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Wednesday, November 6, 2024

Maplewood History: Minstrel Shows – Part One

Now and then I am asked questions along the lines of, “Has Maplewood always been the very friendly, progressive community that it is today?”  I am happy to be asked these questions because I know that it hasn’t been.  It has taken...

Wards 2 and 3 council members to run as incumbents; Ward 1 will be decided by write-in votes

According to City Manager Amber Withycombe, two Maplewood City Council members whose terms will end in April 2025 have filed to run as incumbents. Councilmembers Eric Page (Ward 2) and Nick Homa (Ward 3) filed for the seats. They will both be...

Maplewood History: The Ghosts from Halloweens Past…Again

Or All of Maplewood's Ghosts at One Convenient Location. These posts I have run before but many of the newer members of our community have never seen them. We have some really great ghosts.  Surely there are more out there.  If you know...

Maplewood History: But Parked in a Rickety Old Garage… A Followup

Last July, I made a post about a spectacular find in one of our neighborhood garages.  If you missed that post or don't remember it clearly, you can link to it here. But Parked in a Rickety Old Garage Admittedly, that post appealed most...

Several Maplewood businesses are delinquent in business license payments, city manager reports

In the October 22 Maplewood City Council meeting City Manager Amber Withycombe reported that several Maplewood businesses have allowed their business licenses to expire — some are one year behind and some are two. She said in a follow-up email to 40 South...

Brewery owner revises parking lot plan: cutting back on parking spaces, includes a residence

Cory King's plan to convert an empty lot on Hazel Avenue into a parking lot for his brewery, Side Project, was rejected by the Hazel Ave. neighbors in a city meeting, and King subsequently, in the meeting pulled the project. He has now...

Crow’s Nest to take over former Maven space

The Crow's Nest restaurant, at 7336 Manchester Road, will be knocking down walls and incorporating the next-door space of the newly-moved Maven Apothecary at 7328 Manchester. Crow's Nest owner Eliza Coriell said Sunday that the kitchen will stay the same size so new...

The Post requests to add rear entrance/balcony

The Post Sports Bar & Grill (7372 Manchester Road) has submitted plans to the city for an open-air/removable glass storefront, a rear entrance stairway, and a small cantilevered balcony, according to the agenda for the Oct. 22, 2025 Maplewood City Council meeting. ...

In the news: Del Pietro’s to close; Hawley campaign bus

Del Pietro's in Richmond Heights to close at the end of the year, and more in the news. Hoodline — 21-Year-Old Maplewood Resident Fatally Shot in Midtown St. Louis; Police Seek Information   KSDK — St. Louis restaurant group to close...

Great Pumpkin Glow

Join us on October 24th for the 2nd Annual Great Pumpkin Glow, where downtown Maplewood will be glowing with luminaries, pumpkins, and businesses decked out for the season. The event will kick off at 6:00 p.m. at CNB Bank park with our pumpkin...

Maplewood History:  It’s In The Cards! – Part Two

This is the second installment to feature the historic postcards of Maplewood.  If you haven’t read Part One, you can link to it here. The first historical society in Maplewood was called the Renaissance Society.  They were active in the early 1980s.  I...

Yard waste pickup costs to rise sharply in Maplewood

One topic that Maplewood City Manager Amber Withycombe and Mayor Barry Greenberg discussed at the Ward 3 meeting on Saturday was a coming price hike for yard waste pickup in the city. Yard waste tags will continue to be offered for the duration...

Maplewood History: It’s In The Cards! – Part One

Postcards, that is.  Vintage postcards can provide a wonderful window to the past.  In the collection at the Maplewood Public Library, there are only a small number of the original cards. They are exceedingly rare.  Only a few have been found on...

St. Louis themed apparel shop to open on Manchester

A St. Louis themed apparel shop is set to open at 7282 Manchester Road in Maplewood. According to its Instagram account (151STLSHOP) they're hoping to open in October.

