Very true! I went to the blues game the other day and there’s zip “nada” to do before a game! And the blues have a huge following so I wonder what’s the hold up other than Blues ownership not owning the stadium. Location is not the greatest but I guess something can be built at the empty building across the street that was going to be a hotel. Make it like a Blues and NHL Experience joint with bars, hotel and restaurants.
Just a few places that are downtown or at least close enough to downtown that I personally like...
Broadway Oyster Bar
Blood & Sand (I realize this is invite only, but its still amazing)
Bailey's Range (they've had some quality issues, but the place is solid for the most part)
Vin De Set/PW Pizza/21st Street
Planters House
Hair of the Dog
Flamingo Bowl
Bridge Tap House & Wine Bar
Schlafly Tap Room
4Hands Brewery
Pi Pizzeria (Great bar too)
All those ya’ll mentioned are good but none close to Enterprise. Union Station is family oriented and the Irish Pub is the only one I can think of close enough.
I attend 20-30 Blues games a year and there's nothing within decent walking distance since "The Note" folded during COVID. Nothing. If you want to pre or post game it 4 blocks down to Tin Roof, Start Bar or Midwestern. Now I know this is where I get yelled at and called bad names: but the Enterprise Center really is plopped down in a wasteland and is not in a good place. Don't try and tell me otherwise.
Some arenas have the same problem. Try finding anything decent by the United Center in Chicago or Ball Arena in Denver. But then look at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, FedEx Center in Memphis, T Mobile Center in KC...
^ I think the building in front that almost sold and the parking lot behind it has potential for a few new places! City needs to start accepting the offers they get and stop acting like there’s 100’s of people wanting those lots that now are seating vacant and an eye sore. But I do agree there’s nothing near it it all. And the name calling and all that BS I’m used to that already lol… You’re either part of the clan or you’re a racist, have no Econ knowledge or should move to the burbs or back where you came from lol… but I think that most of us that complain and give our point of view is because we want positive things happening DT. Giving an external clan view of how we see things!
Now I know this is where I get yelled at and called bad names: but the Enterprise Center really is plopped down in a wasteland and is not in a good place. Don't try and tell me otherwise.
How dare you not consistently walk four blocks!
The really frustrating thing is that right next to the city's primary transit center, next to city hall, on two significant Downtown streets (Market & 14th), where 1,000s of municipal and federal employees come and go each day, should be an amazing place for an arena! Add in 15,000+ event goers 100+ nights a year and it should be a vibrant part of Downtown.
IMO it was actually plopped in a really promising place, and that promise has gone unfulfilled as surface lots, parking garages, monolithic buildings, empty buildings, and little-used green space have persevered over infill and re-development.
Now I know this is where I get yelled at and called bad names: but the Enterprise Center really is plopped down in a wasteland and is not in a good place. Don't try and tell me otherwise.
How dare you not consistently walk four blocks!
The really frustrating thing is that right next to the city's primary transit center, next to city hall, on two significant Downtown streets (Market & 14th), where 1,000s of municipal and federal employees come and go each day, should be an amazing place for an arena! Add in 15,000+ event goers 100+ nights a year and it should be a vibrant part of Downtown.
IMO it was actually plopped in a really promising place, and that promise has gone unfulfilled as surface lots, parking garages, monolithic buildings, empty buildings, and little-used green space have persevered over infill and re-development.
All I'm asking for is one or two places within a block or two. It should be a vibrant part of downtown but isn't because of how the arena and theater are isolated.
If you jog and every crosswalk aligns perfectly/you jaywalk it's five minutes. I've done the walk and timed it: my walk from Flannerys to the 14th street doors is 10-13 minutes. Hair of the Dog to those doors is 12-14 minutes.
In my ideal world the old Abrams federal building/current city courts gets replaced with some sort of residential tower with ground floor retail and some parking sprinkled in.
If you jog and every crosswalk aligns perfectly/you jaywalk it's five minutes. I've done the walk and timed it: my walk from Flannerys to the 14th street doors is 10-13 minutes. Hair of the Dog to those doors is 12-14 minutes.
