urbanSTL

lamiaposta wrote:

jlblues wrote:

lamiaposta wrote: It is called Gateway News, hardly a liquor store, but a version of 7 - 11 which are known for selling lots of little bottles of booze and in the downtown market usually attracts the wrong clientèle's. It does seem they have chose to focus on the hard stuff, proudly displaying it in there front window and behind the cash register. Wonder why they keep all the booze behind the counter and out of reach of the customer. The last nice liquor store I shopped at had it out where you could get to it. Think they already foresee the problem. Seems a little seedy to me already. But after all, this is Union Station. But if you are looking for hard liquor, lottery tickets and junk food...Gateway News should be a regular stop for you. I bet you they take EBT payments.

Do they sell 40s and loosies? There just aren't enough places downtown where you can get a cold 40 and a coupla loosies to take back to the park.

Yep, they sell the 40's and loosies. So you and the homeless should have no problem hanging out at the park for cocktails. So sad. But what the heck, this should bring in some customers to Union Station. It has been a while since the drunks at the park have had a nice place to shop. But why not hang out at the Union Station lake, it won't be as far to walk for refills.

Didn't the city enact an ordinance several years back that banned the sale of cold 40's and loosies in an attempt to curtail littering by the clientele that purchase in these quantities?

^ But if said drunks have a good day of panhandling, I'm sure they'll appreciate the convenience this place offers.

Best of St. Louis to close at St. Louis Union Station. Yes, as soon as they empty the store, between now and mid September, they is out of here. Even the touristy shops can't make it at St. Louis Union Station.



I wonder if Larry Rice is already making plans to try and take over or lay claim to St Louis Union Station. Picture a tent city under the shed. I saw a post once where someone suggested a homeless city and I know Larry has been shopping for a location. Well Larry, look no further, Union Station could be the place. The homeless already bathe here in the public restrooms. Club Homeless, an all inclusive resort. Maybe the Union Station marketing people could run with this.

^Hmmm...



And, and...it could be surrounded with fences, for their protection of course. Free healthcare and twice-daily feedings within the safe confines of Union Station! Perhaps to help pay for it, they could charge admission to the feedings. See them in their natural environment. Daaaaaaaddy, that one flung poo at me!



Something tells me that Rev. Larry would like this idea...

lamiaposta wrote:Best of St. Louis to close at St. Louis Union Station. Yes, as soon as they empty the store, between now and mid September, they is out of here. Even the touristy shops can't make it at St. Louis Union Station.

Although I'd submit there are many ways to proclaim one's love for St. Louis without the dreadful tchotchkes offered in shops like Best of St. Louis, I'd say it's pretty sad when even one of these stores cannot survive in Union Station.

More bad news for US . I wonder if Emmis is threating to leave within the office complex the theater has been vacant for years , the powerhouse is fully leased with Emmis however they've threated to leave , and also the Annex is almost completly empty except for FOX Midwest. US is simply failing. Plain and simple.



A few buildings at Union Station face tough times

The CoStar Group, which bills itself as the top commercial real estate information company in the United States and the United Kingdom, warns of a possible train wreck at Union Station.



The Bethesda, Md.-based company paints a picture of impending foreclosure for the Power House Office Building and ­Theatre as well as the Grand Central Office Building, which are south of the main Union Station building.



CoStar's Mark Heschmeyer put the Power House development and the Grand Central Office Building on the "Property Watch List."

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/busine ... enDocument

Today I saw a sign crew on 18th putting up what appeared to be a large Hard Rock Cafe electric guitar sign. It appeared to be similar to the one out in front of the Vegas Hard Rock. Something like this only a smaller scale.







I am guessing this placement is for visibility for fans coming out of Scottrade center? Or maybe Union Station just wanted to cheese things up some more.

ThreeOneFour wrote:Although I'd submit there are many ways to proclaim one's love for St. Louis without the dreadful tchotchkes offered in shops like Best of St. Louis, I'd say it's pretty sad when even one of these stores cannot survive in Union Station.