Resident explains his allegations against mayor, city, business owner

In July Maplewood resident Brad Jackson filed law suits against the city of Maplewood; Maplewood Mayor Barry Greenberg; Kate Bethel, owner of Maven Bath and Candle Co., and Isaac Chosich, an employee at Maven. He has now explained his allegations in a...

Maplewood butcher shop named third best in the country

Maplewood butcher shop, Bolyard's Meat and Provisions, has been named the third best in the US by USA Today. From the mention in USA Today: "Owned by a Culinary Institute of America grad, Bolyard's is St. Louis' only whole animal butcher. Besides fine...

Brewery owner pulls rezoning request for residential lot

Saying he wants to be a good neighbor, Side Project Brewing owner Cory King at the city council meeting on Tuesday, pulled his request to rezone an empty lot on Hazel Avenue that he had planned to use as a parking lot...

Plan & zoning votes to keep lot on Hazel residential, deny Side Project Brewing’s request for more parking

The Maplewood Planning and Zoning Commission decided on Wednesday, with a 5-1 vote, against the rezoning of an empty lot on Hazel Avenue — from residential to commercial —  to allow Side Project Brewing to turn it into a parking lot for...

Maplewood History: A Couple of Surprising Discoveries About the Scheidt Hardware Building

This is an end-of-summer rerun.  I first ran this one about four years ago.  For those of you who haven't seen it, the Scheidt Hardware building is one of our most important commercial buildings.  Read this and you'll know as much as...

Rehabber follows recommendation: house now has full front porch

In May Maplewood's design and review board advised against a rehabber's plan to reduce the size of the front porch on a house on Elm Avenue. The rehabber said the back door was more important than the front so the front porch...

Restaurant opens, one closes in Maplewood: in the news

St. Louis Magazine interviews the owners of Revel Kitchen in Maplewood, and Motor Town Pizza in Richmond Heights. Red Lobster has closed restaurants nationwide, Maplewood's is one. Fast Company — Red Lobster closing restaurants KMOV — Red Lobster closing its Maplewood...

Shots fired on Bellevue near Manchester: no injuries, school not interrupted

Shots fired in the 2600 block of Bellevue Avenue activated the Maplewood Richmond Heights School District's cell phone-based "Raptor Alert System" at approximately 1:45pm, according to information from MRH Director of Operations Michael Dittrich. Maplewood Police had a suspect in custody in...

Plan & zoning, city council to consider rezoning residential lot for additional parking for brewery

Maplewood Planning and Zoning on September 4 at 6pm in the city council chambers will hear residents' comments and vote on rezoning an empty lot at 7443 Hazel Avenue from single family residential to community business district. The results of the vote...

IS THE MAPLEWOOD BUSINESS DISTRICT’S GLASS HALF EMPTY OR HALF FULL?

IS THE MAPLEWOOD BUSINESS DISTRICT’S GLASS HALF EMPTY OR HALF FULL? By Rob Birenbaum Is the proverbial glass that represents downtown Maplewood’s business climate half empty or half full? It would be disingenuous to say that there haven’t been some spills lately, but we...

Duplex replaces single family home just east of Maplewood

A single-family home at 7201 Southwest Avenue, in St. Louis city, just outside of Maplewood, which was demolished in the beginning of this year, is being replaced with a duplex. The original home was built in 1892, according to Redfin real estate site. Flip...

Reader Comments

33 COMMENTS

  1. Reply to Larry posted Oct.11 2024
    Humans do not mind their own business; they shape the world. The “main drag” is not dirt anymore, with horse-drawn carriages dragged behind. Federal, State, and Local taxes are paid to upgrade small communities we all use them and they need us.—my money! We paved the streets for modern vehicles. When I or any of my family are occupants of any business located in any city, I will have a safety concern. I live in the St. Louis Metropolitan area and that to me includes East St. Louis, Alton, and other cities to take pride and we all have input.
    Larry, may I ask, what have you contributed to Maplewood MO. Special Business District?

