Categories: Shopping
The Loop
Author: Danny McCullough
Despite its moniker, The Loop isn't actually a loop at all. It's a six-block stretch of Delmar Boulevard, west of downtown and bounded by Skinker and Big Bend. Don't let its small size fool you--The Loop is one of the richest sources of true St. Louis culture, featuring more than 140 restaurants and boutiques, a St. Louis-specific Walk of Fame and a bustling nightlife fueld by locals and students from nearby Washington University. Whether you go day or night, you'll be sure to find an eclectic combination of small stores and big entertainment that can keep you occupied for hours.
Shops Galore
If there's one thing The Loop doesn't lack, it's shopping--especially when it comes to clothes. Vintage clothing stores Rag-O-Rama and tag feature stylish apparel for both sexes from bygone days, while boutiques like Ziezo and Melrose to Manhattan offer contemporary female fashions. City Sprouts, a boutique geared toward stylish tikes, and Little Shark Athletic Company, an alternative sport-clothing vendor, round out the bohemian array of stores suited to attire.
Aside from your vestments, The Loop also has stores galore for crafts and hobbies. For the die-hard child in all of us, renowned comic-book vendor Star Clipper offers a battery of comics and graphic novels, while Subterranean Books may appeal to those with more literary tastes and hipster sensibilities. Vintage Vinyl has a huge collection of records and CDs for audiophiles, and the grizzled shopkeeper of H.S.B. Tobacconist is sure to provide you with any specialty cigars or cigarettes you may need. Those with more calm interests may enjoy Knitty Couture, a store specializing in yarns and knitting that offers an array of classes for all skill levels.
Dirty Dining
The Loop is overflowing with eateries from a variety of ethnicities. Those looking for classic American cuisine need to look no further than a St. Louis institution, Fitz's American Grill and Bottling Works, a family-style restaurant that brews its own root beer or Riddles Penultimate Cafe & Wine Bar--a scrumptious restaurant intent on using local ingredients. Pizza lovers should stop by Racanelli's New York Pizzeria, which offers generous portions by the pie or the slice. If you're seeking some ethnic eats, try Thai Country Cafe for both reasonable prices and delicious entrees, Seki's Japanese Restaurant for sushi or Selam Ethiopian Restaurant for delicious African food unlike anything you've had before. For dessert, scoop-able options include either Ben and Jerry's Scoop Shop or Cold Stone Creamery for ice-cream lovers or a trip to the St. Louis Bubble Tea Company for connoisseurs of the tapioca-containing concoction.
After Dark
The nightlife in The Loop is vibrant to say the least. Chuck Berry's monthly shows should be more than enough to lure you to Blueberry Hill if the other performers and popular bar don't (they should!). The almost overwhelming beer selection at Cicero's Restaurant and Entertainment Venue offers more than 150 beer choices and they even conduct a free "Beer School" every Wednesday night for those who want to become more educated imbibers. For headliners and popular national acts, check out The Pageant, which hosts notable performers across all music genres. The Tivoli Theatre, opened in 1924, is a celebrated historic destination and is known for its screenings of limited-release independent and foriegn-language films. Competitive partiers will enjoy the decor at Pin-Up Bowl--where the young crowd differentiates it from most bowling alleys, while tis eight lanes of bowling distinguish it from other bars.
Check out places of interest near The Loop:
Ben and Jerry's Scoop Shop
6380 Delmar Blvd.,
St. Louis, MO 63130
The national brand of ice cream infamous for its clevery-titled seasonal treats and culture of peace.
Cicero's Restaurant and Entertainment Venue
6691 Delmar Blvd.,
St. Louis, MO 63130
Housing a combination Italian-restaurant and entertainment venue sets Cicero's apart, but not quite as much its free beer school, offered every Wednesday to help beer drinkers sound more like wine experts when describing a brew.
Cold Stone Creamery
6662 Delmar Blvd.,
St. Louis, MO 63130
Famous for its mix-ins and delectable cold eats, stop by and grab a cone or cup after a nice meal to sate your sweet tooth.
Dewey's Pizza
559 North and South St.,
St. Louis, MO 63130
Dewey's Pizza is aptly named--aside from calzones and some salads, this place specializes in gourmet pizzas, with heaps of topping choices and uncommon ingredients to satisfy even the most curious culinary taste.
Fitz's
6605 Delmar Boulevard,
St. Louis, MO 63108
Fitz's serves up classic American food as a traditional St. Louis eatery on the Loop, brewing its own root-beer and offering a great family experience.
Pi Restaurant
6144 Delmar Blvd.,
St. Louis, MO 63112
The finest in artisan pizza, offering gourmet toppings in unusual arrangements.
