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| Intersections Growing, changing and getting better all the time. |
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Maryland Ave. & Brentwood Blvd. by Christy K. Thompson Like a fine wine, the city of Clayton gets better with each passing year. In many ways, Clayton has cornered the market on being “all things to all people.” It’s an important and ever-growing hub for commercial, government and corporate interests. It’s a destination for visitors seeking hip, upscale shopping, eclectic galleries and a wide choice of dining options. It’s also a beautiful residential neighborhood, filled with green parks, great schools and exciting recreational opportunities. At the center of this mini-metropolis is the intersection of Maryland Avenue and Brentwood Boulevard, part of what many residents call “the Clayton corridor.” It’s an area that easily maintains its character and charm, despite the almost constant changes taking place there. Following the recent groundbreaking for Conrad Properties’ luxury condominiums at Maryland Walk, the area is again experiencing a growth spurt. But as residents, proprietors and visitors have discovered, in Clayton, “growth is good.” The Maryland Avenue and Brentwood Boulevard intersection is part of the original tract of land donated by Virginians Ralph Clayton and Martin Hanley in the 1870s. When the infant St. Louis County was searching for a new site for the county seat, Clayton convinced officials of the practicality of his location. Together with Hanley’s land, nearly 104 acres were gifted to the city and are now covered by the city’s central business district. Clayton survived the economic difficulties of the 1930s and enjoyed a building and business boom in the 1940s and ’50s. As Clayton became a home for local and national businesses, and the city’s skyline began to take shape, and beginning in the mid-’90s to the present, history has been repeating itself. Dated architecture from the mid-century is now giving way to streamlined office buildings, and the city’s retail businesses continue to multiply.But amidst the construction, the city continues to earn its reputation for lovely, tree-lined streets juxtaposed with impressive government buildings and commercial towers. On the northeastern corner of the intersection, bulldozers are hard at work preparing the foundation for Maryland Walk, a 17-story, $85 million development by Conrad Properties. Conrad president Bob Saur is elated about the building, which will house luxury condominium units retailing from $300,000 to $1,200,000. Formerly the site of a Chevrolet dealership, by 2006 the property will be home to some of the most elegant residences in the city. “Clayton is the perfect place for us,” Saur says. “It’s a wonderful, stable community that offers so many advantages.” Saur is proud that his Maryland Walk property will overlook one of the area’s best upscale retail districts and that it is just a quick stroll away from critically acclaimed restaurants and some of St. Louis’ most desirable office space. “It’s hard to find an area like this,” Saur reflects. “Clayton has beautiful greenspace, great amenities for residents and direct access to an urban core. It’s hard to beat that.” Saur reports that nearly 60 percent of the condominiums in Maryland Walk have been pre-sold; many to individuals seeking a second home or those who wish to downsize to a convenient, cosmopolitan environment. “We’re fortunate that both businesses and individuals want to locate to Clayton,” observes Ellen Gale, executive director of the Clayton Chamber of Commerce. “This is a unique community with a very special balance between commercial and residential interests. They support and enhance one another and mix together to create a community everyone can enjoy.” At Maryland Avenue and Brentwood Boulevard, both the old and new faces of the city are immediately evident. On the north side of Maryland Avenue, a quaint row of brick shopfronts house some of the best shopping in St. Louis. Simon’s jewelry store, Brilliant Antiques, Tammi’s Trousseau and Barucci Gallery attract savvy shoppers eager to escape the monotony of the malls. Arline Brilliant has developed a reputation as one of St. Louis’ foremost importers of English antiques. Her shop, Brilliant Antiques, has occupied a site on the north side of Maryland Avenue for 24 years. “I love the changes I’ve seen happening in this area,” she says. “Clayton is one of the best ‘walking cities’ I know of. In the summer, with all the outdoor restaurants, the galleries and the boutiques, it has the feel of a resort town, almost like a little Carmel,California.” Louise Obermeyer, co-owner of The Best of Everything restaurant and catering company, wholeheartedly agrees. “There’s something so special about a neighborhood where businesses and residences can exist side by side,” Obermeyer comments. When she first opened her business 20 years ago, the view of the intersection was significantly different. “Where there are high-rise offices now, many were just open spaces then,” she explains. But Obermeyer believes that the qualities that give this stretch of road its character have remained the same. “The mixture of wonderful restaurants and shops with corporate headquarters makes it feel like a little bit of Madison Avenue.” Obermeyer is proud of the fact that all the restaurants and retails on Maryland Avenue are owner-operated businesses. “It’s refreshing to find an area without the out-of-town conglomerates,” she says. “It makes us unique. It’s a blend that draws singles, couples, families, empty-nesters and corporate types to the area.” When it comes to memorable restaurants, the intersection does not disappoint. Perennial favorite Cardwell’s continues to attract the business crowd as well as a regular following among “ladies who lunch.” Just across the street, the City Coffee House & Creperie has been serving wonderful, continental-style meals since 1995. Owner Ann Gallardo lives and works in Clayton and says that the more restaurants and shops that open in the area, the more customers there are to flock to them. Gallardo has just completed an 800 square-foot expansion of her restaurant. The new kid on the block quite literally is Steve Gontram, owner and chef of Tejas restaurant on the southeast corner of the intersection. Gontram’s first restaurant, Harvest, has received kudos from The Wine Spectator, Zagat and the New York Times, and his latest creation features what he calls “cowboy cuisine.” Tejas occupies the site formerly occupied by Ramon’s Jalapeno, and Gontram is thrilled with his new “home.” “I believe that this intersection is literally one of the best in St. Louis,” he enthuses. “There is great competition from some wonderful restaurants in the area, and I’m thrilled to be a part of that scene.” The restaurant’s decor has been described as reminiscent of a “million-dollar ranch,” and those that have tasted Gontram’s homemade chili rellenos and lime coconut margaritas have already proclaimed the place a hit. “It’s hard to resist this area,” says Faith Berger, owner of Barucci Gallery. “Annual events like the Taste of Clayton and the St. Louis Art Fair have given Clayton a national reputation that attracts visitors from other states.” For 10 years Berger has watched as the addition of new buildings, new artwork and new businesses has made her corner of the city better and better. “It’s hard to believe it can keep improving, but it does,” she marvels. With more changes to come, including the completion of the Metrolink extension into Clayton, it’s a safe bet that the area will continue to grow and evolve. It’s a city full of surprises, with more being built every day. |
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