Ready Room becoming Hot Java Bar
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JJ’s Clubhouse is closing. As per this release, the building was sold so maybe something is happening here. Regardless, it’s sad that another LGBT spot is closing in the Grove. With Attitudes and Atomic Cowboy closing also, the area is becoming more of a general bar district it seems.
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^ so it's down to Just John's and Rehab then? didn't think Atomic Cowboy was a "gay" bar. the crown was often mixed, though, like it is at HandleBar.
From my memory, I thought Atomic cowboy was technically a lesbian bar but as the area changed, it became less of that. It was one of the older establishments in the area so I don’t think it’s far off for it to have been an LGBT space. Otherwise, yes it’s now just rehab and just John’s to my knowledge. They seem to be doing well though as I was at them all (including JJ’s) just last night.
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^ huh... maybe Atomic picked up Novak's clientele when it closed. the scene is definitely dwindling. i used to go to the Complex and Magnolia's quite a bit back in the day. and Coffee Cartel back when it was a gay hangout.
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Took a while to get this photo to happen, lol. But hopefully they'll be sharing more like this:
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^^^Saw the story on JJ's on /r/stlouis over the weekend. Comments included word that the owners had attempted to sell the business to successor operators starting back in 2019 but weren't able to find any. Apparently, it's closing in part because the owners want to retire. Consensus over there is that it's also weird seeing the "bear bar" is announcing its shutdown during Pride Month, but I guess all eyes are paying attention here now...
Also from the Reddit comments: That ownership of the club also owns the building itself.
Perhaps this location is now the next one to be acquired by a real estate developer. Hell of a location, could certainly further the link between City Foundry/SLU/Midtown and the Grove... I've long thought a big, giant goal of Cortex would be the constructive rehabilitation of the old Famous-Barr warehouse between JJ's and the Armory (yes, recognizing that it's outside the district's TIF boundary). The east side of this stretch of Market already has the redevelopment of the Armory (soon to open), with proposals for two new high-rise towers that'd connect to Market, and the likely pedestrian bridge over depressed 64/40 at Spring for the Brickline Greenway. That warehouse is right between all of this. I'm not saying that market conditions are ready for such a major project yet, but the opportunity to buy the JJ's building to build something new, perhaps leading to the Famous-Barr warehouse's eventual major redevelopment, must certainly make a lot of developers excited. Makes it much more likely for a total site redevelopment at JJ's.
Also from the Reddit comments: That ownership of the club also owns the building itself.
Perhaps this location is now the next one to be acquired by a real estate developer. Hell of a location, could certainly further the link between City Foundry/SLU/Midtown and the Grove... I've long thought a big, giant goal of Cortex would be the constructive rehabilitation of the old Famous-Barr warehouse between JJ's and the Armory (yes, recognizing that it's outside the district's TIF boundary). The east side of this stretch of Market already has the redevelopment of the Armory (soon to open), with proposals for two new high-rise towers that'd connect to Market, and the likely pedestrian bridge over depressed 64/40 at Spring for the Brickline Greenway. That warehouse is right between all of this. I'm not saying that market conditions are ready for such a major project yet, but the opportunity to buy the JJ's building to build something new, perhaps leading to the Famous-Barr warehouse's eventual major redevelopment, must certainly make a lot of developers excited. Makes it much more likely for a total site redevelopment at JJ's.
Urban STL: Council Towers and Old Macy's Buildinggone corporate wrote: ↑Jun 14, 2021I've long thought a big, giant goal of Cortex would be the constructive rehabilitation of the old Famous-Barr warehouse between JJ's and the Armory (yes, recognizing that it's outside the district's TIF boundary). The east side of this stretch of Market already has the redevelopment of the Armory (soon to open), with proposals for two new high-rise towers that'd connect to Market, and the likely pedestrian bridge over depressed 64/40 at Spring for the Brickline Greenway. That warehouse is right between all of this. I'm not saying that market conditions are ready for such a major project yet, but the opportunity to buy the JJ's building to build something new, perhaps leading to the Famous-Barr warehouse's eventual major redevelopment, must certainly make a lot of developers excited. Makes it much more likely for a total site redevelopment at JJ's.
