A pop-up entertainment venue with a focus on play is headed to The Grove this fall.
The former Plumbers Supply building, at 4500 Swan Avenue, is getting a temporary makeover as Recess STL, slated to open November 1. It will occupy the space for three to six months before relocating to a permanent, yet-to-be-determined home in The Grove. (The space is only available on a limited-time basis; another tenant is slated to move into the space afterward.)
At Recess STL, fun is the name of the game. The 50,000-square-foot warehouse will be outfitted with a variety of digital and analog games, aimed mostly at the parent-aged crowd. Think bocce ball, shuffleboard, and corn hole, with large-screen TVs displaying Xbox and Nintendo 64 games. If you grew up in the '90s, it will feel like a blast from the past—with a full bar.
But it won’t look like your parents’ living room. Owner Saskia Honstain is working with Atomicdust on the branding. (Atomicdust's clients include Sardella, Cinder House, and The Midwestern Meat & Drink.) Mademan Design is also helping design and build out the space. (Notable interiors for Mademan include Yellowbelly and Vincent Van Doughnut). An onsite bar will provide refreshments, and food can be ordered from a rotating lineup of visiting food trucks.
The vibe isn’t 100 percent adult, though. Honstain, a New York native raising her family in St. Louis, wants to create a family-friendly space that makes sense for both grown-ups and kids. The pop-up version of Recess STL will serve as a testing ground for many ideas before it moves to its permanent location.
Check back for updates as this story develops.
