With a good dose of inspiration, Maebelle Reed brought her creative vision to the Midtown area.

Reed, owner of Plush, sees the newly-opened concert venue-restaurant-bar as a place that brings communities together. Ultimately, Reed hopes that Plush will serve as an establishment where locals can become a part of a community.

“I wanted to be in the Midtown corridor or near the [Central] West End because it is easily accessible from all over the city and Illinois,” Reed said. “The areas are solid and have potential for strong future growth, and there is diversity in the area.”

Plush’s location at 3224 Locust St. is an area that complements the St. Louis nightlife. Music, in particular, is one of the most popular forms of entertainment, and Plush has the upper hand with its high-end venue for live music performances. Plush accommodates those who are more private individuals, as well smaller crowds who do not want to be overwhelmed by masses of people. For concerts, two floors of the venue hold up to 800 people.

“Our capacity is up to 800 people, but we can handle small, intimate acts as well without feeling cavernous,” Reed said. “We have tried to create an interactive environment to enhance the experience.”

Plush serves their full menu until the venue closes, and has a café that offers a wide variety of coffee drinks. From 7 a.m. until 1 o’ clock the next morning, customers can take advantage of the full-service restaurant that accommodates children and vegetarians.

David Zimmerman, the executive chef, is responsible for providing customers with a quality meal from the diner-style menu. The fact that Plush combines a restaurant, café, bars and concert venue is what sets this particular venue apart from other concert venues. Overall, Plush serves as a multipurpose place for exquisite dining, drinking and music.

But this music venue and restaurant is by no means a nightclub. Plush is not associated with a club-like environment, where hardcore metal and hip-hop are popular.

“We are not a nightclub,” Reed said. “We do not host DJs, dance parties or the ‘see and be seen’ culture. Plush is about promoting the art in live music and beyond. We host musical artists who use their medium and instruments to create a unique experience for their audience.”

Reed, who is responsible for advertising, marketing and private event booking, has creative control of publicizing the concerts and special events. Kris Kerry, the talent buyer and venue booker, searches for musical and creative talent from national and international touring bands, as well as local artists, and puts together the concerts. Reed and Kerry work together to create different dynamics for the shows, and to help local musicians and bands become established. Kerry also books tours for a small number of artists who travel around the country as a way to experience the true meaning of what it is to be an artist— making your music memorable and doing what you love.

“Plush is multi-faceted, and the hope is [that] each turn of the corner gives you a slightly different environment,” Reed said. “The ambience of Plush illustrates four key themes: relative comfort, ease, hand-made or recycled, and interactive.”

Reed said she has a wonderful staff that works diligently to create a comfortable and enjoyable environment.

“I have been meeting there for my internship the past few weeks, and I love it,” said Kate Voight, senior. “It’s super edgy and cool, the staff are super friendly and the food is good. It’s a great place to get work done during the day and then go back for music at night. Also, it’s awesome that it is so close to school, and the prices are great.”

The casual dress code and age policy of 18-and-up indicates how laid-back and inclusive the environment is at Plush. Reed said she expects to see a mixed crowd of locals, teens, college students, young adults and older adults. Plush offers free Wi-Fi service to its customers, as well as ping-pong tables for the college crowd.

“I am definitely looking forward to going to Plush sometime soon,” said Alexandra Rigali, senior. “I have been told by several people that Plush is a cool venue with a good atmosphere where they have ping-pong and cheap drinks.”

Plush books many private parties and special events for teens and young adults. The private parties include corporate retreats, large and small birthday parties for teens and adults, wedding receptions, company promotions and fundraisers. In addition, this venue promotes special events, such as Café Soul open mic nights, Fringe Fest and “Riverfront Times” events.

“Plush is the dynamic between music venue, diner, café and a place to hang out day and night,” Reed said. “Essentially, Plush captures the true essence of what the St. Louis community epitomizes—a third place.”