Blueberry Hill Found An Extra Thrill On Tuesday

October 3, 2007

Blueberry Hill found an extra thrill on Tuesday
By Margaret Gillerman
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

Blueberry Hill found an extra thrill on Tuesday.

The American Planning Association named the Delmar Loop in University City and St. Louis among the 10 Great Streets in America for 2007.

The mood at Blueberry Hill, a bar and restaurant, was a festive one. Joe Edwards, who founded the venue 35 years ago, was flattered by the honor.

"Everyone is thrilled today," said Edwards, also known as the mayor of the Loop. "It's an honor to be named one of the greatest streets. ... I think St. Louisans will be excited about this national recognition, and it will focus a lot of attention from around the country on St. Louis."

The award was a part of the association's Great Places in America program, which annually honors places of "exceptional character" and highlights "the role planners and planning play in creating communities of lasting value."

Great places "are places where people want to be - not only to visit, but to live and work every day," the association said.

Lehman Walker, University City's director of planning, said the award recognized the Delmar Loop as "one of the outstanding pedestrian streets in the country."

The street was established in 1891 and initially was the home of the Delmar Race Track and the Delmar Garden Amusement Park. The Loop got its name from its role as a turnaround for the streetcars to use to return to St. Louis.

Edwards said he believed a contributing factor to being chosen as a great street was the Loop's focus on diversity.

"Men, women, blacks, whites, Asians, Latinos ... own business and buildings - it's the way it should be," Edwards said. "There's an openness, tolerance and working together that helps to make it a great street."

Shawn Hartung was buying bagels at the Loop's St. Louis Bread Co. when she heard the news.

"The Loop has everything you need - you don't even have to have a car," said Hartung, a former resident of the Loop. "On a nice weather day, it's packed day and night full of people."

And Tuesday was no exception. From bikers to business people, the Loop was in full swing.

Donald and Charlotte Gage, with hands full of letters, said they visited the Loop for the post office, library and bank as well as for the restaurants and music shops.

"We've lived here 35 years, and we love it," Charlotte said.