That former Famous-Barr warehouse complex and trailer storage pad houses the MERS/Goodwill Outlet Center, offices, and storage, plus a handful of other businesses which require a lot of warehouse/distribution space. On top of millions in tenant improvements, the owner has spent millions over the last several years upgrading the building systems, loading docks, elevators, etc., specifically to provide this type of space.
Demand for centrally-located warehouse, distribution, and logistics space like this will be insatiable as the instant delivery wars continue to heat up, while there is an ever-dwindling supply of it in the Central Corridor...
(Which ties into the misguided redevelopment of the McRee industrial area into yet another mixed-use entertainment destination, but that's another thread)
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Vandeventer from (Ikea/Foundry) to McRee (BarK/GreenStreet) seems to be ready to take off... I used to work on that stretch and over the last 2 years a lot of those lots have been prepped/sold to developers, or are already in the hands of holding companies (Vandeventer LLC owns a few).
*speaking of, our old office 1301 S Vandeventer is becoming a cocktail/restaurant.
*speaking of, our old office 1301 S Vandeventer is becoming a cocktail/restaurant.
I don't know how BarK and Green Street offices will add anything to the Vandeventer experience other than some auto traffic. Even if that recycling center eventually goes away (see below) there's still busy railroad tracks on two sides...pattimagee wrote: ↑Jun 15, 2021Vandeventer from (Ikea/Foundry) to McRee (BarK/GreenStreet) seems to be ready to take off... I used to work on that stretch and over the last 2 years a lot of those lots have been prepped/sold to developers, or are already in the hands of holding companies (Vandeventer LLC owns a few).
*speaking of, our old office 1301 S Vandeventer is becoming a cocktail/restaurant.
Vandeventer has quite a few projects planned (Recycling Center Site, Gadell Net, Liberty Bell, Renovation/Repolacement of buildings next to Rockwell, not yet revealed supposed multi-family development at Vandeventer and Kentucky, the yet to be announced development where Laclede Taxi was, the cocktail lounge pattimagee mentioned, and of course the Tower Grove Connector). So while these will change the look of Vandeventer. As for adding pedestrian traffic, these will all do just that. There's still a lot of work to do along Vandeventer to make it great, but strides are being made with the final product most likely being visible by 2026.urbanitas wrote: ↑Jun 18, 2021I don't know how BarK and Green Street offices will add anything to the Vandeventer experience other than some auto traffic. Even if that recycling center eventually goes away (see below) there's still busy railroad tracks on two sides...pattimagee wrote: ↑Jun 15, 2021Vandeventer from (Ikea/Foundry) to McRee (BarK/GreenStreet) seems to be ready to take off... I used to work on that stretch and over the last 2 years a lot of those lots have been prepped/sold to developers, or are already in the hands of holding companies (Vandeventer LLC owns a few).
*speaking of, our old office 1301 S Vandeventer is becoming a cocktail/restaurant.
I haven't seen it mentioned anywhere, but the QRS Recycling Center at 1525 and 1625 S. Vandeventer (northeast corner of Vandeventer and McRee) changed ownership on April 15th. The owner for both parcels is now listed as:
RHINO VENTURES LLC C/O GS 1525 VANDEVENTER INVESTORS LLC.
Rhino Ventures, LLC owns QRS, while the organizer of the GS 1525 Vandeventer Investors, LLC is Green Street Development.
RHINO VENTURES LLC C/O GS 1525 VANDEVENTER INVESTORS LLC.
Rhino Ventures, LLC owns QRS, while the organizer of the GS 1525 Vandeventer Investors, LLC is Green Street Development.
