Michael McKinley, who will roast Grey Fox Pub tomorrow as Erica Foxx, works for the St. Louis Public Library and scours public records to learn about city properties. The following is his report on the Grey Fox site from 1893 to 2020.
3501-3503 South Spring Avenue
Records show that the Budweiser sign was installed in 1964,
SPRING AVENUE (N-S). Took its name from a spring near Fairground Park and Natural Bridge Road in north St. Louis, which was the source of Rocky Branch Creek. Until 1893, a section of this street in the Shaw area was known as Cabanne Street. Another section, that between Shaw Boulevard and McRee Avenue, was named by Henry Shaw as Morisse Street to honor his brother-in-law. It was renamed Spring Avenue in 1881. Until 1881, it was Morrow Avenue from Gravois to Arsenal and Gregor Street from Chippewa to Tholozan. It was also Olivia Street from Meramec to Itaska until 1925.
The lot that the Grey Fox sits on was part of an enormous tract of land once known as Bamberger’s Grove. In September of 1884 Martin Wohlwend purchased lots 1, 2, 3 & 4 that faced South Spring with a depth to the alley, and lots 63, 64, 65 & 66 that faced Bamberger, also with a depth to the alley. Villadiva sits on the portion of lot 66 (last home visible in the photo). But that’s a different story.
In 1896 Martin Wohlwend was issued a building permit to erect 2 2 story flats on Spring. These are located at 3505-07 and 3509-11.
1947 hand-drawn plat map.
1900 US Census June 9; 3501 S. Spring Ave. Martin Wohlwend (head) (Dairyman), Wilhelmina (wife), Robert L. (son)(Salesman), Ernst (son)(Milkman), Francis Laughlin (boarder) and Horace Beshar (boarder) (Circus Clown) Rosalind Kriegensmacker (head) and Emma Schaffer (daughter). This family probably rented a portion of the house.
The front door of the home behind, at 3748 Potomac, actually faced S. Spring at this time and was the Wohlwend home. (By the 1910 census the address of 3748 Potomac was established).
Wohlend operated a small dairy at 2346 Columbus (Columbus Street was changed to Second Street after 1883, and this spot is now somewhere near Second and Sidney). However, Martin built his cow shed on the very spot where the cabaret is today. That was torn down in 1909 and building permit #1962 was issued in October 1909 to contractor Henry Luehrmann for two two-story store fronts with dwellings above at 3501-3503 S. South Spring.
1910 US Census April 19; 3501 S. Spring Av. Herman H. Brockstauck (head) (Proprietor – Grocer), Mary M. (wife), Henrietta C, Bertha M, Kathryne M, (daughters), Henry (brother) (clerk-grocer). 3503 S. Spring Av. August Zettovich (head) (butcher-own shop), Helen W (wife) Possibly that August was the butcher for the grocery store at 3501.
1914 Rueffels Grocery opened at 3501 South Spring. With advertisements appearing in April 1914 until Feb 1917.
1916 3503 is listed as a Polling Place for Precinct 13 in Ward 13 for elections through 1920.
Sept. 26, 1919 issue of the Modern View.
1918 Feb 1; Advertisement appears in The Modern View for Julius Lowenheim and his Potomac Grocery and Meat Market. Until 1921 with equipment for sale in 1922.
1920 US Census Jan 12; 3501 S. Spring Av. Julius Lowenheim (head) (manager-grocer/meat mkt), Theresa (wife).
3503 S. Spring Av. John H. Kelly (head) (Letter carrier-US Post Office), Minnie (wife), Joseph, Lester, Leroy, Thomas, Daniel, (sons), Marie & Gertrude (daughters).
1924 Aug 17; August Bliefernich buys 3501-03-05 S. Spring from Wilhemina Wohlwend (the address is listed incorrectly).
Blieferniuch continues operating 3501 as a grocery store.
