I just noticed some work going on at the long neglected Futon Express store on S. Grand (between Mekong and the Pawn Shop). They're finally replacing the windows and there is a public notice which simply says: "Banquet Center."
Does anyone have any more information on what is moving in?
I am not sure what is opening up in that space, but it was reported on stlalamode.com that an establishment by the name of Urban is doing some work at 3216 S. Grand (old Lemon Grass space?). They are supposed to be a wine bar and cocktail lounge.
I noticed the new temporary plywood facade yesterday. I hope Erato has raised the bar on what kind of place goes in there. They did a nice job on that place. And thank goodness KaBloom has reopened. Not that I ever go there, but for such a high profile place to be empty was a shame.
I found myself privy to an interesting story concerning S. Grand development this weekend. It begins with the old Woolworth?s building on S. Grand next door to the pawnshop. Apparently plans to open a banquet center in the building have been nixed by the city/neighborhood because of parking concerns. The project has since stalled and we can look forward to boarded up windows for a while. Moreover, adding insult to injury I?m told the second floor has an authentic Art Deco ballroom which the owners wanted to turn into a music venue (I?m lobbying to get in and see it for myself).
The fact that two additions to the S. Grand business district were killed because of questions over parking leads one to naturally ask: what about the massive swath of open land behind Commerce Bank, DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET!?!? I was later informed that apparently the city is in the final stages of planning a public parking lot on the site and there is a strong possibility that it will be multi-level(!)
I found the whole situation very interesting and symbolic of the rapidly changing S. Grand neighborhood. However, I?m very upset that the city still prioritizes parking over development.
Has anyone else heard anything further about the situation?
I would hope and imagine they will probably do something like the U city loop garage. Retail on the bottom, 2-3 floors of parking. Goodwrks and a coupple other stores are on the bottom. So long as its not butt ugly and still adds to the street level experience, Go for it. The old commerce bank is certainly not offering anything and is probably a difficult space to reuse. Its not even one of those cool old banks with a little character you could turn into a great dinig space-like those that turn the vault into wine cellars and stuff.
It is a shame that the business is not able to get going, but when talking of a banquet center, you're probably talking weddings...so huundreds of people. I have had a hard time finding parking just going to lemongrass, and the lot behing Qdoba/STL bread co is a dogfight. I could see that being a problem...so maybe not now, but later.
South Grand business owners are aghast at Commerce Bank's plans to sell an adjacent building and long-vacant parking lot to Krieger's which would retain the surface parking lot for its Sports Bar patrons. The back of the parking lot would be sold to developers for condos. The business district is SOL without the lot.
DeBaliviere wrote:Is it just me, or does anyone else think that Krieger's won't last long at that location? It just doesn't seem like a good fit for the district.
Like you said, it doesn't seem to fit in. That ACC entry was also from June of last year and I think it was mentioned on this forum that Krieger's is supposed to open a new location at the "Highlands". I am not sure if the development for South Grand is still on the table.
My understanding is that plans are moving forward for a multilevel garage. I'm not sure it will have a street frontage ala UCity. Meaning there will be a building along Grand with the garage behind as opposed to being integrated in the same building.
Then condos/townhouses will be at the back part of the lot.
Also I don't think the banquet center was cancelled be cause of parking. It only had a permit for 60 people, that was due to parking, but it looked like it was still going forward, perhaps with anticipation of future parking. Apparently there was some opposition to the liquor license, very small but vocal.
This is like third hand so take it for what it is worth, the important thing is there is finally a will and some progress for a multilevel garage.
I just hope garage plans are for the surface lot behind Commerce, and not in place of any of the homes on Arsenal west of Mokabee's. Sadly true, this was actually an option within the South Grand Parking Study completed by the City's Planning Agency.
Here's a blurb from a blog (thecommonspace.org) concerning development for a parking garage on South Grand:
...Commerce Bank has agreed to sell part of the (Commerce Bank parking) lot to Steve Adrod, a developer who plans to build six ten-unit condo buildings. Each building will have ten underground parking spaces.
The former Roosevelt Savings and Loan at the corner of Grand and Juniata will be replaced with a two-story public parking garage with retail shops on the first level and 140-150 parking spaces.
If anybody has a copy of the Spring 2006 Gazette, please post.
Wow, good news. Progress in my nabe! I particularly liked the 'with retail shops on the first level' part of the parking garage.
Honestly though, I've never had a problem parking along S. Grand. There always seem to be ample parking spaces, but I guess for those people coming in to dine or drink at some of the places along Grand, they aren't quite creative enough to turn onto a side street and parallel park. I also hope that the parking garage will have an off street entrance.
Honestly though, I've never had a problem parking along S. Grand. There always seem to be ample parking spaces, but I guess for those people coming in to dine or drink at some of the places along Grand, they aren't quite creative enough to turn onto a side street and parallel park.
I also don't usually have a problem parking on or just of Grand. But I would say that parking now is near capacity. For example if there were 10% growth in number of customers parking would be difficult.
Also if someone did have a great idea for the vacant Comp and Soft space that would have 100 or 200 people a night coming, there just would not be the capacity. Right now there is very little room to grow.
I never had a problem parking in the Loop before the garage, but it sure has helped, and overall the Loop district has improved greatly since the garage was built, and there is more foot traffic than ever before.