  2. Will you own a Nail House

    Citizens of Maplewood. Do you know Maplewood has in the future several massive developments in the works? And on October 15, 2024, from 5 PM to 7 PM. Maplewood will officially launch the Comprehensive Plan, with a Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee that offers guidance. Members of the steering committee are comprised with members: Rob Birenbaum, Nikki Bisel, Ray Crader, Michael Dittrich,  De’Mon Givens, Charlie Hinderliter, Tiffany Jones, Amber Lamb, Owen McGuire, Meredith Mello, Denise Perry, and Kevin Sullivan.

    But all that new infrastructure and construction requires space, which means residents are sometimes forced to move to make room for new projects. Some people may refuse to leave their homes, however, often because they consider the compensation they’ve been offered to be too low.
    Holdouts of these buildings may be left standing alone as development progresses around them are called “nail houses,” since they stick out like a nail that can’t be hammered down.
    Fixing Maplewood politics is necessary before the community can make real progress, the solution doesn’t lie solely with the left or right. Residential homeowners are the community, not commercial building owners or owners of businesses located in Maplewood. Are the residents living in the community being included? Was the appointment of the Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee selected from friends and associates to positions of authority, without proper regard to their qualifications, used to select the Steering Committee? How has the Administrations of the City of Maplewood acted in the past? Your voice and vote matter.

      • Yes, Contemporary gerontocracy, it appears, is a distinctly American problem. Look at other countries, older politicians do not similarly control them. The explanation here is the two-party system.

  3. Ryan Greis posted on Facebook 9/28/2024
    Maven Apothecary – New location in the Hill Neighborhood they are having a Grand opening. I can see why they moved from Rob Birenbaum storefront located on main street Maplewood Mo Special Business District, The old location looks impoverished. The new location is a huge improvement with a very period-style storefront.

  4. Citizens of Maplewood do not know what to believe, nobody quite knows what’s true, nobody knows where to turn. This is not a tenable situation. So, either Maplewood is going to descend into some kind of permanent chaos, or there’s going to have to be something that Maplewood can reboot from, and that thing cannot be simply left or simply right. 
    Maplewood is more concerned with growth and self-preservation than holding honest positions. The result is an altered incentive structure within Maplewood: Experts are rewarded for sustaining the institution, not necessarily for being honest or doing the best work in their field.
    institutions need people who can stand up to the pressures of conformity and authority.
    Fixing our institutions is necessary before society can make real progress, solution doesn’t lie solely with the left or right.

  5. Big Think, Mayor Greenberg will be fighting a lawsuit for leaking confidential information.
    Citizens of Maplewood do not know what to believe, nobody quite knows what’s true, nobody knows where to turn. This is not a tenable situation. So, either Maplewood is going to descend into some kind of permanent chaos, or there’s going to have to be something that Maplewood can reboot from, and that thing cannot be simply left or simply right. 
    Maplewood is more concerned with growth and self-preservation than holding honest positions. The result is an altered incentive structure within Maplewood: Experts are rewarded for sustaining the institution, not necessarily for being honest or doing the best work in their field.

  6. Maplewood Comprehensive Plan

    To officially launch the Comprehensive Plan, the community is invited to an open-house-style public meeting at City Hall on October 15, 2024, from 5 PM to 7 PM.
    The City of Maplewood is collaborating with PGAV to update the Comprehensive Plan, a vital document that will shape the future of our community.
    Committee members on average Includes one or more artists that live in the community and generate a portion of their income through art Includes a person who is knowledgeable about public and government funding opportunities Includes at least two teenage or young adult members who can participate on a regular basis Includes representatives of the private, academic, public, and nonprofit sectors who are familiar with local issues Includes one or more individuals with research and analytical skills; familiarity with data bases; interviewing, design, writing, and public speaking experience Personal traits or characteristics can make or break a team. Consider people who will see the Steering Committee as a serious responsibility, and are able to work in a collaborative spirit.
    The Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee for this meeting will be:
    Rob Birenbaum Tiffany Jones
    Nikki Bisel Amber Lamb
    Ray Crader Owen McGuire
    Michael Dittrich Meredith Mello
    De’Mon Givens Denise Perry
    Charlie Hinderliter Kevin Sullivan
    Current Comprehensive Plan
    The City’s current Comprehensive Plan was adopted in 1990. Subsequent comprehensive plan updates were prepared in 1992, 2001, 2003, and 2005. A key component of the new plan will include updating the City’s current Land Use Map. Nineteen years have gone by, that is way too many years.
    I am interested in the manner the steering committee was appointed and with more transparency.
    Qualifications are extremely important in a Comprehensive plan.
    Will a Historic Preservation Plan be considered with a comprehensive understanding of the historic and cultural resources found in the Maplewood MO Special Business District community, with an analysis of current preservation issues and a vision?