In my ideal world the old Abrams federal building/current city courts gets replaced with some sort of residential tower with ground floor retail and some parking sprinkled in.
I'd also nominate the lot across 14th, the City Hall lot, 1311-1313 Spruce, and Eternal Flame Park as good candidates for infill with ground floor retail.
^ You would think that development of the Old Muni Courts and backlot infill along Clark would finally get some traction with Enterprise Arena/Union Station success/pending MLS station on one side and BPV phase II, a possible 2CW, OPUS working on a Spruce Ave/Cupples infill on the other side as well as being kitty corner to the metrolink/Amtrak stop, etc... Is it a case of picking wrong developer at wrong time, or simply picking the only developer at the wrong time. Not sure if development agreement is still in place or if their is an opportunity for a new developer to come in?
Not as close but not too far is the surface lot(s) on the west side of Union Station that LHM owns. You are literally within two blocks of new MLS stadium, Union Station, Enterprise Arena as well as two metrolink stops & future bricline/greenway. The surface last seems prime for some good mix use development but I assume the hold up is LHM thinking they need that parking.
All said, Clark Ave corridor/South of Market should be primed for more development if one or more two developments can break ground whether it be 2CW and or Opus Spruce Street.
I attend 20-30 Blues games a year and there's nothing within decent walking distance since "The Note" folded during COVID. Nothing. If you want to pre or post game it 4 blocks down to Tin Roof, Start Bar or Midwestern. Now I know this is where I get yelled at and called bad names: but the Enterprise Center really is plopped down in a wasteland and is not in a good place. Don't try and tell me otherwise.
Some arenas have the same problem. Try finding anything decent by the United Center in Chicago or Ball Arena in Denver. But then look at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, FedEx Center in Memphis, T Mobile Center in KC...
I’m with you. It would be great to have bars/residential/etc next to it but it’s landlocked. You have the post office on one side, the theatre and then park on another, city hall, and then metro tracks. Just an awful setup.
Now if you could get the something with the parking lot and municipal courts building done that would be a start. That’s still landlocked on the other side by city hall but it would be something at least. Just not a lot you can do with all the gov buildings around it. Which is too bad.
The lot created by demolishing the 64 WB on-ramp kitty corner from Enterprise at Clark/14th would be perfect for development. Is that ramp really needed? Event traffic could just use the new Jefferson/64 interchange or the on ramps near Busch Stadium without adding much travel time.
^Went downtown the other day in search of a hat. Levin's was a pleasant surprise. Not sure how much shopping I'll do there on the regular, but I'll try to stop in from time to time. We could definitely use more clothing stores generally in the city, but it's darn nice finding a smaller shop like that still in business.
Over the years the Blues have talked about additions to the front of the arena or the parking garage that would provide another option for people before or after the game. Neither have happened.
Just a few places that are downtown or at least close enough to downtown that I personally like...
Broadway Oyster Bar
Blood & Sand (I realize this is invite only, but its still amazing)
Bailey's Range (they've had some quality issues, but the place is solid for the most part)
Vin De Set/PW Pizza/21st Street
Planters House
Hair of the Dog
Flamingo Bowl
Bridge Tap House & Wine Bar
Schlafly Tap Room
4Hands Brewery
Pi Pizzeria (Great bar too)
Good list. I just want to point out that Blood and Sand is no longer invite only and the price of being a member is so cheap that it pays for itself in one visit.
dweebe wrote:Over the years the Blues have talked about additions to the front of the arena or the parking garage that would provide another option for people before or after the game. Neither have happened.
That rendering looks cool. But I get why they haven’t done it. Why invest on a building that is not theirs. I guess they can do some type of public-private funding agreement. Specially now with all these federal funds available.
Just a few places that are downtown or at least close enough to downtown that I personally like...
