Updated 10:25 a.m., May. 25 with winning proposal: A developer has been selected to reopen the landmark Bevo Mill in south St. Louis. The city's Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority says Pat and Carol Schuchard have been chosen for the project. They already own two event venues: the Boo Cat Club and the Majorette.
The husband and wife are planning to invest more than $3 million in renovations over four years. The two want to convert Bevo Mill into a coffeehouse, beer garden, microbrewery, live-event space and a bed-and-breakfast.
Original story from May 1, 2016:
The city has two proposals to reopen the landmark Bevo Mill in south St. Louis as a microbrewery and restaurant — complete with a beer garden.
Submitting proposals by the Friday deadline were Paul and Wendy Hamilton, owners of Vin de Set and Eleven Eleven Mississippi restaurants — and Pat and Carol Schuchard, owners of the Boo Cat Club and Majorette, which are event venues.
Otis Williams of the St. Louis Development Corporation says both proposals were to purchase the property. He hopes the process will move quickly to reopen the restaurant that is modeled after a Dutch windmill.
“I believe that the neighborhood is looking forward to seeing the mill refurbished and reopened,” he said.
The city’s Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority handled the bid process. It sought proposals to buy or lease the property but said preference would be given to buyers. The price is $500,000, plus a commitment to invest $1 million in improvements within two years. To lease the building, tenants would be required to invest $1 million within a five-year period.
The Bevo Mill was built in 1916 by Anheuser-Busch and used for a time to market a malt-based soft drink called “Bevo.” After InBev bought Anheuser-Busch in 2008, the brewer gave the property to the city.
August A. Busch Sr. used the Bevo Mill as a private dining room for many years and also operated a public restaurant in the unique structure. According to the Bevo Millwebsite, Busch chose the location — which was rural at the time — because it was close to the midpoint between his brewery on Pestalozzi Street and his family estate at Grant’s Farm.
The Bevo Mill, which is at the intersection of Gravois Avenue and Morganford Road, was once known for its German cuisine. In recent years, it’s been used by a catering company.
The property has a kitchen, four dining rooms, office space and a two-story apartment.
