My, how things have changed since April of 2013 when I first photographed the former industrial area of Fox Park near the intersection of South Jefferson and Gravois. The huge warehouse at the northwest corner of Sidney and Texas has been renovated into apartments; it was once part of the Koken Barber Supply Company. I had the opportunity before its sale to photograph from its roof back in February of 2022.
It looks really great and helps to make the area around the now-abandoned 7-11, long a problem in the neighborhood, more desirable.
While the old bumper plating business is gone, there is still this junky place across Texas Avenue that I hope can be bought out at some point.
Another of the old Koken Barber buildings is being renovated into apartments, as well. It had seen more than a few parties over the years.
It had not always been going this well; a decade ago in June of 2024 another landlord had allowed a building to collapse into a pile of rubble.
And Rung for Woman has actually added another wing onto their headquarters due to their success. It’s hard to believe their block was so rundown only a few years ago, as can be seen here (last three photos).
These buildings are also doing well on the north side of Victor.
Burkart’s Woodworks occupies the building below.
While this former warehouse has received new windows.
Thank you. I have been driving through this area for years. My mechanic (Russ’ Garage) is up the street. The transformation is remarkable AND ongoing!
It’s wild, isn’t it? Glad to hear your mechanic is holding on.
Pretty remarkable to see this area finally being markedly improved after languishing for decades. The office and warehouse of our long time family business (closed in 2008) was at Gravois and Texas in the shadow of St. Francis DeSales, so I know this area and surrounding environs quite well. Including the notorious 7-11 which we could see from our front windows.
Much excitement was witnessed from our vantage point, from spectacular car wrecks to police raids, and even a couple of gunfights. From the 80’s until our departure, this area suffered greatly, and was a pretty rough spot. The row house just west of our building was burned down in an apparent arson, luckily we avoided any damage from that. The immediate neighborhood never seemed to benefit from the efforts being undertaken further east in Benton Park (closer to Soulard) or further afield in portions of Fox Park. I guess that’s finally changing, slowly though it may be.
I believe one of those warehouse buildings being renovated was at some point a facility for Panda Paints. I had a great uncle who worked form them many years back.