  7. Who is the Boss in Maplewood MO? Follow the Money!
    You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time.
    While deception may have temporary success, it is ultimately ephemeral. As individuals, we have the power to form our understanding of reality, seeking evidence and challenging assumptions to ensure we are not perpetually fooled. When I ponder the complexities of subjective reality, it reinforces the importance of critical thinking.

  8. Activities surrounding Maplewood MO. Special Business District have a history of shady dealings.
    Corruption is an enabler that protects organized crime operations.
    Organized crime such as fraud from certain other forms of crime also usually involves organized or group criminal acts, such as white-collar, financial, and political crimes.
    An “organized criminal group” is defined using four criteria:
    A structured group of three or more persons;
    The group exists for a period of time;
    It acts in concert with the aim of committing at least one serious crime;
    To obtain, directly or indirectly, a financial or other material benefit.
    Maplewood MO It is what it is. Fast and Loose.

  9. Chamber of Commerce Might Not Be What You Think
    The name conjures up a local community group devoted to defending small businesses and mom-and-pop shops.
    It’s surprising for many people, even politically engaged people, to learn what the Chamber of Commerce does,
    the Chamber often leans toward supporting and funding the agenda and policies of investment groups that may avoid taking a controversial public stand on issues, “allowing them to anonymously funnel money to the Chamber, which then advocated on their behalf. Public citizens follow the money and work to expose the origins of some of the dark cash, found that various contributors to the Chamber — including companies, rich individuals, and politically active nonprofits, This isn’t exactly in line with the mom-and-pop, small-town.

    From my perspective, it’s about being around for the long term. It’s good business. 

  10. A Message from the Mid County Chamber of Commerce
    By: Executive Director, Jeannine Beck

    Is the Maplewood business community going to be okay?
    Yes!

    In light of the recent string of businesses that announced closings, we feel compelled to reassure the community that downtown Maplewood remains a vibrant business hub for dining, shopping and entertainment. The simultaneous closings cannot be ignored.
    Linda Beck maybe a relative of Jeannine Beck, has a colourful history in the Special Business District She operated a business called Flora Diva.
    I am not going ton take the time to share my experiences with Linda Beck, however, if anyone is interested post a comment.

  11. I posted on Facebook the following to Rob Birenbaum concerning Maplewood Special Business District not attracting enough “Shop & Walk Maplewood” this can become an experience. St. Charles, MO is charming, from the brick-paved historic South Main Street filled with boutiques and restaurants to the wineries, historic attractions and friendly people. My post on FB:Rob I was studying your shopfront as a design student in architecture. The front door is a standard residential door, and the glazing around the door is not period correct. Do you think it is time for you to make capital improvements for the beautification of Maplewood Streetscape. Did you know that this is the natural built fabric of the street that adds to the experiential quality of the space? Possibly, the Maplewood Special Business District has grant money for your effort. Shopping becomes an experience for the consumer that pays back in multiple ways. Shopfront lost. Maven has been for the past 5.5 years and moved to the Hill.

  12. Viewers are calling the Olympic opening ceremony one of the worst
    My comment:
    The artistic director is responsible, so France is well known for its liberal tolerance of the expression of art. And it is documented how Hitler felt about abstract art. I would not get on that bandwagon. Maplewood, MO Take a moment or a few days before responding. I believe there is an answer to problems the Maplewood Special Business District could learn from. And I have been bashing the Maplewood Special Business District. And I would like to clear my poor writing skills. 1 The Maplewood Community regarding residence I have little knowledge of what living in the housing includes. When I post, I am directing my comments to only the Maplewood Special Business District and the Administration of Maplewood City Hall. Thank you!

