Twenty years ago pediatrician and cabaret favorite Ken Haller started a special fund for a yet-to-be-determined retirement passion. Although he has no plans to retire at the moment, when producer and entrepreneur Jim Dolan invited him to invest in a Central West End cabaret venue this past March, Haller basically said, “Take my money!”
See also: Out in STL 2017 profile of Ken Haller
Located in the space formerly occupied by the restaurant Juniper, and drawing inspiration from New York staples like 54 Below and Don’t Tell Mama, Blue Strawberry Showroom & Lounge (364 N. Boyle), will offer a full bar and American fare in a space exclusively dedicated to cabaret.
“Most spaces are multi-purpose, or general purpose, but this will be a cabaret-specific home.” Dolan says. Rather than going out for drinks, and then dinner, and then a show, you can settle in for an entire evening in one intimate venue.
Kevin M. Sthair, formerly of Lucas Park Grill, is the executive chef.
Opening night is October 31, which also happens to be Haller’s 65th birthday. In “When I’m 65,” Haller shares the ups and downs of figuring out how Medicare and Social Security work, facing the realities of how the body functions (or sometimes doesn’t), and finding a brand new springtime in the seventh decade of life.
You can get tickets and see upcoming performances at bluestrawberrystl.com.
