Trish Muyco-Tobin
ponders over the
Hummus Trio at Layla.
MEET ME IN …
The Grove
I
f you were around in the 1950s, you may have referred to The
Grove as “the Manchester strip,” or maybe even “Adam’s Grove.”
But in recent years, the diverse, trendsetting 1-mile stretch
of Manchester Avenue in St. Louis' Forest Park Southeast
neighborhood has had its eye on the future, and is continuing its
metamorphosis to meet the ever-evolving needs of the district.
It wasn’t always that way. After World War II, the well-to-do
residents of Forest Park Southeast (who started populating the area
in the 1930s) headed for the greener grass of the suburbs, sending the
neighborhood into a downward spiral that would last for decades.
Following years of decline that saw a decrease in population and
property values, and an increase in crime, The Grove started to get its
groove back. The Grove Community Improvement District said initial
re-investment began in the ‘80s with the opening of Attitudes Night
Club, and “community members filling one vacant storefront at a time.”
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GAZELLE
Presently, The Grove is home to more than 50 businesses, including
sandwich shops, cafes, music venues, LGBT-friendly nightclubs, tattoo
parlors, and a brewery.
People are moving back, and even more businesses are setting up
shop. It doesn’t hurt that the neighborhood now has an IKEA nearby;
and next year, City Foundry STL - a combination food hall, retail and
entertainment destination - is slated to debut in adjacent Midtown on
15 acres of former industrial real estate.
This month brings The Grove’s signature Grove Fest. Back for
its 13th year, this family-appropriate street festival is all sorts of fun,
complete with a kids' zone, street performers, live music, and plenty
of food and drink from Grove establishments. An annual tradition is
the paint-by-numbers wall mural, where everyone is encouraged to
leave their mark. Plus, local artists and vendors will keep the shoppers
shopping all day long!
photo by
Photography
B y T r i s h M u y c o - To b i n