Not sure if anyone has been watching the renovation of this old bar which is across the street from the Art of Living Building at 1141 South 7th. And sorry if there is already a thread for this but I did not find one in my search.



Anyway, the bar is coming along quite nicely and think the developer is doing an awesome job in keeping with the original look. You can see where the orignal bar stops and the new expansion starts as it is where the new limestone wall has just been erected. And the vintage Budweiser signs above the doors just went up yesterday. They are original signs from the 1940's and will eventually be lit up.



Here are just a few progress pics.

That looks fantastic! I really like that their putting up the old Bud signs.

I agree that the building looks great! I think it is very smart that they made the new addition look different than the original rather than attempt to copy it. What will it be when it is done? Condos with retail on the first level?

FromTheLou wrote:I agree that the building looks great! I think it is very smart that they made the new addition look different than the original rather than attempt to copy it. What will it be when it is done? Condos with retail on the first level?

The whole venue will be a bar and live music venue. I believe the new addition will be where the bands will set up and it will be open up to the second level so that you can look down to see below.



Also think there are a bunch of french doors that will go in at street level that will open up to the patio. This will be a great place, especially during baseball season.

Very cool. I love the addition (although I doubt it's historical accuracy - an old 19th century limestone building like that wouldn't have had such an open-feeling cast-iron first floor...but I love it anyway) I agree with TheLou; smart move making the addition contrast with the original.

irocktheparty2000 wrote:Not sure if anyone has been watching the renovation of this old bar which is across the street from the Art of Living Building at 1141 South 7th. And sorry if there is already a thread for this but I did not find one in my search.

I'm just happy they saved this building, it almost caved in a few years back. Thanks for the new pics. Here's a picture I found in the Art of Living Thread



http://www.urbanstl.com/viewtopic.php?t=1606

urbanstlouis wrote:

Jeff707 wrote:What kind of music are they going to host? Please don't tell me cover bands or anything else the typical post-game crowd would want to karaoke to.



Looks good.

Not sure but do remember them talking about getting touring bands in. They are not building this just to have it filled with local cover bands every night. I'll get more info and report back.

I thought this place was supposed to be a folk music venue.

DeBaliviere wrote:I thought this place was supposed to be a folk music venue.

OK, the story is that it will not be folk music. It will be regional bands that take the stage. Probably a mix of bands that do original stuff and some that do covers.



Capacity is about 400 I think.



The place is going to be awesome. It is huge inside in being a two level space. And the music area is open to the top with a sweeping balcony overlooking the stage. That will be a great place to watch the bands. Down below is a pretty big open area in front of the stage to check out the bands, dance, whatever. Kind of like Mississippi Nights just not quite as big. Main bar is right in front and second bar is upstairs. Since the stage is on the east side of the building and the bars are on the west side, that should make it easier to get drinks and converse without having to scream to the bartenders over the music. Basically the place is just going to be cool. Nothing too sportsy or too cheesy about it. It will be a great place to hang out.



There will also be a deck that you access from the upper area off the back side of the bar which will overlook the planned beer garden. And on the front side they are getting ready to pour the patio, also a nice and rather large space.



They also plan on doing food and not typical bar food. Sure you can get a burger and fries but the menu will be a little more sophisticated. I bet the place will rock out on lunches. You have arch views from some of the windows on the upper level and can see just a bit of the stadium from others.



Target date, sometime early summer.

Jeff707 wrote:That sounds awesome.



Who's behind this? Do you know who is going to handle booking the bands?

It's the same guy that developed the Art of Living Building. That was his first venture into development and this bar will be the second.



As for who will book the bands, no idea as they are not that far along yet.

I have a story about this.



About 2 years ago ( I think) I was out with our office staff xmas party and one of our employees said he knew some guy who was opening a bar. So we met up with this guy at that bar (long before any construction had been done) and we drank can beer and played pool. The bar is like a time capsule with old STL newpapers on the wall cards/blues stuff etc. He told us his plans to renovate and at the time he wanted to call it the blue Leprechaun. But then again that was years ago. Apparently this guy sold some internet business for big bucks and that is how he bacame a developer.



Anyway I can't wait to see the inside.

First, does anyone know the name of this new place? Blue Leprechon?



Second, and slightly off subject, the vacant lots accross the street are used as parking for Cardinals games. Some of them are just grass and the lot owners make cars exit the lot by driving over the sidewalk onto 7th street. As I walk to games from soulard, this makes a disgusting mess of mud all over the sidewalk. This should be, and probably is, illegal. Is there a way to complain to the city about this violation of traffic laws and appauling use of the property? It ruins any charisma that 7th street is attempting to regain.

No idea on a name. That was 2 years or so ago.

This rehab looks incredible- one of the best I've seen. I love the new stone addition as well. The ENTIRE area just south of the stadium to SOulard should be rebuilt in this fashion. Throw in some modern buildings as well, just rebuild what was once there. The Toy Museum/Eugene Field House should be copied and rebuilt all over this area. It used to be a part of a row of houses.

looks fantastic - how is the interior renovation?

The Eugene Field House had been planning to re-create the rest of the rowhouses to its North, but I haven't heard anything lately.

The Budweiser sign is now lit and functional.

The original post said 1141 south 7th street, but this address apparently doesn't exist. Does anyone know? Geo St. Louis says that 1151 is being turned into an office, but that the developer is also re-habbing an historic tavern.......It is just unclear. Also, who is the developer? is it Schmit? Any news on an opening date? I tried to google it but they don't have a website. Updates anyone?? Almost redbirds time.

TGE-ATW wrote:The original post said 1141 south 7th street, but this address apparently doesn't exist. Does anyone know? Geo St. Louis says that 1151 is being turned into an office, but that the developer is also re-habbing an historic tavern.......It is just unclear. Also, who is the developer? is it Schmit? Any news on an opening date? I tried to google it but they don't have a website. Updates anyone?? Almost redbirds time.

1141 South 7th street does exist. It is the Art of Living building. And yes, Schmitt and one other are developing the bar across the street, which recently just got a new patio poured and exterior lights on the building. This place is going to be phenomenal.



They are hopeful for a June opening.

^

The whole thing probably would have been done already had the owner of the neighboring salvage yard been more accomodating to the construction crews, letting them use her property for some of the larger construction equipment.