It’s hip, it’s happening and it’s full of life. Whether you’re tickled by artsy stuff, underground music or exotic food, the University City Loop on Delmar Blvd. can fulfill your most peculiar cravings.
Located in the heart of the St. Louis metro area, The Loop derives its name from an old streetcar turnaround in the early to mid-1900s. Streetcars would go down on Delmar, then “loop” around in front of the intricate lion gates that flank either side of the road before heading back to downtown St. Louis.
What was once a meager strip of mom-and-pop establishments has turned into a thriving six-block explosion of cultural diversity. Surrounded by small businesses and three nearby universities, it has become a bastion for college students and trendy twenty-somethings.
It’s within walking distance of Washington University, which makes it a popular student hangout.
The Loop’s eclectic mix of restaurants, cafes, nightclubs, galleries and specialty shops makes it a focal point catering to University City’s diverse ethnic population. There’s always something for everyone.
Restaurant cuisine ranges from exotic to homegrown, with choices such as Lebanese, Persian, Nigerian, Japanese and good ol’ American fare. The shops walk a fine line between vintage and contemporary, which include stores for used records, tarot readings, tattoo parlors and herbal goodies, among others.
The Loop’s well-lit streets and lively atmosphere offer no shortage of things to do and see.
Go window shopping or venture inside and pick out rare records or used books at some of the locally owned stores. There are always trinkets and artwork to buy, as well as unique clothing boutiques and funky shoe stores.
If you’re up for some live entertainment, The Loop is the designated live music center of St. Louis. Consider a smattering of small clubs playing jazz and alternative music–or consider The Pageant, which hosts some of the hottest acts in the music scene today.
If you’re tired of the silver screen’s average picks, the Tivoli Theater may just stimulate your cinematic senses. The Tivoli, restored in the ’90s to its classic splendor of the ’20s, shows foreign and independent films to satisfy the most discriminating of tastes.
The Loop’s constant development and expansion have been crucial to its slow but steady revitalization. But what makes it flourish is its ability to mesh different worlds into a single hotspot.
“One of the reasons its succeeding is its type of people,” said Joe Edwards, owner of Blueberry Hill, The Pageant, Tivoli Theater and founder of the St. Louis Walk of Fame. “It’s a diverse community, not only racially and culturally but also economically and [by different age groups]. It’s kinda like what America should be.”
Check out the Loop in Motion Festival,
Oct. 4-5