Racanelli's New York Pizzeria
6655 Delmar Blvd.,
St. Louis, MO 63130
Racanelli's Pizzeria delivers New York-style flavor with St. Louis prices, giving customers huge slices of classic pie covered in melted cheese, and offering a variety of specialty pies as well.
Seki's Japanese Restaurant
6335 Delmar Blvd.,
St. Louis, MO 63130
Seki is known for an array of authentic Japanese food, especially sushi. Try a few rolls and relax in their quiet atmosphere.
Selam Ethiopian Restaurant
549 Rosedale Ave.,
St. Louis, MO 63112
Selam offers authentic Ethiopian cuisine, which means eating is a group activity, and your fingers are the primary utinsels. The food is delicious, and anyone with taste buds who hasn't tried Ethiopian food is derelict in their duty.
St. Louis Bubble Tea Company
6677 Delmar Blvd.,
St. Louis, MO 63130
Fans of the popular milk teas, fruit teas, slushies and, of course, bubble tea, will enjoy this cold drink oasis during the summer, and can stop by during the winter for a flavored hot tea.
Thai Country Cafe
6223 Delmar Blvd.,
St. Louis, MO 63130
Thai food has never been tastier (or cheaper) than this authentic restaurant in The Loop. Offering a diverse menu of Thai Cuisine, everyone is sure to find something they like.
Alice's Vintage Clothes
4703 Delmar Blvd.,
St. Louis, MO 63108
Classical clothes from bygone days that represent the hippest in retro.
Big Shark Bicycle Company
6133 Delmar Blvd.,
St. Louis, MO 63112
Big Shark Bicycle Company, affiliated with Little Shark Athletic Company, is a specialty bike and bike accessory store, equipping you for your ride with bicycles, helmets, clothing, and gear.
City Sprouts
6354 Delmar Blvd.,
St. Louis, MO 63130
City Sprouts specializes in everything for your tot, offering baby and baby-related accessories, including skin-care products and toys, to fashionable diaper bags for dads and moms.
H.S.B. Tobacconist
6362 Delmar Blvd.,
St. Louis, MO 63130
An large selection of specialty cigars and cigarettes and the knowledgable staff set H.S.B. Tobacconist apart from most other smoke shops. Stop in whether you're in need of some Zippo fuel or a recommendation for a fine stogie.
Knitty Couture
6148 Delmar Blvd.,
St. Louis, MO 63112
A store not just dedicated to, but obsessed with the art of knitting, offering supplies, clinics, and books on the subject. Pick up your needles and give it a go.
Little Shark Athletic Company
6176 Delmar Blvd.,
St. Louis, MO 63112
Little Shark Athletic Company, affiliated with Big Shark Bicycle Company, is a specialty clothing store for sports like yoga, swimming, running and biking.
Melrose to Manhattan
6161 Delmar Blvd., Ste 101,
St. Louis, MO 63130
Melrose to Manhattan offers contemporary female clothing with a dual-coast philosophy to fashion, fusing the best of New York and L.A. together.
Phoenix Rising
6331 Delmar Blvd.,
St. Louis, MO 63130
Jewelry, artwork, and off-beat designs combine to make Phoenix Rising a premier St. Louis boutique.
Rag-O-Rama
6388 Delmar Blvd.,
St. Louis, MO 63130
Vintage clothing store for men and women who believe that garments only get better with age.
Soul Shoes
6301 Delmar Blvd.,
St. Louis, MO 63130
Soul offers designer shoes for both men and women on The Loop.
Star Clipper Comics
6392 Delmar Blvd.,
St. Louis, MO 63130
Star Clipper is a well-renowned comic store, for its wide selection and knowledgable, friendly staff. If you need to pick up a latest issue or a trade paperback, Star Clipper is the place to go.
tag apparel
6314 Delmar Blvd.,
St. Louis, MO 63130
tag--an acronym for "timeless authentic garments" is a St. Louis boutique that specializes in vintage clothing and accessories for both men and women, featuring one-of-a-kind pieces and designer labels from bygone days.
Ziezo Boutique
6394 Delmar Blvd.,
St. Louis, MO 63130
Ziezo is a fashion-forward boutique specializing in women's apparel and accessories, from casual to wear-to-work.
Pin-Up Bowl
6191 Delmar Blvd.,
St. Louis, MO 63112
A bowling alley that becomes a night-time hangout may seem contradictory, but the club decor and music attract a young crowd that makes this one of the freshest and most lively bars in St. Louis.
The Tivoli Theatre
6350 Delmar Blvd.,
St. Louis, MO 63130
The Tivoli is a historical landmark and an independent movie hotspot all packed into one location, with roots it St. Louis as far back as the 1920's. Whether you want to admire the architecture or catch the latest independent film, The Tivoli is worth a gander.
