The place could work if storefronts/office space where to be built fronting Manchester Avenue. Clearly the existing parking is well beyond what's needed.
Too bad they're moving out of the city. I liked having them in this building across from the Old Rock House on South 6th Street . Most employees are probably not thrilled.
Huh? They're not moving out of the city. They're consolidating at St. Louis Marketplace. I know it doesn't 'look' like the city. But it's still legally the city.
$12M zoning-only permit to construct an addition to Weissman Theatrical Supplies at the west end of the strip mall.
Its all but empty
Break-ins? Encampments? Copper/material theft
Extreme deterioration, its all junk building
Demo?
Break-ins? Encampments? Copper/material theft
Extreme deterioration, its all junk building
Demo?
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What a jag. As ugly as that building is it’s got tenants including a high porofile corporste tenant with Weissman
July 13, 2022
$13M building permit was issued for Weissman Theatrical Supplies
$13M building permit was issued for Weissman Theatrical Supplies
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^That's a fair chunk of change. Do they have a factory? Didn't realize that.
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Their site at STL Marketplace IS the factory. They are a national producer/distributor of dance, cheer and theatrical costumes.
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^Sure, I get that. Just . . . can't believe that space is big enough to produce much. A costume shop doesn't need a lot of space, mind, but a big industrial one can take some floorspace. I suppose it all depends on what kind of volume they do. Could also be that it's a lot bigger than it looks on an aerial photo. Been in a fair few costume shops elsewhere, but never that one. (Meaning shops where people make costumes, not stores where they sell them, that is.)
Apparently they are a major supplier across the country and this is their main production facility. Their parking lot appears full and they’re building this expansion.symphonicpoet wrote: ↑May 10, 2023^Sure, I get that. Just . . . can't believe that space is big enough to produce much. A costume shop doesn't need a lot of space, mind, but a big industrial one can take some floorspace. I suppose it all depends on what kind of volume they do. Could also be that it's a lot bigger than it looks on an aerial photo. Been in a fair few costume shops elsewhere, but never that one. (Meaning shops where people make costumes, not stores where they sell them, that is.)
What are your doubts? Are you saying the factory isn’t real and/or they don’t need the space?
I like this company. I interviewed there about 10 years ago for a long-term contract in their marketing/design dept. and got a tour of the place. IIRC, about half to 3/5th of the space was inventory/warehousing/shipping as they sold product online, storing raw materials and manufacturing. Then other *half* was office and photo studio, which was a good size as they do all product photography in house. They can have up to, IIRC, a dozen models at the same time (with guardians) so the dressing rooms, green rooms and areas for guardians to watch/observe takes up a lot of space. Most of their models are young/pre-teen/teen girls so that whole process was built around transparency and was restricted entry. As a potential art director, I would have been involved in photo shoots but we were not allowed to enter the studio as models were present so they couldn’t have any random Joe (me) poking around. They take it seriously.
It’s a huge operation. Almost everything is done under one roof—concept, design, pattern making, sewing, packaging, shipping, marketing. It felt like a modern day version of a bustling 1950s factory with lots of people and activity.
It’s a huge operation. Almost everything is done under one roof—concept, design, pattern making, sewing, packaging, shipping, marketing. It felt like a modern day version of a bustling 1950s factory with lots of people and activity.
This was the only City-backed TIF project (meaning the City, not the developer, paid on the notes if TIF revenues fell short). Despite the failure of the original concept, I believe the TIF paid off early without burdening the City with TIF payments. Someone might be able to dig up the details, but I remember hearing that at some point.
Prior to that it was a heavy industrial site, similar to some others along Manchester in that area.
Prior to that it was a heavy industrial site, similar to some others along Manchester in that area.
Does anyone remember the original tenants? IIRC
- KMart
- Sports Authority
- HQ (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_Quarters_Warehouse)
- Blockbuster Video
- Pace Warehouse Club
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That's an impressive roster of big box failures. I am surprised that an effort to revamp the shopping center hasn't materialized over the past decade. Location isn't that bad and local incomes have done nothing but rise. Perhaps the now smaller easter half of the complex will be revitalized now that it's a more manageable size.
