St. Louis is set up in two different ways – the media way and the local way. The way the media has shaped St.Louis is unfair to the people, the county and the real estate agents in the area. The media says St. Louis is a crime infested, broken down city, and has nothing to do. That is why we are writing this story to help clear the image and show people the real, and great thing about St. Louis, Missouri.
Buried in west downtown right by the Ikea there is a huge black building, usually people pass that building thinking it’s just another wearhouse, or abandoned building, but if you take a step inside you will find a hidden gem. As you walk in you are met with smells of amazing food, socializing of people, and golf balls. Welcome to The Foundry. The Foundry is a multi-story place with things such as shuffleboard, putt-putt courses and multiple varieties of food. The Foundry is filled with all types of food from Indian, to Mexican, to American, The Foundry has really played a big role in the culture shift in St. Louis while also trying to throw that nightlife and family fun together with the adding of Puttshack.
Besides what the media says, St. Louis is actually a great town with a lot of history across all boards such as sports, industrial, food, fashion, music and much more. As we all know the Cardinals and Blues aren’t exactly on top of the charts right now but that doesn’t mean they are completely boring. The Cardinals have brought 11 World Series titles to the city of St. Louis, the most recent coming in 2011. The Blues have also had their fair share of success winning a Stanley Cup in 2019, after being the worst team in the league mid way through the season.
St. Louis has also had their fair share of football and basketball success including the likes of the Rams and Cardinals. St. Louis has a love hate relationship with football. The football Cardinals never really did anything in St. Louis, but the Rams captured their first Super Bowl win while in St. Louis in 2000,and then two years later coming back to the Super Bowl where they later lost to the Patriots. However, after a couple bad seasons in St.Louis, Rams owner Stan Kroenke broke St. Louisans’ hearts by packing up and moving to Los Angeles.
Sports isn’t the only thing famous in St. Louis. There has been a big impact by music in St. Louis including the likes of Chuck Berry, Nelly, and SZA. St. Louis music burst onto the scene because of jazz music and the blues. St. Louis has produced the likes of Chuck Berry, Miles Davis, and Chuck Terry who were some of the major musicians that helped St. Louis burst onto the scene. As a matter of fact, the National Blues Museum is located right here in St. Louis. However, it isn’t all in the past as of lately. St. Louis has really burst onto the hip hop music scene including Nelly in the 2000 and SZA nowadays.
“You know how when you travel and people don’t know where St. Louis is so I always ask do you know SZA ,I’m from where she’s from,” said Tony Blame, a famous influencer from St. Louis.
The Hill is the Italian neighborhood of St. Louis, initially kickstarted in the 1880s after Italian immigrants moved to St. Louis to work in clay mines. By the 1910s, the neighborhood was thriving, with miners using the clay to build homes and business. With grocers, bakers, barbers, construction workers, and merchants becoming more plentiful as the community grew, some of the most beautiful architecture, with St. Ambrose Church serving as its heart.
Starting out as a flat meadow where farmers would exchange produce with one another, Soulard Market was officially created in 1779; in which it carried the namesake of Antoine Soulard, a French aristocrat and former French military officer. Prior to the construction of any buildings, farmers would form a ring of horses and wagons so they could exchange goods. However, after a tornado destroyed the original structure, a new building was erected in 1926. This is the building we see today. But for near 250 years, Soulard has been a hub for farmers and artists.
Whether you plan to stay or leave St. Louis, never forget where you came from and don’t let the media keep you from going places. If you don’t do stupid things, then you will be ok and will find joy in St. Louis. St. Louis isn’t a boring city, most people just don’t take the time to look or say it’s shady. Don’t let the media tell you something unless you experienced it yourself because they are just looking for the big story.
As Nelly said in his hit song “Country Grammar” in 2000, “I’m from the Lou and I’m proud.”
