Delmar Loop

The Delmar Loop, often referred to as just The Loop, is a commercial strip that straddles the western edge of St. Louis city and the east end of University City. It was named “One of the 10 Great Streets in America” by The American Planning Association in 2007 due the “sustained efforts of local business, government, and the community to achieve successful physical and economic revitalization.”

There are a lot of notable features in the area that distinguish it from other parts of the city, such as a Walk of Fame of famous St. Louisans, and the Loop Trolley that passes through the neighborhood and ferries people to Forest Park.

The Pageant and Delmar Hall are two back-to-back concert halls that host many of the bands and artists that pass through St. Louis. The Loop is also a big part of the restaurant scene of St. Louis. There is a large representation of Asian cuisine in the area as well, including Corner 17 and my personal favorite, Kishimoto Mendo.

Impressions#

The Delmar Loop is right along the Delmar Divide, and is still recovering from store closures during the Covid era. I hope restaurants like Kishimoto Mendo keep opening up along the strip and it continues to be more lively. Nonetheless, it’s one of the most energetic areas of the city where you can see a lot of people walking around and eating at ourdoor patios, or students working in cafes. The trolley is iconic and it’s really awesome to see that people put in the work to revive it. St. Louis has no shortage of people who believe in the city, and who put in the work to improve it for everyone.