Or they can tear it down and build housing which would be preferable
Or they can tear it down and build housing which would be preferable
All of those were KMart owned or adjacent. Lots of bad business decisions that are/will be studied in business degree college classes for years.GoHarvOrGoHome wrote: ↑May 10, 2023That's an impressive roster of big box failures. I am surprised that an effort to revamp the shopping center hasn't materialized over the past decade. Location isn't that bad and local incomes have done nothing but rise. Perhaps the now smaller easter half of the complex will be revitalized now that it's a more manageable size.
Or they can tear it down and build housing which would be preferable
Yes, housing would be great, but who would want to live wedged between a stroad and busy railroad tracks? It's not like housing was torn down to build this plaza. This area had been industrial for nearly 100+ years. IIRC this area was formerly a brick making factory using the clay mined from under Dogtown.
It was Scullin Steel. They moved the railroad tracks away from Manchester to build St. Louis Marketplace, which is where a lot of the TIF money went.
You're right: my bad.quincunx wrote: ↑May 10, 2023It was Scullin Steel. They moved the railroad tracks away from Manchester to build St. Louis Marketplace, which is where a lot of the TIF money went.
The brick factories were more to the east.
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No doubts at all. Just expressing surprise. I'm altogether in favor of them succeeding, just surprised there's such a large operation in a strip mall.dweebe wrote: ↑May 10, 2023Apparently they are a major supplier across the country and this is their main production facility. Their parking lot appears full and they’re building this expansion.symphonicpoet wrote: ↑May 10, 2023^Sure, I get that. Just . . . can't believe that space is big enough to produce much. A costume shop doesn't need a lot of space, mind, but a big industrial one can take some floorspace. I suppose it all depends on what kind of volume they do. Could also be that it's a lot bigger than it looks on an aerial photo. Been in a fair few costume shops elsewhere, but never that one. (Meaning shops where people make costumes, not stores where they sell them, that is.)
What are your doubts? Are you saying the factory isn’t real and/or they don’t need the space?
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I disagree with this take. I think the stretch of Manchester west of Hampton is in the mix for the next hot zone for development.dweebe wrote: ↑May 10, 2023All of those were KMart owned or adjacent. Lots of bad business decisions that are/will be studied in business degree college classes for years.GoHarvOrGoHome wrote: ↑May 10, 2023That's an impressive roster of big box failures. I am surprised that an effort to revamp the shopping center hasn't materialized over the past decade. Location isn't that bad and local incomes have done nothing but rise. Perhaps the now smaller easter half of the complex will be revitalized now that it's a more manageable size.
Or they can tear it down and build housing which would be preferable
Yes, housing would be great, but who would want to live wedged between a stroad and busy railroad tracks? It's not like housing was torn down to build this plaza. This area had been industrial for nearly 100+ years. IIRC this area was formerly a brick making factory using the clay mined from under Dogtown.
Much of Manchester in this stretch is not a “stroad” but rather a two lane road with a diet and bike lanes. It’s in a central location between DT and Clayton with good access to 44 and 40 and buts up against Maplewood and Dogtown (I’m aware it’s technically in dogtown).
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If STL was a growing region this would have been turned into housing years ago
I think promoting housing at any location for the sake of a reuse in a slow growth city is not always ideal. For this particular area I find the expanding light industrial use adding jobs, a garmet factory in some respects, happening in the city and at a location of a failed big box store mall encouraging. However, I would encourage housing development more so on the north side of Manchester in order to be more cohesive with existing housing as a better outcome. Maybe even relocate some of the light industrial on noth side of Manchester over to the south side of Manchester.
Not really good with graphics but picture North to South from Forest Park/I64 followed by mix use/institutional (Forest Park Community College) and then single family residential and then mixed use on northside of Manchester with light industrial between Manchester & Tracks. You get a very diverse area of housing and jobs that don't necessarily requires an automobile for some day to day routines, going to work or out to grab a coffee or hit a park, but at same time you don't get these pockets of disjointed multi unit housing stock from existing neighborhoods.
Not really good with graphics but picture North to South from Forest Park/I64 followed by mix use/institutional (Forest Park Community College) and then single family residential and then mixed use on northside of Manchester with light industrial between Manchester & Tracks. You get a very diverse area of housing and jobs that don't necessarily requires an automobile for some day to day routines, going to work or out to grab a coffee or hit a park, but at same time you don't get these pockets of disjointed multi unit housing stock from existing neighborhoods.