Yes. Green Street announced they bought that 9 acre site at their groundbreaking for their office and are planning a multi-family development there, making two by them right there.urbanitas wrote: ↑Jun 18, 2021I haven't seen it mentioned anywhere, but the QRS Recycling Center at 1525 and 1625 S. Vandeventer (northeast corner of Vandeventer and McRee) changed ownership on April 15th. The owner for both parcels is now listed as:
RHINO VENTURES LLC C/O GS 1525 VANDEVENTER INVESTORS LLC.
Rhino Ventures, LLC owns QRS, while the organizer of the GS 1525 Vandeventer Investors, LLC is Green Street Development.
Did they give a timetable, because as far as I know, QRS Recycling isn't planning on going anywhere? More likely the multi-family plans that were mentioned are long-term. Meanwhile, they lease those parcels back to the recycling operator.chriss752 wrote: ↑Jun 18, 2021Yes. Green Street announced they bought that 9 acre site at their groundbreaking for their office and are planning a multi-family development there, making two by them right there.urbanitas wrote: ↑Jun 18, 2021I haven't seen it mentioned anywhere, but the QRS Recycling Center at 1525 and 1625 S. Vandeventer (northeast corner of Vandeventer and McRee) changed ownership on April 15th. The owner for both parcels is now listed as:
RHINO VENTURES LLC C/O GS 1525 VANDEVENTER INVESTORS LLC.
Rhino Ventures, LLC owns QRS, while the organizer of the GS 1525 Vandeventer Investors, LLC is Green Street Development.
Heard some people at the groundbreaking saying they'd like the recycling plant site project underway after the completion of 4591 McRee (or the neighboring apartment building next to their office/Bar K). So late 2023/early 2024 would be my guess. We should be seeing the apartment building at 4591 proposed soon.urbanitas wrote: ↑Jun 18, 2021Did they give a timetable, because as far as I know, QRS Recycling isn't planning on going anywhere? More likely the multi-family plans that were mentioned are long-term. Meanwhile, they lease those parcels back to the recycling operator.chriss752 wrote: ↑Jun 18, 2021Yes. Green Street announced they bought that 9 acre site at their groundbreaking for their office and are planning a multi-family development there, making two by them right there.urbanitas wrote: ↑Jun 18, 2021I haven't seen it mentioned anywhere, but the QRS Recycling Center at 1525 and 1625 S. Vandeventer (northeast corner of Vandeventer and McRee) changed ownership on April 15th. The owner for both parcels is now listed as:
RHINO VENTURES LLC C/O GS 1525 VANDEVENTER INVESTORS LLC.
Rhino Ventures, LLC owns QRS, while the organizer of the GS 1525 Vandeventer Investors, LLC is Green Street Development.
So many Grove (and adjacent) projects, it's hard to keep track of them all.
Just what I can think of (and it's a crazy amount) that's underway, planned or recently completed...wabash wrote: ↑Jun 18, 2021So many Grove (and adjacent) projects, it's hard to keep track of them all.
- 4321 Manchester
- 4400 Manchester
- 4440 Manchester
- Tuber Organic Cafe (4470 Chouteau)
- Aventura at Forest Park
- Home 2 Hotel (Aventura Phase 2)
- 4475 Chouteau (Aventura Phase 3)
- Golden Grocer
- Sauce on the Side Building Renovation
- Chroma
- Hue
- Dogwood Event Space
- Swade Dispensary on Manchester
- 4101 Manchester (cancelled)
- Ronald McDonald House on Chouteau (potentially cancelled?)
- Terra
- Union (6 buildings)
- Missouri Foundation for Health
- Rockwell
- The Triangle parcel at Hemp, Vandeventer and Manchester
- Raising Canes
- Rock Spring School
- Renovation of buildings North of Rockwell
- Gadell Net Offices
- Core @ South Newstead
- Adams Grove
- Other numerous single family homes.
