Delmar Loop
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Delmar Loop is an eclectic entertainment, cultural and restaurant district located in St. Louis, Missouri. Most of the attractions in the Loop are located in the suburb of University City, Missouri but the area is expanding eastward into the City of St. Louis proper.
The area gets its name from the streetcar turnaround, or loop, formerly located in the area. Most of the attractions are located along Delmar Boulevard, a major east-west thoroughfare that continues east all the way to downtown St. Louis. A MetroLink station and parking facility now exist in the area.
Major institutions in the Loop include: the Community Music School, formerly affiliated with the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra and Webster University but recently purchased by Washington University; the Craft Alliance, which is particularly noted for its pottery studios and classes; the Riverfront Times; Vintage Vinyl; The Pageant Concert Nightclub; Tivoli Theatre; Cicero's Italian Restaurant & Entertainment Venue; and Blueberry Hill, a pub and restaurant that served as the engine for the revival of the Loop beginning in the 1970s. Various unique shopping establishments and other services are also located in the area.
The Loop is the home of the St. Louis Walk of Fame, a series of brass plaques embedded in the sidewalk commemorating famous St. Louisians, including musicians Chuck Berry, Miles Davis and Ike Turner, bridge-builder James Eads and sexologists Masters and Johnson.
The Loop traditionally ended at the St. Louis City border. Recently, however, the Loop has extended eastward over the city line. The expansion of the Loop has largely been due to the continued redevelopment efforts of Joe and Linda Edwards, owners of Blueberry Hill, The Pageant, Tivoli Theatre and Pin-Up Bowl. The Saint Louis Regional Arts Commission completed its new headquarters on Delmar in 2003, with a facility containing performance and office spaces for various theater groups. The Pageant, located across Delmar from the Arts Commission, has become one of St. Louis' main venues for mid-size popular musical performances, featuring artists from rap, rock, and country, including Saint Louisians Chuck Berry and Nelly. The Delmar Loop area is also the frequent stomping grounds of renowned St. Louis concertgoer and wild dancer Beatle Bob. The Delmar Loop area is also frequented by famous local legend Bill Maas who has served as a community leader in the area for many local intiatives.