I wonder why Union Station's not full of campy fudge stores, because after all it seems like that's the only formula for success there.

Went by east entrance of Unions Station this afternoon and noticed a new entrance sign at parking lot entry. I like! Hard Rock Cafe has put in a new digital sign over street and erected a HUGE Hard Rock Cafe lighted guitar over the sign. Looks nice and will definatley get noticed from the east and interstate 64.

I think the sign was an excellent idea. We all know US can use all the help it can get. I had an IT training course with a total hoosier state employee from Jefferson City who was so excited to have eaten at HRC on the first night she arrived in St Louis. The next night another local asked "So where'd you eat last night?" and she proudly exclaimed "The Hard Rock Cafe again!"

There was a no show Saturday at St Louis Union Station for Tour Missouri Bike drawing and the free movie American Flyer. One lady showed up and sadly sat in a chair in front of the screen and watched the movie. Otherwise a total flop or non event. The marketing department at Union Station once again demonstrates that they know what they are doing. I have a picture of this sad event, but can not figure out how to post pictures

The campy shows like Rocky Horror and Sound of Music draw many.



I never had heard of that movie. Also this weekend was to be a complete wash out (rain wise) and its "after" summer and Tour of Missouri was coming through the city.



Anyway, not making excuses, but most of the outdoor movies have stopped now and what was the draw to Union Station for "that" movie. naot much.

Another city event moves away from St Louis Union Station. Last year Union Station was the backdrop for Tour of Missouri Bike Race. With judges stand and finish line in front of the Hyatt and vendors across the street. Not the case this year. Everything was moved to Soldiers Memorial with the finish line and judges stand at the closed Kiel opera house. As a result leaving Union Station empty of race fans and a very dismal retail day. Maybe going un-noticed, but over the last year, it appears that most downtown events, that started or ended at St. Louis Union Station, no longer do so. Thus impacting exposure to visitors and customers for the merchants. Apparently, the city has also lost interest in Union Station. This definately speaks to the inability of the Marketing Department at Union Station who continues their history poor performance with lack luster events and marketing. Their attitude seems to be "We are St. Louis Union Station, the number 3 attraction in St. Louis." But as one quickly learns, after one visit to St Louis Union Station, there is no reason for a repeat visit.

Over the weekend on Saturday night a very large group of African American young males congreated in the parking lot. From a few employees I know who work in establishments in close proximity there apparently was a few assaults. There has been speculation that this is the same group of thugs who were assembling and assaulting people in the loop over the summer. If this is the case I hope Union Station doesn’t turn into our fairs city’s version of a mad max film this place is rather blazza and rather shabby in its present state.



Come on Mr. Mayor when are you going to do something about Union Stations problems!!

Prophett wrote:Over the weekend on Saturday night a very large group of African American young males congreated in the parking lot. From a few employees I know who work in establishments in close proximity there apparently was a few assaults. There has been speculation that this is the same group of thugs who were assembling and assaulting people in the loop over the summer. If this is the case I hope Union Station doesn’t turn into our fairs city’s version of a mad max film this place is rather blazza and rather shabby in its present state.



Come on Mr. Mayor when are you going to do something about Union Stations problems!!

I thought it was just my imagination or my over reaction to ghetto kids, but I noticed all weekend that St Louis Union Station had a high prescence of what seemed to be tough ghetto boys and girls. Matter of fact, they were the dominate group all weekend and congregated in large groups. One thing that made them stand out, was the lack of other type of visitors to Union Station. I even heard a visitor to Union Station remark at how uneasy they felt. The problem with security at Union Station is they are not proactive in regards to potential problems. Their position is until they do something, not our problem. The word from some merchants is shop lifting has increased.



Please note, I can point to at least 6 stores at Union Station that are ghetto specific. I would have to assume, since they have leased to these type of stores, they have no problem with an influx of ghetto shoppers and gangs.



