Scott BresslerSince the late ’70s when the Loop began its resurgence from a worn-down urban neighborhood deeply affected by white flight to the thriving cultural center of St. Louis that exists today, generations of Washington University students have come and gone.
Few at the University, with the exception of older professors and a limited number of St. Louis natives, have even heard the story of the Loop’s development. Yet, the University is one of the central forces that helped to return the Loop to prominence.
“The block where I am living now used to be a serious drugs and guns area. A lot of the windows on the storefronts were bricked up. [The Loop] has really bounced back, and it is almost startling,” said architecture professor Bob Hansman, a St. Louis native who encourages his students to support the Loop.
Since the earliest businesses started to return to the Loop, University students have been active in supporting their return. Students eagerly received Loop institutions such as the Tivoli Theater and Blueberry Hill. Over the past 10 to 15 years, however, Loop business owners have noticed a decline in the number of University students taking the time to visit the Loop.
“Washington University students and the Loop have a symbiotic relationship,” said Joe Edwards, owner of Blueberry Hill and a leader of the Loop business community.
Edwards is the entrepreneur responsible for colorful venues on the Loop like Blueberry Hill, the Tivoli and the Pageant, in addition to coordinating the St. Louis Walk of Fame.
According to Edwards, the Loop creates an arts and entertainment community close to the University which thrives partially because of the business provided by students and professors. Yet this student patronage may be on the decline.
“Sometime in the early ’90s, the make-up of my business changed because fewer students came over here,” said Lew Prince, co-owner of Vintage Vinyl.
A number of years ago, Prince used University undergraduates to conduct a survey and found that many students found it difficult to walk to the Loop.
“Transportation and weather are the two reasons why I don’t really get out to the Loop,” said freshman Kimberly Burfiend. “I’d love to take advantage of things like Vintage Vinyl and Cold Stone Creamery. I would go to eat and to look around.”
For many students, it is easier to walk to Bear’s Den for a quick bite rather than investing an entire night traveling to the Loop for dinner.
“I don’t take advantage of the Loop as much as I would like to, but when I have time I like to go. Especially on school days, it’s difficult to get out there,” said freshman Mitch Jenkins.
Other students suggested that much of what the Loop has to offer is targeted towards younger students, removing some of the incentive to travel there.
“When I was a freshman and a sophomore, we went to the Loop often because a lot of the good clubs were 21 and up. We might walk out in order to go to Blockbuster or Cold Stone every once in a while,” said junior Kashay Moring.
“The Loop is no further than it’s ever been, but students are different,” said Hansman. “If they can’t even get to the Loop, think of what else they’re missing in St. Louis.”
Hansman explained that as students become more accustomed to fulfilling their needs online, whether it is for research, shopping or entertainment, they are less likely to go out to the Loop.
Still, the constant presence of University students helps to infuse the Loop with a new source of ideas and experiences that gets along well with its existing and already diverse inhabitants.
“Sometimes, a lot of different people come to a place and they water down their identities in the process. People in the Loop don’t water themselves down much for each other; people are there pretty much as they want to be and there is room for that,” said Hansman.
In a city largely divided along racial lines, the Loop provides a neutral ground conducive to cultural learning and openness. This is reinforced by the historical role of Delmar Blvd. has played as the dividing line between black and white St. Louis.
“Not only is there great ethnic and racial diversity where everyone feels comfortable, but there is also age and economic diversity. This is one of the few areas in St. Louis where things are open in this way,” said Edwards.
The Loop began its initial decline as shoppers began to prefer large commercial malls over the small, locally-owned shops on the Loop. As fewer active businesses operated on the Loop, it became worn down and ignored by most.
“When we came here, it was 1979 and the Loop basically consisted of a bunch of empty storefronts and manufacturing businesses,” said Prince.
Despite that, the combination of cheap real estate, diversity and proximity to Washington University and other St. Louis area universities proved appealing for the new business.
“A lot of the appeal of this business is getting to hang around and talk about music. We built a store for the musically literate because that’s who we wanted to talk to and that has held up in this neighborhood largely because of Washington University,” said Prince.