urbanSTL

soulardx wrote: ↑

Aug 26, 2025

symphonicpoet wrote: ↑

Aug 26, 2025

With due respect, I do think there is at least a little room to mourn some of what was lost. Change is innevitable, but one thing I think we're seeing in the Central West End, as real estate prices rise, is the early phases of the sort of sameification that happens in fancy places at the expense of local color. What do whole foods, Shake Shack, First Watch, and even Clementine's and Kaldi's have in common? They're all chains. Sure, Clementine's and Kaldi's are technically local, but they're still chains with no real sense of place that makes them distinct from a Kaldi's in Columbia or a Whole Foods in Columbus. Coffee Cartel and Duffy's were pretty distinctive. What's there now is nice. There's more of it, and that's good. And he sort of misses the point that if (if) the place is a victim, it's a victim of it's own success. But I do think it's okay for us olds to mourn the things we loved that aren't there anymore.

No disrespect taken and I agree. I've often said (perhaps even here) that most of the CWE could be any large city in America.  The mid-rises and retail/food chains (while a sign of success) are NOT uniquely St. Louis at all.  Soulard's redbrick homes and human scale streets? Uniquely STL. The intersection of Lindell and Euclid...anywhere.

Yes, this is why I would say Soulard is our “best” neighborhood and believe it is one of the most unique neighborhoods in the US and certainly one of the most underrated. I don’t think it would be so underrated if it were connected to downtown and not separated by two interstates (or more connected to its historic counterparts across i-55) but be that as it may..

The CWE is great for StL because it attracts the average American consumer/resident in the key 25-49 demographic. We don’t have much of that appeal in the city but the CWE provides that because one of the things that demo is attracted to is notable chain retail (ie lululemon, Jenis, whole foods). Makes it appear to be a “nice” neighborhood to live in. There’s actual less chain retail in the CWE than I’d expect and it’s missing a few specific ones I’m surprised haven’t eaten up leases

The good thing is none of StL commercial streets are dominated by chains (maybe a detriment in the case of downtown). The fact that we think the Loop has had corporate takeover shows how little chains exist in the inner ring and especially the city. It’s still quite small business oriented (though not sure how it’s nightlife has dwindled to so low), esp when I think about popular commercial streets in other cities

Hopefully some new entrepreneurs or new concepts from local successful groups fill in the CWE spots

The chess bar @ Maryland and Euclid is finally getting close. Has been exposed metal studs until recently. 

I dearly miss Coffee Cartel too but didn't they close a while before BlueMercury moved in? I remember when it was just vacant.

PeterXCV wrote: ↑

5:15 PM - Aug 26

There's a few signs up around 327 N Euclid (next to Taste of Lebanon/Where Golden Grocer was) for a liquor license. A friend who lives upstairs told me he'd heard it would be a wine bar. Anyone know details? 

I haven't heard that but know that the Brennan's empire is trying to do some sort of wine bar/experience in the neighborhood but I thought it was in the basement of Noble Crown.  Same liquor license and place maybe?  two wine bars seems like overkill. 33 couldn't even stay open in 2026

TheWayoftheArch_V2.0 wrote: ↑

3:40 PM - Aug 27

Heard it was a guy doing asian fusion in the golden grocer space.  Or at least he was going to be the executive chef. 

Great! sounds like a different thing that Brennan's wine bar deal.  I'll keep an eye out.

In related news, Pot Belly is close to being built out.  To that end, anyone have an *true* experience in chains choosing locations? I ask because, as I've joked, this 2-block stretch of Lindell is already packed with deli/sandwich places - Panera, Pickles, Jimmy Johns, Subway, not to mention Whole Foods.

I suppose my larger point is - this just doesn't seem like a smart business play.  saturated sandwich market. why open here?

Idk if it's a smart business strategy but i presume they open there to serve a quick lunch to BJH workers

PeterXCV wrote: ↑

4:00 PM - Aug 27

Idk if it's a smart business strategy but i presume they open there to serve a quick lunch to BJH workers

Yep, I agree but any deep dive into the foot traffic (and lived experience of that block) would tell one that there isn't enough demand for a Pot Belly. so weird

soulardx wrote: ↑

9:24 PM - Aug 27

PeterXCV wrote: ↑

4:00 PM - Aug 27

Idk if it's a smart business strategy but i presume they open there to serve a quick lunch to BJH workers

Yep, I agree but any deep dive into the foot traffic (and lived experience of that block) would tell one that there isn't enough demand for a Pot Belly. so weird

Maybe they figure they will do well with deliveries/doordash

jshank83 wrote: ↑

12:17 AM - Aug 28

soulardx wrote: ↑

9:24 PM - Aug 27

PeterXCV wrote: ↑

4:00 PM - Aug 27

Idk if it's a smart business strategy but i presume they open there to serve a quick lunch to BJH workers

Yep, I agree but any deep dive into the foot traffic (and lived experience of that block) would tell one that there isn't enough demand for a Pot Belly. so weird

Maybe they figure they will do well with deliveries/doordash

Possibly! Good thought. 

I suppose I wish we could just get another type of cuisine on the block, rather than another sando place. 

Also just don't want to see one of the places go out of business and sit vacant. 

A restaurant/bar called "Co" is opening up in the building at 4747 McPherson (the former Llewellyn's space). Anyone have any more details yet (other than what is shown here in the liquor license application)?

stldotage wrote: ↑

1:32 PM - Oct 20

A restaurant/bar called "Co" is opening up in the building at 4747 McPherson (the former Llewellyn's space). Anyone have any more details yet (other than what is shown here in the liquor license application)?

Good find and I know nothing about it. I'll ask around!

https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/2026/10/26/marvel-s-fox-cwe-kevin-brennan-st-louis.html

Kevin Brennen is opening a new sports bar concept at the former Bluemercury space at 2 Maryland Plaza.

The bar will be named "Marvel S. Fox's" and employ 10 people. The development cost is $300,000 to $500,000.

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I def respect Kevin Brennan and the work he's done but a pattern I've witnessed with each of his restaurants is it takes them forever to open vs. his stated plan. Like he had a few news stories this spring like in St. Louis magazine promising this bar would be open by the world cup. And now its a month away. Maryland House and Noble crown were similarly delayed over and over again before they finally opened. 

PeterXCV wrote:I def respect Kevin Brennan and the work he's done but a pattern I've witnessed with each of his restaurants is it takes them forever to open vs. his stated plan. Like he had a few news stories this spring like in St. Louis magazine promising this bar would be open by the world cup. And now its a month away. Maryland House and Noble crown were similarly delayed over and over again before they finally opened. 

They are probably waiting for a liquor license. Same wait with Little Lager on Cherokee, which is entirely built out and ready to open except for tne liquor license, which is why their timeline is for early next year.

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I thought the City had been working on streamlining the licensing process? 

Yeah I mean idk if Alex spoke to Brennan personally but in that article he didn't mention waiting on a liquor license

PeterXCV wrote:Yeah I mean idk if Alex spoke to Brennan personally but in that article he didn't mention waiting on a liquor license

You're right I must have merged a different article I read where the owner said they are waiting on a liquor license with this one in my head. Ill correct it.

I wouldn't be shocked at all if the wait has been for a liquor license as that seems to be what delays every bar/restaurant development. Little Lager is 100% still waiting on a liquor license though.

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Our liquor license system is a complete embarrassment and makes opening a bar (or even a restaurant) a far riskier proposition in the city. Needs a complete overhaul.