Delmar Business Pioneers Bring New Services

Historical June 1988 report or notice. Original dates, prices and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.

It seems to be a widely held belief that the era of “urban pioneers” is over in Skinker DeBaliviere (well, almost over). Property values are rising, crime is down, the last multibuilding development in the neighborhood is underway at Nina Place…A quick tour of Delmar, however and one realizes that perhaps the pioneer days are actually overdue in these commercial blocks. That may be changing; at least, if the recent actions by four business owners are any indication, perhaps the pioneer era may finally be dawning for Delmar.

In a span of eight to nine months, at least four new businesses will be located on 5700, 5800, and 5900 Delmar. Three are well-established businesses relocating from the county:

Woody’s A-1 Barbecue, Freewheelin’ Bicycles, and J.P. Window & Door Service.

The fourth is a new business, Rainbow Finishes, a paint store opened by Skinker DeBaliviere neighbor, Jan Pitts.

The reasons for locating on Delmar vary, but all four proprietors express confidence in the future of the area. None of the four was aware of the other’s plans when they selected their locations, and while they are encouraged by the activity, none of them is surprised. “The potential here is tremendous” says JohnPeil, owner of J.P. Window, “the strength of the central corridor, the types of structures which are available along here, and the affordable prices make this section of Delmar very attractive. It’s just a matter of time.” While light rail has been touted as the “answer” for Delmar, the proposed station at 6005 Delmar had little to do with any of the four’s decision to invest where they are. “It will be great if it happens, but we will be here even if it doesn’t” says John Bordeaux, owner of Freewheelin’.

All four Delmar locations were vacant, boarded buildings and required extensive renovations.

All four owners have done much of the work themselves investing “sweat equity” as well as dollars. Residents of Skinker DeBaliviere have a history of pulling together and supporting each other and the community; the actual pioneering may almost be over, but the spirit remains.

Our new business neighbors need that spirit. Jim McLeod, president of the SDCC feels “good, solid businesses with something to offer” along Delmar are critical to the continued improvement of our neighborhood as a whole.

We are fortunate to have four such businesses investing in our area.

These pioneers need, and deserve, our support.

A brief description of the businesses and their plans for their new locations on Delmar follows:

Woody’s A-1 Barbecue—relocating from Market in the Loop, 6600 Delmar, University City to 5917 Delmar (west of Courtesy Country Foods).

David Woods, owner, is happy to have found a more permanent home for his nineyear-old restaurant.

His five years in the Loop Market have been great, but the open-air facilities have limited his operation to fair weather months, and even in season, to limited hours, Thursday, Friday, Saturday 9 A.M.-6 P.M. Woods says he hosted backyard barbecues to the delight of his friends and family for years.

Even though they encouraged him to open a restaurant, Woods was in fact looking for a site to open an appliance repair shop when he leased the first

Woody’s A-1 Barbecue location in Pagedale.

When a friend of Woods saw the space he leased, the friend suggested it was an ideal location for a restaurant—a Barbecue restaurant—Woody’s A-1 Barbeque. . Woods was convinced to give it a try and enjoyed great success at the Pagedale location for four years.

While his business flourished, – the neighborhood around his location did not. Woods was looking for a more secure location when he moved into his current space at Market in the loop. Woods is enthusiastic when he talks about his business and the new location on Delmar; he had been interested in this building for a couple of years.

But when he talks about his food, his enthusiasm gives way to reverence.

In addition to ribs, his secret sauce, and potato salad, Woods has just introduced cajun-style red beans and rice on his menu. Woody’s is also home of the world’s only “sting burger” —the copyright for which Woods is anxiously waiting.

All he will divulge of the recipe is that it is a 1/3 pound patty of ground beef and a special combination of spices.

It is not recommended for the faint of palate. Wood’s restaurant has always been primarily carry out, although shoppers at the market enjoy eating at a couple of picnic tables he has in front of his booth.

He anticipates carry out service only at his new location on Delmar, at least for a while. Wood’s hopes to open at 5917 around the end of June.

J.P. Window & Door Service— relocating from 735 Marshall, Webster Groves, to 5917 Delmar (west of People’s Clinic).

When John Peil, owner, began looking for a larger space for his business, he looked in the city exclusively.

When he saw 5917 Delmar, he knew that was the building he wanted.

Although his business has been in Webster Groves for six years, Peil has lived in the city for the past seven years. Peil understands “pioneering” too, he lived in Hyde Park for five years rehabbing two buildings there, and now lives near Tower Grove Park in a building he rehabbed a couple of years ago.

