Reviews: Old Rock House in St. Louis

As a guy who devours nearly everything I can find on St. Louis urban planning and redevelopment, I am a daily visitor to www.urbanstl.com. There, I lurk, visiting forums detailing the major and minor construction projects all over the urban core.

Back in January, a post talking up a bar rehab on the 1100 block of South Seventh Street debuted. Having driven by the building often, I knew it as one of our town’s hundreds of shuttered corner taverns in turn-of-the-century buildings. Still, the building stuck out; it was striking with a very-STL red brick facade, what looked like green copper cornice work, white-marble-topped battlements and a tiny corner pavilion tower with a slate-shingled roof in front of which perched a stone eagle. I also remember that in early 2006, the building looked to be on the verge of collapse.

It’s important to note just where the building was (literally falling down) before we get into where it now is. No matter what nightlife path the Old Rock House takes – and, as you’ll see from my review, that’s still up in the air –
co-owners Mark Disper and Dan Schmidt need to be heavily applauded for one of the best rehabs and expansions I’ve had the pleasure of seeing. The splendid craftsmanship bleeds into my entire opinion of the place.

If last month’s STL Scene was a description of an undersized space, this month’s is a description of one of the largest and most sprawling bars in town. After walking under what could be the dopest electric Budweiser sign this side of the Highway 40 Eagle, the Old Rock House offers no less than eight separate areas – almost all of them splendidly and subtly decorated, picturesquely lit and organized with thoughtful seating options – in which to drink, socialize and, if the mood strikes, listen to live music.

The first floor divides into four spaces. The main bar is appointed with dark wood tables, booths, two flatscreens (one showing the music act, one the game) and an impressive new-yet-classic bar with a swooping wooden arch and large, mirrored bar back. The main dining room offers little other than a flatscreen, a limited view of the stage and plain view of the large fenced patio outside. The large floor immediately in front of the stage is crunched with tables.

The second floor divides into two spaces. Upfront is a loungish area with a direct view of the stage through an opening in the floor. An intimate room in the rear offers a small-yet-slick black-marble-topped bar and two corners of cushy leather chairs; this space is often rented out for private parties.

The basement divides into two spaces and offers what I think is the coolest area, mixing the feel of a club and museum. Like a museum, the room has two gated showcases seemingly carved out of the limestone foundation of one wall. Huge, empty wine casks are stacked in one showcase. (More empty casks also act as cocktail tables throughout the room.) In the other, shelved bottles of high-end scotch and cigars. Like a club, two miniature lounges hide in the rear, each offering a cozy love seat for making out. The Old Rock House dubs the basement a cigar and scotch lounge, but in all my visits I saw no one drinking scotch or smoking a cigar.

The Old Rock House’s self-stated mission is to support local and national music, but with so many different spaces/rooms – only two of which have a direct view of the stage – the vast majority of patrons don’t care about the entertainment. They’re yammering with each other, yelling over the oftentimes way-too-loud music piped in from the stage. I’m not plugged into the local and touring music scene enough to give a valid opinion on the quality of the acts, but I can’t say it’s a good sign that on three of my visits I heard cover bands and on one visit no band. Cover charges vary, but expect to be hit.

The number and demographic of the patrons varies so much, changing according to the private parties and the act on stage on any given night, it’s nearly indescribable. I saw 50-year-old men in Cards jerseys and jean shorts, 30ish yuppies in suits, 25ish girls in tight and trendy dresses, and 45-year-old women in hiked-up jeans. Liquor and beer flow freely, as I also saw more than a handful of patrons (of varying ages) drunk as hell. Many patrons smoke, and you’ll leave knowing it by the funk in your clothes/hair.

The draft beer list offers the usual suspects: A-B products, Schlafly, Harp, Stella, etc. The bottled beer list is a little better with typical great selections like Sierra Nevada Pale Ale and atypical great selections like Warsteiner Premium Verum pilsner. The scotch and bourbon options are excellent – Basil Hayden’s, Laphroaig and every Glen ever invented. Lastly, the wait staff was always friendly, helpful and more than professional, a great complement to a stunning space.