1903 Pestalozzi St. 314.772.5994
Venice Café B y : A my D e La H u n t P h o t o g r a p h y : C a r me n Tro e sse r
Ve n i c e C a f é i s a p e r f o r m a n c e v e n u e l i k e
simple: “Booze and beauty for cash.” For booze,
n o n e o t h e r, w i t h e c l e c t i c b a n d s a n d e c c e n t r i c
t h e re ’s a w i d e s e l e c t i o n o f c r a f t b e e r s a n d m i x e d
décor inside and out. First-time visitors are
d r i n k s — a n d t h e b a r t e n d e r s a re a l w a y s w i l l i n g t o
struck by the sheer abundance of visual
make a suggestion that leads customers outside
and auditory stimulation. Every surface
their comfort zone. The beauty is multifaceted.
is covered with mosaics, collectibles and
The décor is a one-of-a-kind masterwork. The
k i t s c h . P e r h a p s b e c a u s e t h e r e ’s s o m u c h t o
m u s i c p ro v i d e s a n i g h t l y d o s e o f o r i g i n a l i t y ( a n d
look at, the interior feels larger than it is:
occasionally mayhem). The staff members are
o n e r o o m f o r t h e b a r, o n e f o r t h e b a n d s , p l u s
people with day jobs who want to be part of
b a l c o n y s e a t i n g i n T h e E x p l o r e r ’s L o u n g e
the café experience. And the customers come
on weekends, when things really fill up.
from every corner of the region, yet feel right
Outdoors, the patio adds lush foliage to the
at home—which is the ultimate beauty of what
knickknacks above, giving it an island vibe.
started out as an in-home party café in 1987.
Ve n i c e C a f é ’s b u s i n e s s m o d e l i s b r i l l i a n t l y
18
GUIDED
