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The Grove is a business district located between Vandeventer and Kingshighway in the Forest Park East neighborhood of St. Louis, Missouri. It is near Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis University Hospital, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Forest Park, and Tower Grove Park.
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Attractions
The Grove is a business district in St. Louis, and has several bars and restaurants including the Atomic Cowboy, Sanctuaria Tapas,Taha'a Twisted Tiki HandleBar, renowned soul food restaurant Sweetie Pie’s, as well as sandwich shop and bar The Gramophone. Several businesses were featured in the Best Of List of The Riverfront Times.
The Grove is also home to a growing number of public art pieces, primarily murals worked on by local artist Grace McCammond.
Recently, The Grove became the first area in St. Louis to install an overhanging neon sign to mark the entry of the business district. The Grove entry marker was a two year, $60,000 project funded and facilitated by several neighborhood entities including Forest Park South Business Association, The Grove CID, Tarlton Corporation, and Washington University Redevelopment Medical Corporation.
History
Property and business owners Chip Schloss (Atomic Cowboy), Guy Slay (Mangrove Properties) and Restoration St. Louis came up with "The Grove" as a catchy name to brand the business district. "The Grove" played off of "The Adams Grove" and Tower Grove Avenue that intersects the Forest Park Southeast neighborhood. It used to be called "The Manchester Strip".
The first marketing scheme was called "Halfway To Everywhere", but has since been replaced by the new logo and website that asked the question "Are You In?".
Culture
In the Grove you can find a variety of independently owned restaurants, nightlife, retail, and services. It is also home to the premier nightlife in the area, and is a thriving center for the LGBTQ, artist, and cycling communities in the St. Louis area.
A few blocks south of the main business corridor on Manchester Avenue is the Transgender Memorial Garden, believed to be the first of its kind in the nation.
Events
The Grove has hosted Grove Fest for the past nine years, starting in 2005. Grove Fest is a neighborhood street festival that promotes its businesses, featuring live bands and DJs, street performers, food, beverage, clothing, jewelry, and art vendors and more. The 5th annual festival in 2010 included acts such as Messy Jiverson and Rockwell Knuckles.
The Grove also hosted the first Tour de Grove in the summer of 2010, previously Tour de Winghaven, organized largely by Big Shark Bicycles owner, Mike Weiss.
The Grove is known for being a strong center of the LGBT community in the St. Louis area. Each year, various Grove businesses and residents take part in St. Louis Pride Fest and host celebrations in The Grove.