  13. Recent post on 40 South News-
    The owner and founder of Speakeasy Therapies and Fitness, Celia Montes, which opened and closed (recently) on Sutton Boulevard, said the business closed in Maplewood because the business was dissolved because she lost her staff.
    and A reply from L Shafer July 27, 2024 At 3:54 pm
    Was this a bar or a gym?
It appears there is a lot more to this story considering Kirkwood and Maplewood are not an extreme distance for the former employees to travel.
    I responded – Maybe some truth, but here are some facts, The business was requesting a state-funded grant and was declined. Maplewood, Mo has become a haven for fraud. The city administration and building owners are acting out of desperation and renting to anyone willing to pay with American dollars.

  14. Shoot! This one was in this Sutton location only like two months! Wonder what went wrong? About 2718 Sutton, So I posted my outlook on what is the problem.

    Top fan
    Tom Thompson
    First – Local politics, Second – Maplewood Special Business building owners are real estate speculators and are only interested in their portfolio holdings, and using empty space as tax write-off, Third Maplewood City signage approval allows a clutter of designs and colors just not a professional appearance, some of the businesses do not even advertise the name of the business, looks shady. Forth – What has been built out is done on a shoestring budget without any professional design choices. (Colors, Material, Door and Window sizing, Hardware used on doors, mailboxes ect.) The Maplewood Mayor needs to hire an Architect. So many projects are not finished. What is up with the crapping-looking Caboose behind this building. The city could change the name to “Brokewood”. That is how I see it. Somebody is not paying their bills.
    I received this back from CEAS
    You forgot crime is becoming a problem in Maplewood also. Who in the world wants to pay high rent for a bad location. My family roots have been in Maplewood for 80 years. I live here and I’m completely shocked by what is going on. I have had an extremely scary incident in Maplewood involving 5 men with ARs. I did call the police and they were on it. Also let me talk about the people that don’t maintain their property 3 ft of grass and abandoned cars. It takes an act of congress to get it taken care of. I maintain my property but some of my neighbors should be ashamed of themselves. I pay a lot of money on property taxes and I’m tired of Maplewood neglecting to enforce codes. After all these years I’m looking to move to a different county. Maplewood will soon be a shadow of what it was and the town government is to blame.

  15. I uncovered a painted-over ghost sign at 2732 Sutton Blvd. and wanted to restore it, Barry Greenberg told me the city council would not allow it. Look at 2737 second-floor windows falling apart, never painted they were brand new Marvin Windows. Neither the building owner nor the fraudulent condominium property management or other decision-makers on this whole complex to the corner of Hazel ever created a Condominium Association. The complex was built fraudulently. Just look at this Haphazard lacking any obvious principle of organization: Because this was never a Condominium. Maplewood MO City manager Marty Corcoran, the City Council with Barry Greenberg an architect, and Mayor Mark Langston who may still own 2739 Sutton Blvd. This group was behind the cooked-up scheme of a “condominium” 2737 What is Studio X Graphic Design, There is no signage. And look at the Salt Room signage, what a joke. Could you look at Sea Foam Media, it does not match the existing signage. I was given a variance by Maplewood City Council to use that space for the signage I designed. In place of transom windows.
    There is a lack of signage review, and building exterior code requirements. This is Barry Greenberg, Mayor of Maplewood MO/ Architect responsibility. The ball is in your court, can you hit the ball back? The key to success, surround yourself with the right people.