- Liberty Bell (Planned - Unknown units)
- Drury Parcels (Planned - Unknown units)
- Green Street HQ/Bar K
- 4591 McRee (Planned - 260 units)
- McRee/Vandeventer (Planned - Unknown units)
- Armory building redevelopment into Rec Hall
- Armory Towers
- City Foundry Phase 2
- Cortex K
- Cortex MX
- 4210 Duncan
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That's great news re: Vandeventer & Kentucky and the Laclede Taxi site. I drove down Vandeventer last night, and those two sites really jumped out at me.
It would also be great to see the cluster of buildings just north of Papin receive a little love at some point. The self storage building actually looks pretty good, but the two buildings to the south could stand to be renovated.
It would also be great to see the cluster of buildings just north of Papin receive a little love at some point. The self storage building actually looks pretty good, but the two buildings to the south could stand to be renovated.
@Chris do we know what Cortex MX is?chriss752 wrote: ↑Jun 18, 2021Just what I can think of (and it's a crazy amount) that's underway, planned or recently completed...wabash wrote: ↑Jun 18, 2021So many Grove (and adjacent) projects, it's hard to keep track of them all.This is just a crazy amount of development when you think about just how small of an area all of this is taking place in (64/40 on the north, Vandeventer on the east, railroad tracks on the south, and Kingshighway on the west. That''s roughly about .5 square miles. Thousands of housing units too and all of these developments are just in the past decade. In the periphery of the Grove, you have...
- 4321 Manchester
- 4400 Manchester
- 4440 Manchester
- Tuber Organic Cafe (4470 Chouteau)
- Aventura at Forest Park
- Home 2 Hotel (Aventura Phase 2)
- 4475 Chouteau (Aventura Phase 3)
- Golden Grocer
- Sauce on the Side Building Renovation
- Chroma
- Hue
- Dogwood Event Space
- Swade Dispensary on Manchester
- 4101 Manchester (cancelled)
- Ronald McDonald House on Chouteau (potentially cancelled?)
- Terra
- Union (6 buildings)
- Missouri Foundation for Health
- Rockwell
- The Triangle parcel at Hemp, Vandeventer and Manchester
- Raising Canes
- Rock Spring School
- Renovation of buildings North of Rockwell
- Gadell Net Offices
- Core @ South Newstead
- Adams Grove
- Other numerous single family homes.
- Liberty Bell (Planned - Unknown units)
- Drury Parcels (Planned - Unknown units)
When you include those project area, you get just under one square mile. So much has happened there with more to come. It's wild, but, if anything, it has proved that there is demand to live in a central neighborhood like that where everything you need is within walking distance. Bars, shops, normal restaurants, quick shops/convenience stores, transit (Grand and Cortex MetroLink), workplaces and more. Not to mention easy roadway connections. This next decade, in my opinion, will see the Grove and the peripheral neighborhoods, fill in nicely becoming a true showcase.
- Green Street HQ/Bar K
- 4591 McRee (Planned - 260 units)
- McRee/Vandeventer (Planned - Unknown units)
- Armory building redevelopment into Rec Hall
- Armory Towers
- City Foundry Phase 2
- Cortex K
- Cortex MX
- 4210 Duncan
It'll be interesting to see if the entertainment district will shift towards Vandeventer. Certainly exciting to see what happens here over the next five years.
Rockwell Brewing has shown you can have huge success on Vandeventer, and I think I saw on this forum the other day a road diet plan for Vandeventer that would make it MUCH more appealing for walking / bikers, so I'm thinking we'll see more nightlife / dining fill in over the next 5-6 years.flipz wrote: ↑Jun 18, 2021It'll be interesting to see if the entertainment district will shift towards Vandeventer. Certainly exciting to see what happens here over the next five years.
WELCOR wrote:This is Cortex MX. The residential component at Cortex K. They may be part of the same development but are being branded as two different buildings with different timelines and what not.chriss752 wrote: ↑Jun 18, 2021@Chris do we know what Cortex MX is?
@chriss752 what do you know about these two "to be announced" projects in grey on Vandeventer & McRee? 