There are really no “perks” for a small business relocating from the county to the city—in this case at 5917 Delmar, not even tax abatement—but he feels the city offers a better business climate.

His experience in the county, particularly in Webster Groves, is that businesses other than small, local retail are less than welcome, and growth is really discouraged, “they just don’t want growing businesses” says Peil.

The city and city dwellers on the other hand, welcome and appreciate businesses; there are codes, permits, and restrictions in the city like everywhere else, but there’s more of a laissez-faire attitude.

He believes there’s a better relationship and greater mutual respect between the business and residential communities in the city. Peil took over a one-man window and door service business twelve years ago which became J.P. Window.

He credits his developing relationships and a good reputation with suppliers, management companies, and contractors for the company’s steady growth. Peil now maintains five full time employees and during peak seasons employs as many as fourteen: “For example, Pella Products of St. Louis knows I know their product; I’ve been dealing with them for twelve years now, buying replacement and repair materials; they know me and they know my company does quality work.

When a customer calls them for service work, they refer that customer to me.” Peil estimates 50 percent of their business is generated through these and other client referrals.

He also feels their ability and willingness to do custom and specialty work contributes to their reputation and growth. Replacing the windows at the top of the arch, for example, or rebuilding the sixteen glass, copper and bronze skylights at Washington University’s Lewis Center at Kingsland and Delmar.

In fact; Peil’s was the only company in the area willing to do this work at Lewis Center.

The balance of Peil’s business is in remodeling contracts providing and installing new windows, doors, sky lights, atriums, etc., for all applications, commercial and residential.

The company acts as both general and subcontractor.

No job is too small for the company either, depending on the season and how busy they are.

Because they provide such a wide range of services—replacing one or two panes of glass in a single family residence to an installation contract for 250 windows in a large commercial project—the larger scale project has to be given priority.

The customer who needs a couple of windows replaced may have to wait. “We’re honest with the customers when they call,” Peil says “if we can’t get to the job for three weeks, we tell them so.” Peil hopes to move into the Delmar location the end of June.

His business will occupy the east bay of the 9,000 square foot building, and once he is settled he hopes to lease the west bay, remodelled for the tenants’ needs.

The second floor of the building will eventually be renovated for office space.

He believes the second floor would be difficult to market right now, but once his and another business are established on the first floor he feels the upstairs will be an attractive office location.

Freewheelin’ Bicycles—relocating from 6388 Delmar, University City to 5852 Delmar. DeRae Development Corporation purchased the 9,000 square foot building at 5852-58 Delmar with a commitment from Freewheelin’ Bicycles as the anchor tenant.

When you talk to John Bordeaux, Freewheelin’ owner & general contractor for the project, you know it’s his project. Bordeaux says he is moving his business for three reasons “economics, economics and economics.” A number of factors effect the economics—the least of which is not parking. Bordeaux estimates he loses 1/3 of his potential customers due to the limited parking at his current U.

City Loop location. Bordeaux is no stranger to “pioneering” either. Freewheelin’ opened at 6388 Delmar sixteen years ago; “parking was certainly not a problem back then—almost everything else was, though.” Bordeaux somewhat echoes Peil’s sentiments about operating a business in the county; he is glad to be leaving what he feels is a very restrictive environment. Bordeaux worked as an Economic Development Specialist for H.D.C. prior to opening the business. Four years of that bureaucracy proved enough for Bordeaux and he quit, not really knowing what he would do.

When a former colleague approached him about opening a bicycle shop, Bordeaux agreed to “help.” They operated as partners for three years, when Bordeaux bought out the partner. Plans for the Delmar building include four storefronts: two small bays on the east side of the building, Freewheelin’ in a large center bay, and a small bay on the west side.

The front of the building will be designed as an arcade; the existing facade will be restored, but the actual storefronts will open off a nine foot wide hallway which extends across the front of the building. Bordeaux is also adding on a single story extension to the rear of the building to use as warehouse space.

And while parking on 5800 Delmar may not be a problem now, Bordeaux already has plans for fourteen off-street spaces in back of the building.

The key to this location for Bordeaux is its proximity to Forest Park.

He wants tenants who serve the local area but who he hopes will draw people the five blocks from the park as well. Tenants for the building include a specialty food—ice cream shop, “personals” a specialty gift shop, and, for the westernmost bay, a chiropracter.

The majority of the second floor will be a multi-purpose room/fitness center with a large open space for exercise, judo, etc., classes, as well as locker rooms, saunas, and training rooms.

This space will be available for the public to lease for private parties, large meetings, etc.

