The future is uncertain for the Armory STL, an entertainment venue in St. Louis’ Midtown district. On Wednesday, the Armory STL announced a “temporary” closure due to financial difficulties. The announcement, made via a press release shared on the venue’s Facebook page, did not specify when the venue would reopen. The closure marks another setback for the Armory’s developer, Green Street St. Louis, which has faced mounting financial and legal issues recently.
Green Street St. Louis, which owns the historic 1938 Missouri National Guard armory building, launched the Armory STL in December 2022. The Armory ended up as a scaled-back project compared to its original vision. Green Street initially pitched an $83 million rehabilitation to transform the building into office and commercial space, securing an $8 million tax increment financing package and a 15-year tax abatement. However, by 2020, Green Street shifted to a different plan and turned the building into an entertainment venue.
Marketed as “The biggest bar in STL,” the 250,000-square-foot venue quickly became a hotspot for party games, live events, and community gatherings. However, financial challenges have hindered the completion of the complex’s second phase, which was intended to include additional entertainment spaces and a rooftop beer garden.
“The first phase that we opened was never meant to live on its own,” said Jimmy Smith, COO of the Armory STL. “Even if we could have added just the rooftop, the whole picture would be different.”
Jacob Miller, co-creator of the Armory STL concept, cited the lack of funding from the building’s owner as the primary reason for the temporary shutdown. “It’s pretty simple. The landlord was supposed to fund the buildout of the whole thing. When only a fraction was funded, we were left with an incomplete project and were drowning in debt. We are working to restructure the whole thing.”
Although the Armory STL has been closed, Miller and Smith have expressed their commitment to reopening the venue and are actively seeking outside investors to complete the project. “Currently, we are working on bringing in some outside capital and achieving the original vision. The concept worked, but without capital, it is just not sustainable,” Miller said. “When you see so many people in the region enjoying what we did, you must press on. I gave up a lot to create this project, and we believe in it.”
Whether the ArmorySTL will return as a popular community venue remains uncertain, but for now, its doors are closed, leaving a noticeable gap in St. Louis’ vibrant entertainment scene.
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For 20+ years, the MEET family of products have provided regional and national resources that have kept corporate, association, medical, education, independent, and religious meeting and event planners informed about relevant vendors, industry news, tech innovations, and resources that impact and influence how and where they plan their group business.
