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Carnegie Library on Broadway in Soulard

Carnegie Library on Broadway in Soulard

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PostMay 24, 2005#1

Anyone know what is in the building behind the Carnegie Cafe? It's a nice looking building.




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PostMay 24, 2005#2

I think it was a library at one time.

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PostMay 24, 2005#3

mcarril wrote:Anyone know what is in the building behind the Carnegie Cafe? It's a nice looking building.


I can probably do a little research and get exact details... but from what I remember hearing/reading, it was the old Soulard Library, Carnegie Library or library annex not sure exactly, but hence the name "Carnegie Cafe". I think it is being renovated for banquets and wedding receptions, etc...

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PostMay 24, 2005#4

urbanstlouis wrote:
mcarril wrote:Anyone know what is in the building behind the Carnegie Cafe? It's a nice looking building.


I can probably do a little research and get exact details... but from what I remember hearing/reading, it was the old Soulard Library, Carnegie Library or library annex not sure exactly, but hence the name "Carnegie Cafe". I think it is being renovated for banquets and wedding receptions, etc...




It was an old library, for a brief stint in the early 90's it was a bar (imagine that.... in Soulard :wink: ) I was only in there once, but it is pretty cool. the bar was in the center and there was a mezzanine that went around the edge. glad to see it is being rehabbed

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PostAug 16, 2005#5

Martin Van Der Werf of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported the following today (08/16/2005):



NEW FOUNDATION: An investment team has bought the former Carnegie Library on Broadway in Soulard. The stately building now is rented for special events. The Carnegie Cafe takes up space on the first floor.



Mike Lutsky, who heads the group that bought the building, says there will be few changes now, but his group is in the early stages of a long-term plan for renovating the building. Up to now, Lutsky primarily has bought and rehabbed apartment buildings in St. Louis and University City.

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PostAug 16, 2005#6

This is great news. The building needs a huge amount of work. I have heard that the former owner was very difficult and that's one reason why nothing seemed to work there for so many years.



I am pretty sure that Carnegie Cafe has closed although it's difficult to tell because of the strange way they operated. The owner of the cafe at one time had plans to open a catering operation in the library but the neighborhood sat on that idea because they thought it would be a front for a hip hop club.

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PostAug 16, 2005#7

From driving by there so often, I'm pretty sure it was used as a hip hop club, at least for a short amount of time. I haven't seen anyone using it recently, though.

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PostAug 16, 2005#8

At one time, it was a gay bar. But I don't remember when or for how long. That would have been at least ten years ago or longer.

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PostAug 16, 2005#9

I once threw an illegal rave in the building.