A portion of the second floor will be converted to office space which Bordeaux also hopes to lease. Bordeaux doesn’t feel this is an unusual mix of tenants; in fact, he feels the combination offers a “holistic” opportunity for physical fitness.

In addition to his interest in fitness through bicycling, Bordeaux admits his first love is track, and he continues to coach track teams.

His son will attend college on a wrestling scholarship, so he has more than a passing interest in that sport, too. Bordeaux believes the tenants in this building bring important elements of physical fitness together— his bicycle shop, the multi-purpose room upstairs, and the chiropracter are complimentary and a good balance. What about the ice cream shop, you ask? You will have earned it. Freewheelin’ sells new and used bicycles, services all makes and models of bicycles and related equipment (e.g. exercise bikes), and is the only location in St. Louis which rents bicycles.

The rentals are a small portion of the business but Bordeaux says it brings in customers he wouldn’t get any other way: Sammy Davis, Jr., Yul Brenner, Tommy Smothers, and Led Zeppelin are among some of the celebrities who have rented bicycles during a visit to St. Louis, usually in town for a performance at the Muny.

The rental fleet includes new, old, tandems, 10 speed, and mountain bikes. Freewheelin’ will also organize “rides” for groups of any size.

They deliver the bicycles, map a route for whatever distance the group wants, provide a leader to ride with the group, and a sag wagon to pick up anyone who can’t finish the ride. Bordeaux hopes to move Freewheelin’ into the new location by the end of July.

The next tenants will probably be in the eastern bays later in the summer.

Rainbow Finishes, new business, 5839 Delmar. Skinker DeBaliviere resident Jan Pitts and her semi-retired father-in-law Charlie Pitts, decided about a year and a half ago they should open a small business. Jan was working part time as a real estate agent, and Charlie was retiring from his work in maintenance.

While Charlie looks forward to full-time retirement in the next couple of years, he was interested in getting involved with a business venture until then. John Pitts suggested his wife and father open a paint store.

They wanted to locate their business in the Central West End and John knew from his business as a general contractor that there was a need for a paint and sundries store in the area.

They would also be guaranteed the business of at least one contractor—John.

After weeks of research and homework on the paint business, the Pitts began looking for a place to open the store.

They acquired the building at 5839 Delmar in March, 1987.

At one time the building had been used either as a paint manufacturing or distribution outlet, but most recently it had been used as a storage space for the auto transmission repair business located next door. “The floor was an oil slick” says Jan. Undaunted by years of grease and oil buildup the Pitts purchased the property and began renovating.

They opened Rainbow Finishes on November 9, 1987. Jan & John are old hands at rehabbing; in • addition to John’s contracting business they rehabbed their home in the 6100 of McPherson while living there eight years ago. Jan is happy with the results, but would never live in a building and rehab at the same time again. Jan and Charlie are happy with their first six months of business; their growth is steady.

There have been some surprises, though. Jan estimates about 50 percent of the store’s business is local and walk in.

She didn’t realize when they bought the building that their Delmar location would be so convenient to a large number of property owners who do not drive. “You assume that if someone owns an apartment building, they also drive. That’s not always the case,” says Jan.

They are gradually picking up larger accounts, as well.

Another surprise for Jan is the amount of business generated by lacquer products.

She feels the cabinet makers and other sub-contractors are coming to Rainbow Finishes because they receive personal service. “We’re family owned and operated, we’re friendly and we try to be as helpful as possible,” Jan says. Apparently that has given them a competitive edge at least with lacquer products and she believes with their other lines as well. Jan and Charlie are delighted with the other business developments to the east of them. Jan believes this is a great area of Delmar for business to locate; there is a lot of vehicular traffic which gives the business good visibility, and a lot more pedestrian traffic than she had anticipated. “And,” she adds, “the more businesses there are along here, the better for all of us.” Rainbow Finishes carries a full line of Benjamin Moore and Pratt and Lambert paints, as well as hand tools and sundries—anything a painter might need.

If they don’t have it, they will get it.

They also handle custom mini blinds and wallpaper.

Even though they do not stock wallpaper in the store, they can get a customer’s selection in seven days. Rainbow Finishes is open 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, and 8 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturdays.

Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, June 1988.

Read this article in the original newspaper issue.

Archival transcription note: Source gives 5917 Delmar for both Woody’s and J.P. Window; printed addresses retained, not reconciled by inference. Celebrity rentals and business exclusivity are attributed proprietor claims.

Original source: SD_Times1988_06.pdf, printed page(s) 1, 7; PDF page(s) 1, 7.