three companies see the potential and have put their hat in the ring for this very visible anchor of that neighborhood.

threeonefour · PostApr 24, 2009#442009-04-24T02:39+00:00

So I guess the owners of Dreamland Palace in Illinois are out? Based on what I heard a few weeks ago it sounded like they were the frontrunners.

bonwich · PostApr 24, 2009#452009-04-24T17:47+00:00

ThreeOneFour wrote:So I guess the owners of Dreamland Palace in Illinois are out? Based on what I heard a few weeks ago it sounded like they were the frontrunners.

It's hard to self-proclaim oneself as a "front-runner."

urbanpioneer · PostJun 23, 2009#462009-06-23T14:20+00:00

It won't sit vacant for too much longer:

http://stlouis.bizjournals.com/stlouis/ ... ily19.html

DogtownBnR · PostJun 24, 2009#472009-06-24T12:56+00:00

^Great news. I just hope/wish that the owners would maintain some of the buildings Bavarian past, whether that be in a few dishes or a German heritage festival or Oktoberfest celebration. [-o<

framer · PostJun 25, 2009#482009-06-25T05:30+00:00

^How could they not?

the central scrutinizer · PostJun 25, 2009#492009-06-25T07:08+00:00

Manjencich said he would keep the Bevo's traditional German specialties and regular brunch offerings, adding some Mediterranean fare.

There it is

leeharveyawesome · PostJun 25, 2009#502009-06-25T16:20+00:00

Is this kind of like that old Dennis Miller joke....

I can't believe France gave us the Statue of Liberty...they must have been throwing it out.....

threeonefour · PostJun 25, 2009#512009-06-25T17:20+00:00

bonwich wrote:
ThreeOneFour wrote:So I guess the owners of Dreamland Palace in Illinois are out? Based on what I heard a few weeks ago it sounded like they were the frontrunners.

It's hard to self-proclaim oneself as a "front-runner."

Actually, when I think about it, it's not all that hard for some people, but I know what you're saying.

I'm glad to hear that Bevo will reopen and that German cuisine will again be featured.

urbanpioneer · PostOct 14, 2009#522009-10-14T16:43+00:00

Bevo Mill grand opening tonight (10/14)!

Can't find a link but I promise times are accurate:

cocktails & hors d'oeuvres: 6 - 8 PM

jcity · PostOct 15, 2009#532009-10-15T03:18+00:00

what kind of food do they serve here? it seems like old people/ german/ cafeteria style. am i wrong?

beer city · PostApr 06, 2016#542016-04-06T15:37+00:00

So here we are... again - The city has issued an RFP for the Bevo - I am not sure when the latest incarnation went dark, I went to a German night there about 3 years ago, it was OK, but kind of pricey.

Would like to see one of our star serial restaurateurs or brewers step in with a Hofbrau Haus type beer hall - Music, Singing, schnitzel, half roast chickens, brats and loads of beer.

The stipulation is that who ever takes it over must spend 1 million on renovation, the place looks OK after a maintenance renovation a few years ago

http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/ ... b4272.html

chaifetz10 · PostApr 06, 2016#552016-04-06T15:50+00:00

Hey Billy Busch...

Bevo Mill - 4749 Gravois Avenue

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