As for the mayor doing something, Union Station is a private business, like any other business downtown and therefore the Mayor really has no control over the going on's at Union Station other than to work with them for the betterment of the city.

Prophett wrote:If this is the case I hope Union Station doesn’t turn into our fairs city’s version of a mad max film this place is rather blazza and rather shabby in its present state.

Oh come on! How can you go with a film analogy, and pass up the most obvious one, Escape from New York???



This is an interesting idea, though. Perhaps we could create a permanent no rules-Ultimate Fight Club facility in the Union Station parking lot! Once a year, we could invite all the thugs in the St. Louis area, put up a purse of say $1 million and - unbeknownst to them - one-way tickets to North Waziristan, and let 'em go at it inside the facility, winner take all. Ticket sales and broadcast rights would more than pay for the cost of the facility and the purse. Profits could go toward cleaning up the areas of our community that all the dead thugs used to terrorize.

^ Turn it into our version of the ancient Roman Coliseum and don't forget to bring lions. Lions and tigers and bears. Oh my!!!

^And Christians.

^There's good bears at Kiel; great lions in U City. Anybody spotted any local tigers?



(There's a few tigers in Mr. Paley's "Animals Always" in Forest Park, but they are probably too busy to play.)

publiceye wrote:^There's good bears at Kiel; great lions in U City. Anybody spotted any local tigers?

Clearly, you attended a Jesuit university.

Went through and around Union Station twice recently.



September 1st, Saturday night. Went to a movie at the Moolah, then walked home to Lafayette Square (couldn't find a damn cab, and we were buzzed). Walking back around Union Station, some kind of night club had apparently just closed for the night. I think it's in the same building as Upper Limits climbing? Lots of idiots out, bunch of people acting like jerks, hanging out of windows, honking, peeling out, etc. I wouldn't want to be NEAR Union Station if I were an out of towner and I saw that crowd come through.



September 13th, before the Hop in the City - waited for a friend at the Union Station metrolink stop. The gate into the parking area to Union Station was broken for a good 45 minutes. People came in, tried to park, then turned around and left. The security guard finally came and recommended that someone go to the other entrance. I doubt they bothered. Finally someone came and fixed the gate so people could pay those ridiculous fees to park on a Saturday afternoon with no game. Great concept, guys.



We walked through the station on the way to / from the Hop. I admit, I was much less than impressed. There's a lot of potential there, but we only saw a few other customers, a few shady characters, and marveled at the liquor store in there. It's a sad sight.

Over the weekend, 3 more stores closed at St Louis Union Station.

Ceci's Gallery,

Rock On,

The Beatles Store.



Rock On and the Beatles Store left unannounced in the middle of the night.



But according to Union Station management all is well. It is common for stores to come and go in a mall situation. Really? Well at least they got the "go" part right.



And here are a few more that will be leaving soon.

Starbucks

Cioccolato

All Tied Up

EZ Tees



Just a hunch, but Ceci's and Shoes Etc will probably make the mad rush to get out of Union Station.



Also, King Louies Gourmet Popcorn is looking to relocate out of St. Louis Union Station to somewhere in the downtown market.



Every time a store closes every store left has less business.



This is extremely reminiscent of the failures at Northwest Plaza, St Louis Center, Crestwood Plaza etc. And honestly, if Union Station was not a historical attraction, it would probably have completely closed by now.

Wow.



Thanks for the info Lamiaposta.



In a way I am excited that some of these retailers will move to a more traditional downtown store. As a Washington Ave resident I frequently walk along Wash ave as well as the downtown business district, but never make it over to union Station. I honestly dont know why, but I think it might just be the perception that it is just "another mall."

Malls DON'T work in the urban core and are not sustainable in the long term. I've said it before......I wish that we could have used Union Station as our new Amtrak station, but I've been told that it wouldn't work. Maybe when it closes down it can be converted into a mixed used project with residential, much like the "Mercantile Exchange".