When I saw a Tweet that a section of the Lemp Brewery complex in Marine Villa collapsed on Sunday, August 23, 2020, I knew I had to get over there and witness this unfortunate loss.
By the time I rode over there, the street was already taped off and the police were keeping folks at a safe distance. News crews were interviewing neighbors, and I took a couple photos from behind the taped off sections.
Here’s a short video.
Luckily no one was hurt. But, it turned out ~700 bikes from St. Louis B Works being stored in this section of Lemp were all lost.
Troubling news for a great St. Louis institution. Raising kids, we’ve made several purchases of expertly refurbished bikes there.
As I came to find out in a piece St. Louis Public Radio did with the Board president of BWorks and local historian Chris Naffziger, this was the Malt Kiln of the Lemp Brewery. The first three stories of which date back to 1873. An additional four stories were added over the years, and lost in the collapse. The interviews are posted on St. Louis On The Air and are must listens.
I have a couple memories of this sad day, the first was talking to other on-lookers, me asking if they if the owner has an insurance policy. The dismissiveness and “are you kidding me” responses I got were disheartening. In St. Louis, you don’t have to follow the rules or be up to code to do business. There are bad decisions and corners cut everywhere.
While I’m not dismissing the love the current owner has for the buildings he owns, it’s doesn’t dismiss taking care of them and making them stable and safe.
Something has to change if we are going to see the former Lemp Brewery complex last for another generation.
But survive it has despite us, but maybe not the elements. As I was riding off toward Broadway I stopped to listen to a band practicing in the building immediately adjacent to the collapse. They were brining it and sounded great. I hope there is at least an occupancy permit in that section to help stabilize and keep people safe.
No matter how many layers of brick and stone, the sound was clear and rocked.
The drum beat goes on in my memory banks. I love this city so much, and sometimes it’s hard to watch apathy and well intentions fade into irresponsibility and willful neglect.
We need this structure to be saved. We owe it to the generations before and after.
Hoping for a bright future for this amazing, historic place.
