Short Orders

CULTURE

23

[OPENINGS]

A New Industrial Age

3,000-capacity Chesterfield venue the Factory set to open in May 2021

Written by DANIEL HILL

In a year of nonstop cancellations and closures comes a rare piece of good news for local fans of live music: A big, shiny new venue called the Factory is coming soon to Chesterfield.

Well, “soon” might be overstating things (although in an age of lockdowns, what is time even, anyway?) — the 52,000-squarefoot space is set to celebrate its grand opening on ay 1.

According to a press release, the Factory will be an anchor for the District, a project being undertaken by local developer the Staenberg Group, which it describes as “a dynamic entertainment and dining destination” at the intersection of I-64 and Boones Crossing in the space that is currently home to the Chesterfield Outlets.

“This marks the beginning of a new era for the music scene in the St. Louis region,” says ichael Staenberg, founder of the Staenberg Group and partner in the actory. “ e are creating a new standard in the industry. There is nothing else like it in the idwest.”

The Factory will have a maximum capacity of 3,000 people, but it will use movable, modular panels to offer e ibility in the overall size of the room in order to cater to different types of events. In addition to hosting large concerts featuring national touring acts, the space will also be used for trade shows, corporate events, ban uets and even weddings.

Renderings of the space show an interior that takes its cues from factories and manufacturing plants, with a lot of exposed brick, polished concrete and metalwork stairs. The space will also feature a 0 foot stage and balcony seating.

e Factory, shown in a rendering, is being designed to be the anchor of a new entertaiment destination called e District. | VIA THE FACTORY

A rendering shows the 52,000-square-foot venue. | VIA THE FACTORY

Booking will be handled by Steve Schankman, founder of Contemporary Productions, a longtime player in St. Louis’ live entertainment industry that previously owned Riverport (back when it was still called Riverport, although let’s be honest, we still call it Riverport), and who was formerly a partner at the Pageant. Dan erker, former vice president of touring with Outback Presents, will work alongside Schankman on the talent-buying side of things. oth bring a trove of industry experience that shines through in the pro ect’s impressive attention to detail.

“As specialists in the art of producing unforgettable concerts and events, we know the Factory will attract music lovers from all across the region,” Schankman says. “ or the artists, every amenity has been included, featuring five dressing rooms, private production office, catering room with outdoor deck, stage level load-in, four loading docks and space for three tour buses.”

Also on the team is Brian Carp, who will serve as the actory’s chief operating officer. Carp brings “decades of expertise to the project,” according to the release, having held management positions at several venues across the .S., including oulder, Colorado’s o Theatre and the House of Blues locations in both Anaheim and Dallas.

“Michael [Staenberg] and I took all of the elements that worked exceptionally well in venues across the country and incorporated them into the actory,” Carp says. “There will be seven full-service, high-capacity bars throughout the venue, two outdoor smoking decks, plus the great location and ample free parking will make the Factory one of the preeminent venues in the country.”

The conversion of the Chesterfield Outlets into a nightlife destination will mean that the retail aspect of the area will be phased out in favor of bars and restaurants and, of course, live music. In some ways the ambitious project has something of a Ballpark Village feel to it, with music serving as the main attraction rather than baseball. ut no matter the specifics, the team behind the Factory clearly has high hopes — and any hope at all is welcome in the hell year known as 2020.

“The group is envisioning a nightlife experience that concertgoers will want to enjoy before and after the show,” says Staenberg. “ ith the fantastic restaurants coming to the District, we know guests will make an entire night of enjoying a great meal and a show at the Factory and easy access to I-64 after the performance!” n

Open Concept Closed For Winter

Written by DANIEL HILL

Open Concept (2712 Cherokee Street, 314-504-5246), the Cherokee Street bar that made a big splash when it opened last year due to its all-you-can-drink, pay-by-the-hour business model, is now closed for the winter.

The bar closed its doors on Sunday and will stay that way until May. Owner Michael Butler tells RFT that the ongoing COVID-19 crisis is the reason for the decision, citing safety and financial concerns.

“As COVID cases rise we’re closing for the safety of our customers, staff and finances,” Butler says. “Our family and friends have been affected by this virus, and we don’t want anyone to go through what we’ve experienced. We are anticipating another bar shutdown, and have decided to get ahead of things by shutting our doors on November 1, 2020, until May 2021.”

It’s worth noting that Butler is also St. Louis’ recorder of deeds. It’s easy to see how operating a bar during a pandemic

Open Concept will be a closed concept for the winter. | THEO WELLING

while simultaneously serving in government could be a fraught idea that could draw ire from critics. Open Concept had already drawn some early criticism from within the ranks of local government when it first opened, most vocally from former 7th Ward Democratic Committeewoman Marie Ceselski, who resigned her position upon the announcement that a presidential debate watch party would be held by the city and state Democratic parties at the bar.

Ceselski believed that the bar’s business model would encourage excessive drinking, but an exhaustive and hotdog-costume-clad RFT investigation of the matter showed that you were more likely to be overserved at a standard-fare north-county dive bar or even an Applebee’s than at Open Concept.

The concern regarding finances in the winter months is easy to understand too, and one apparently shared by multiple local bars and restaurants as we head

into the slower, colder part of the year.

Just a couple weeks ago, Benton Park mainstay Venice Cafe announced that it would be closing until April. And in early October, Bogart’s Smokehouse and Southern, two eateries in the Pappy’s Smokehouse family of restaurants, each closed their doors for the colder months as well, citing financial concerns.

Open Concept, Butler says, is using a similar calculus with its closing plan.

“Our concept always required volume to be successful,” Butler says. “We’ve been very blessed by the outpouring of support and increase in return customers at our Cherokee Street location since bars and restaurants were allowed to reopen in May. But, the COVID restrictions, while absolutely necessary for public health, have made it almost impossible for our business model to turn a profit. We know we can be successful post-COVID. That’s why we’re hibernating for the winter, and looking to come back bigger and better in the spring.”

It’s a trend that is likely to continue absent another round of stimulus money to help businesses weather the COVID-19 storm. In some ways the establishments that are able to make the decision to close for only a portion of the year are the lucky ones — others, such as Grove bar and venue the Monocle, have had to close up shop for good due to the virus.

Here’s hoping that luck holds. See you all in spring. n