Broadway Oyster Bar
Blood & Sand (I realize this is invite only, but its still amazing)
Bailey's Range (they've had some quality issues, but the place is solid for the most part)
Vin De Set/PW Pizza/21st Street
Planters House
Hair of the Dog
Flamingo Bowl
Bridge Tap House & Wine Bar
Schlafly Tap Room
4Hands Brewery
Pi Pizzeria (Great bar too)
Good list. I just want to point out that Blood and Sand is no longer invite only and the price of being a member is so cheap that it pays for itself in one visit.
Woh damn - thanks! I didn't realize that... its been too long since I had their truffle tots.
Also, though I'm not a fan of many of them, their view of Union Station is unmatched. ... Lombardo's, Landry's, Station Grille, Soda Fountain are all less than a block. Plenty of food options next to Enterprise Center.
dweebe wrote:Over the years the Blues have talked about additions to the front of the arena or the parking garage that would provide another option for people before or after the game. Neither have happened.
That rendering looks cool. But I get why they haven’t done it. Why invest on a building that is not theirs. I guess they can do some type of public-private funding agreement. Specially now with all these federal funds available.
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The problem is the Blues get $0 from parking. The city doesn't even give team employees a discount or a few token spaces in the Kiel Garage.
Just a few places that are downtown or at least close enough to downtown that I personally like...
Broadway Oyster Bar
Blood & Sand (I realize this is invite only, but its still amazing)
Bailey's Range (they've had some quality issues, but the place is solid for the most part)
Vin De Set/PW Pizza/21st Street
Planters House
Hair of the Dog
Flamingo Bowl
Bridge Tap House & Wine Bar
Schlafly Tap Room
4Hands Brewery
Pi Pizzeria (Great bar too)
Good list. I just want to point out that Blood and Sand is no longer invite only and the price of being a member is so cheap that it pays for itself in one visit.
Woh damn - thanks! I didn't realize that... its been too long since I had their truffle tots.
Also, though I'm not a fan of many of them, their view of Union Station is unmatched. ... Lombardo's, Landry's, Station Grille, Soda Fountain are all less than a block. Plenty of food options next to Enterprise Center.
If you walk out the west/T-Mobile exit closest two Union Station it's three blocks. Kiel garage = 1 block. Post office = 2 blocks.
I remember pre gaming years ago at Union Station. Houlihans, Hooters, Casa Gallardo etc. The problem is now everything closes at 9 or 10 in Union Station so there's no place to go after a game or concert.
dweebe wrote:Over the years the Blues have talked about additions to the front of the arena or the parking garage that would provide another option for people before or after the game. Neither have happened.
That rendering looks cool. But I get why they haven’t done it. Why invest on a building that is not theirs. I guess they can do some type of public-private funding agreement. Specially now with all these federal funds available.
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The problem is the Blues get $0 from parking. The city doesn't even give team employees a discount or a few token spaces in the Kiel Garage.
They've gotten a huge subsidy due to gov't ownership, so they don't pay property taxes, this was purposeful, and then the publics was hit up to improve the building for over $100M despite the deal struck for public ownership that maintenance was supposed to be paid for by the team.
That rendering looks cool. But I get why they haven’t done it. Why invest on a building that is not theirs. I guess they can do some type of public-private funding agreement. Specially now with all these federal funds available.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
The problem is the Blues get $0 from parking. The city doesn't even give team employees a discount or a few token spaces in the Kiel Garage.
They've gotten a huge subsidy due to gov't ownership, so they don't pay property taxes, this was purposeful, and then the publics was hit up to improve the building for over $100M despite the deal struck for public ownership that maintenance was supposed to be paid for by the team.
I thought they asked for the $100 million and it got trimmed down to like $45 million? IIRC the $100 million would have involved
-the additions at the front of the building
-taking out seats in the four corners of the upper deck and replicating the bars like the United Center has
-better finishes on the concourse
They'd warned us our season tickets would be lost or moved because of the bars: that never happened. They also showed a fancy bar area at the top of the escalators and that was never built. What they have is self serve beer stand.
