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Blast from the past

Adam Claypool

Metromix
June 24, 2008

Get out your history books... it's time for a lesson, Metromix style. Actually, put the books away hop in your car. This is the kind of history you need to see to believe. Here's our list of some of the coolest places around; places that have been around for quite some time.

Thymes Past Inc. - A Bistro and Wine Bar

2223 State St. - Alton

618-462-7279

Thymes Past sits in the Krug House, which was built in approximately 1862. The old house was the family home of Joseph Krug, one of the most highly-respected horticulturists in Illinois.

Fast Eddie's Bon-Air

1530 E. 4th St. - Alton

618-462-5532

Anheuser Busch decided to open a bar in Alton in 1921... and the rest is history.

Al Smith's Feasting Fox

4200 S. Grand Blvd. - St. Louis

314-352-3500

Another A-B project, the Feasting Fox was originally Busch's Inn, then Gretchen's Inn. This place opened in 1914.

Clancy's Irish Pub at the Barn

930 Kehrs Mill Road - Ballwin

636-394-2199

The Barn at Lucerne was originally built in 1916, and was one of the largest dairy barns in the U.S.

The Stable

1821 Cherokee St. - St. Louis

314-771-8500

This place is located in the stables of the old Lemp Brewery Complex. The horses that called the Stable home 80 or so years ago actually delivered Lemp beer to establishments around St. Louis.

The Old Rock House

1200 S. 7th Blvd. - St. Louis

314-588-0505

Fur trading along the Mississippi was one of the first industries in the city of St. Louis. A prominent fur trader built what is now "The Old rock House" back in 1818. The building became a saloon in 1880. The current music venue/bar was opened in 2007.

Ted Drewes Frozen Custard

4224 S. Grand Blvd. - St. Louis

314-352-7376

While this is not the most famous of the Ted Drewes locations, it is the oldest. Ted Sr. opened this shop on South Grand in 1931 and the family has been selling frozen custard here ever since.