1926 A. Bliefernich tears down the frame building in the back of
3501 S. Spring.
1928 Apr. Curtain maker, dressmaker. Classified ad 3503 S Spring.
1930 US Census Apr 9; 3501A S. Spring Av. August Bliefernich
(head) (proprietor-grocery store) Minna (wife) Elizabeth (daughter)
3503A S. Spring Av. Pete Saputo (head) (proprietor-barbershop), Sarah (wife), Dorothy (daughter), Joe, Mark & Anthony (sons).
Apr 11 Classified ad, Reliable Lace Curtain Cleaning Co.
1940 US Census Apr 5; 3501A South Spring. August Bliefernich (head), Minna (wife), Elizabeth Malnros (daughter) (secretary-army post), Charles (grandson).
3503A South Spring. William Bliefernich (head) (salesman-grocery), Hallie (wife), William (son), Emil Crecelius (father-in-law).
1942 August 12; August Bliefernich is issued Building Permit for 3501 S. Spring. Cost $1000. This permit may have changed the entrance to the corner and added the door facing Potomac.
The Bliefernich family owned 3501-03 at least until 1964.
1946 Jun 6; Ray Caldwell operates a grocery at 3501 S Spring and is quoted in a Star-Times article about price gouging at the wholesale Produce Market.
1949 M&J Market, located at 3501, has advertisements appear until 1967.
1950 Jun 13; M&J Market Bldg permit erect sign at 3501.
1961 Jun 21; David L. Edmiston is issued Tavern operator permit at 3503.
1962 Jul 22; 3503 S. Spring, Tavern for sale with 4 rooms upstairs, continuously listed through June 1963.
Dec 24; Bldg permit issued to August Bliefernich to repair the 2 story frame porches in the rear of 3501-03.
1964 Sep 9; Sylvia Housman issued Tavern operator permit at 3503.
Sep 25; Bldg permit issued to Anheuser-Busch to erect the sign that is still there today.
1964 November 28; Occupancy permit issued to Mrs. Mina Bliefernich for 3501-03 as 2 store fronts and dwellings
above.
1968 Mar 7; Barmaid wanted 3503 S. Spring.
Mar 26; J.B. Tolliver issued Tavern operator permit at 3503.
1971 May 13; Charles Roger Tolliver issued Tavern operator permit at 3503.
1984 Oct 11; Newspaper reports “Big Daddy’s Tavern” at 3501 S. Spring is robbed.
Dec 1; Newspaper article reports more about the robber, Michael J. Weber.
1986 Aug 26; 3501-03 Bar for sale. Banquet Room & 2 5 room apts rent @ $250 mo. $130,000.
Nov 15; Price lowered to $124,900.
August 23, 1988
1988 Aug 21; A fire is discovered in the rear of Big Daddy’s at 6 a.m. Investigators classify it as Arson. Larry VanTassel lived upstairs and “fled to safety”. P-D 8-23-88 pg 12.
1990: The Grey Fox makes its first appearance in the city directory.
1994 Aug 11; Gray Fox Bar: 3501 S. Spring St. (772-2150);
Gypsy Eden, Aug 12. (Live band?) Post-Dispatch p 12E Night Clubs.
2001 Aug 6; Established pub for sale. Listed continuously through
May 27, 2002.
2009 May; Grey Fox Bar. 3503 S. Spring. Drag Show advertising begins. Runs continuously until Sep 2009.
2012 Jan 27; Grey Fox, “La Cage aux Foxes” advertising begins and runs continuously until 2014.
2014 Jun and July; 3503 S. Spring. Grey Fox Pub. Listing for Unclaimed Property with the State Comptroller.
St. Louis Post Dispatch, May 1, 2009
2016 Jun 24; Drag Shows at Pride with performers from Grey Fox.
2020 Sep 6; Post-Dispatch front page article about backlog of cases in the city prosecutor offices. Gray Fox Bar, 3503 S. Spring, is mentioned as being robbed by 20 yr old trans woman.
