Efforts to Revive St. Louis' Historic Riverfront District

A new wave of renewed conversations and tangible plans are emerging to breathe fresh life into Laclede's Landing, a historic riverfront district in St. Louis that has, over time, diminished to just a shadow of its former self.

Over the past couple of decades, businesses have left the Landing, and as a result, so has much of the crucial foot traffic. However, developers and community organizations are now actively working to change this narrative, focusing on investment and accessibility.

The area is steeped in history. Robert Nelson, who heads the National Blues Museum, which hosts the Big Muddy Blues Festival every fall in the Landing, underscores the location's significance.

"Pierre Laclede himself established this as a port," Nelson said. "The historic pathway from the delta and the south bringing blues music to St. Louis."

Nelson recalls the district's more vibrant era. "In the 90's you had, I remember Mississippi Nights. I remember Erykah Badu and upcoming artists who are established artists today. They were playing in Mississippi Nights on Laclede's Landing in the 90s."

Many longtime St. Louisans remember the area as being the epicenter of nightlife. Developer Gretchen Minges noted, "We've heard people like 'oh yeah when I got picked up on the cobblestones or danced on that countertop.'"

Flash forward to 2025, and the scene is markedly different. Crowds have diminished, and businesses have packed up. Minges acknowledged the challenge: "We have a lot of brick and mortar that we need to fill."

Some entrepreneurs see a golden opportunity. Camille Jackson opened The Cobblestone in the summer of 2024. "We've got your eggs, your pastas, your breads," she said of her establishment. She viewed the location as a "no brainer." "The Arch grounds is a 5 minute walk from here," Jackson said, highlighting the strategic location.

She also pointed to the inherent appeal of the Mississippi River. "It's so cool because it's a working river so you get to see the barges coming and going. You get to see the shift changes of the rangers and stuff too. It's just a rally cool place."

Development and Connectivity

Alderwoman Jami Cox Antwi emphasized the necessity of capitalizing on the riverfront. "I think that's one of those missed opportunities," she said. "A lot of pier cities with great riverfronts that we have have things like boardwalks and planks that bring that activity there. I think it's possible for us to have something like that."

Antwi plans to advocate for the use of Rams settlement money for areas that have not seen recent significant investment. "I'll be advocating for making sure it goes to the places we need it most and I feel those kinds of areas fall into that category," she stated after being asked if Laclede's Landing and downtown could see new city government investment.

Meanwhile, developers are stepping up. Gretchen Minges, with the Advantes Group, owns half a dozen properties in the Landing and insists, "It's time to get people back down here."

The company has been focused on transforming old buildings into modern living spaces and is now in talks to create a significant new attraction: an open-air market with small businesses and booths directly on the riverfront.

"We're talking with an operator who has done multiple in St. Louis, multiple across the country," Minges said. "The goal is to have entertainment. They would have movie nights. They'd like to have bands {and we're} hoping to do a great Christmas market next year."

Minges believes the desire to see the Landing thrive is widely shared. "I have not met a person in 8 years who does not want to see Laclede's Landing come back or have a memory of what it was," she said.

Another key factor at play is accessibility. A portion of Interstate 70 is viewed by some as dividing the riverfront from downtown. Mayor Spencer’s office has indicated the mayor is in favor of capping the highway to better connect the areas. MoDOT who says its in the early stages of studying downtown highways as it prepares to make long-term investmant plans.

Developers on Laclede's Landing are also currently working with the Main Street America group, an organization that supports neighborhoods across the nation in gaining needed resources to thrive.

Nelson summarized the ultimate goal: "Where people are actually, living, eating, music, the vibe. That's what that space is for and that's what it will be again."