  16. Barry Greenberg Mayor of Maplewood, MO is an architect, does he have an opinion on Drinking Water Service Line Inventory – Missouri Water?
    Restaurants with lead supply lines.
    If a building was constructed before 1989 that does not mean it has a lead service line. Most do not, but it is possible. Should restaurants be lead-free?
    You might have lead in your drinking water if your service line, household plumbing, or fixtures contain lead. Buildings built before 1930 are more likely to have lead supply lines. A service line is an underground pipe that carries potable drinking water from the water main to the customer’s home or building.
    Application Period is Open
    The Missouri Department of Natural Resources is offering a new funding opportunity to assist communities with their lead service line inventory, planning, and replacement projects. This funding helps public water systems comply with the revised federal Lead and Copper Rule requirements. The rule requires all public water systems to complete an inventory of all drinking water service lines connected to their distribution system.

    Funding is provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and made available through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund. Funding is expected to be allocated on an annual basis through 2026.

  17. Restaurants close one after another, are they paying too much for rent? Maybe Maplewood has become a glut of restaurants and not enough retail shopping, art galleries, and other shopping interests.

  18. Restaurants closing in Maplewood MO – Summer 2024. When the famed Monarch Restaurant closed on the corner of Manchester and Sutton I was shocked, and my first reaction was “this is the beginning of a downward trend”. I have lost count of the number of openings and closings of restaurants and businesses in the Special Business District. Lately three more restaurants closings this summer Boogaloo, Meadow Cafe, Burger Champ. I remember when former Councilmen Barry Greenberg said to me “Maplewood does not want to be the next Delmar Boulevard” The vibrant Delmar Loop, designated “One of the 10 Great Streets in America” by the American Planning Association. A decade ago, the city’s leaders realized their community needed a new spark, a new call to action. At the time, the city’s face, the commercial strip along Manchester and Sutton, was suffering; at one point there were more than 15 vacant storefronts. And a community development director Rachelle L’Ecuyer appointed. But Rachelle L’Ecuyer, resigned as the Maplewood community development director. Forward to Aug 7, 2018 · In a news release, Loop chairman and “Duke of Delmar” Joe Edwards announced that Rachelle L’Ecuyer will serve as the first-ever executive director of the Delmar Loop.
    What I heard from the Councilmen, it became personal for Mr. Greenberg. A specific goal. Now Barry Greenberg is Mayor for a second time. So Barry is getting his wish.
    How is this working for Maplewood MO?

  19. April 2 2024 Tonight will Maplewood MO May show its fickle mind and change loyalties. Characterized by a lack of consistency or stability in decisions, preferences, or affections. It’s important to note that fickleness isn’t inherently bad or good. It can be both, depending on the context and the outcomes of these frequent changes. Emotional volatility is a part of everyday life. Decisions change as emotions do, leading to inconsistency. Consider someone with an avoidant attachment style. That person may become uncomfortable with too much closeness or commitment, often resulting in decision-making patterns that keep them detached and independent. Values, likes, dislikes, and goals, usually exhibit consistent behavior and are less likely to be fickle. Ships without a rudder, drift with the currents and winds of circumstances, changing direction frequently. Leading to perceptions of fickleness.

  20. Why was this post removed?
    Why I am running for Mayor of Maplewood as a write-in candidate from 40 South News-Is this a form of What is censorship in politics?

    What Is Censorship? Censorship, the suppression of words, images, or ideas that are “offensive,” happens whenever some people succeed in imposing their personal political or moral values on others. Censorship can be carried out by the government as well as private pressure groups. Censorship by the government is unconstitutional.

    • She is a serial felon with multiple convictions for identity theft and fraud. Grifter extraordinaire. There was a story in the PD a few months ago about her.

  21. Used to be a window painting contest for Halloween in Maplewood. I think it was sponsored by The Observer. (I delivered them as a kid).
    I won a prize one year.
    Back in the ’50s.

    • Yes, I remember the Halloween window painting contest. I was chosen to paint one, it was late 60’s or very early 70’s. I didn’t win a prize, but was honored to be chosen to paint one of the windows.

  22. Lived on 7200 block of Manchester above Cook’s Paint during the 60’s. Would love to see some pictures of that store back then. Walked to the newspaper and tobacco store every afternoon to pick up a newspaper.

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