Schuchard Projects’s Pat and Carol Schuchard—the couple behind Das Bevo, Tim’s Chrome Bar, Boo Cat Club, and Majorette—is planning a new cocktail lounge in The Gate District.
The cocktail concept is part of a larger concept called Johnny Angel, an ambitious project involving the renovation of the former Immaculate Conception Church & Rectory (3120 Lafayette). The project is slated to unfold in phases, with the first phase scheduled to open in the fourth quarter of this year. Here’s what to expect.
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The Atmosphere
Work is currently underway on the church and parish house, with the latter expected to open this fall. The rectory spans two stories and the cocktail bar, which will take up the first floor and feature several rooms, each with its own vibe and aesthetic. “It’s about a 3,000-square-foot space, and it has a couple of fireplaces and lots of stained glass,” Pat says of the rectory’s first floor.
The project will have a lounge feel to it, because the interior has an existing living room, kitchen, butler’s pantry, and a dining room that Pat says is “pretty ornate” and features decorative wall paneling. “We’re going to play off of what’s already there,” Pat explains of the décor.
Leading the project’s design is Anne Schuchard, Pat and Carol’s daughter, an interior designer from Los Angeles who’s relocated to St. Louis. With capacity for around 90 on the first floor, each of the existing rooms will be decorated to represent a different era, from ’60s modernist inspiration to designs reminiscent of the early 1900s, when the two structures were built.
“It will be more residential in feel,” Carol says of the aesthetic. “It will be cozy, a little quirky, and interesting.”
While every room will carry its own theme, the design will have continuity throughout the space, and each area will feature soft seating to allow for cozy, relaxed interactions. The Schuchards promise that the rectory cocktail lounge will be as much an aesthetic design experience as it is a culinary experience.
The Menu
Although the exact menu is still being worked out, guests can expect an eclectic cocktail program, along with a selection of beer and wine. In terms of food, the offerings will be light and selections are likely to include high-quality charcuterie, salads, and other small plates.
The Future
Once renovations are complete on the church next door—which is slated to open in 2026—the Schuchards plan to move to Phase 2 of the rectory’s renovations. That phase will include converting the second-floor space to offer lodging, similar to an Airbnb or boutique hotel. The finished project is slated to feature 10–12 guest rooms. Small upgrades to the grounds outside the rectory are also planned by next year, with outdoor seating and a garden addition that will enhance the outdoor experience.
The entire property is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and the inside of the former congregation will keep the beautiful stained glass windows and vaulted ceilings.
When complete, the space will serve as an event venue available for both private events, such as wedding ceremonies, as well as public events featuring live music. It will also feature a bar and restaurant.
While Schuchard Projects has worked on a number of beautiful, historic spaces across the city, Pat acknowledges that the church—and the entire Johnny Angel project—may be the company’s grandest endeavor to date.
Says Pat, “It’s a project that’s in the lineage of our other work here in St. Louis.”
