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Dutchtown Summer Vibes

Save the date! Join us in Downtown Dutchtown on Saturday, June 5th for Dutchtown Summer Vibes, a neighborhood festival and community event! Dutchtown Summer Vibes is presented by Crawford-Butz Insurance.

Dutchtown Summer Vibes will feature live music, food and drink, a job fair, community organizations, and of course shopping! Shop with our Downtown Dutchtown shops and boutiques as well as pop-up vendors from around the city. Grab a bite from the Urban Eats Neighborhood Food Hall or from other local food trucks and vendors. We’ll have bands and DJs at the Neighborhood Innovation Center, and drinks from Earthbound Beer.

We’ll also have employers and employment organizations seeking to hire folks in Dutchtown, as well as community organizations offering programs for the summer and beyond.

After a big day in Downtown Dutchtown, close out the evening with our first Movie Night of 2021! Come to Marquette Park at sunset for a free showing of Jurassic Park on our 22 foot big screen!

Thank You to Our Sponsors!

Dutchtown Summer Vibes is presented by Crawford-Butz Insurance and sponsored by Earthbound Beer, Employment Connection, and Cure Violence.

Marquette Park Movie Nights are sponsored by the Dutchtown Community Improvement District, Employment Connection and Cure Violence, Lutheran Development Group, Original Crusoe’s, St. Joseph Housing Initiative, St. Mary’s High School, Thomas Dunn Learning Center, and Tower Grove Neighborhoods Community Development Corporation.

Entertainment

Join us at the Main Stage at the Neighborhood Innovation Center on the corner of Meramec and Compton for DJs, bands, and more all day! While you’re there, grab a beverage from our Earthbound Beer drink stand and a snack from our pop-up food vendors.

Performance Schedule

Participating Shops, Vendors, and Organizations

We’re still signing folks up, but here’s a list of our confirmed participants. Come out and support them!

Shops

Downtown Dutchtown is home to a variety of unique boutiques, vintage and modern resale shops, restaurants, and other retailers and services. We have lots of one-of-a-kind offerings at values that can’t be beat. Make sure to step in while you’re in the neighborhood.

Pop-Up Vendors

Food and Drink Pop-Ups

Employers

Community Organizations

Kids Activities

Receiving a loan from a bank.

Building a Better Business

Legal Services of Eastern Missouri hosts a series of online seminars in May to help businesses build strengthen their business plans, apply for loans, and build relationships with banks. These one-hour sessions, presented via Zoom, are free to business owners and take place every Wednesday during the month. The classes are presented in partnership with the Urban League’s Women’s Business Center and the Small Business Administration.

Business Planning

May 5th, 5:30pm–6:30pm

Planning to launch a new business? Learn why you should create a business plan before you start. This session will cover key components of a business plan, including understanding its primary purposes of creating an effective strategy for growth, determining your future financial needs, and attracting investors and lenders. Reserve your spot on Eventbrite.

Loan Readiness

May 12th, 5:30pm–6:30pm

Seeking a loan for your business? Learn what documents you need before you apply. This session will help you understand what basic documents are needed up front in order to be prepared for the loan application process. Reserve your spot on Eventbrite.

The Life of a Loan

May 19th, 5:30pm–6:30pm

You’re ready to apply for a loan, now what? Learn about the loan process and other funding options for your small business. This session will cover the loan process from beginning to end. It will also cover alternatives when you may be declined by a traditional bank or financial institution. Reserve your spot on Eventbrite.

Banks and Bankers

May 26th, 5:30pm–6:30pm

Do you have a bank partner? Learn about banking services and products and which banking partner might be right for you. This session will cover what to look for in a banker and tips for determining which bank partner may be right for you. You’ll also learn about bank products and services and how they can help your business. Reserve your spot on Eventbrite.

DT2 • Downtown Dutchtown and other neighborhood partners work to bring resources to Dutchtown business owners, new and established, to help our businesses and neighborhood thrive. Visit dutchtownstl.org/business or join our Dutchtown Business Owners Facebook group to find out more.

Valentine's Day in Dutchtown!

Valentine’s Day in Dutchtown

This Valentine’s Day, shop Dutchtown and get some unique finds for your sweetheart! Plus, you’ll have chances to win great prizes from our neighborhood merchants! Read on to learn how you can win, and find out more about special events happening on the day before Valentine’s.

How To Win

Join Us on Facebook

Click here to join the Dutchtown Business District Facebook group.

We’re making it easy to win—just join the Dutchtown Business District group on Facebook! In this new group, you’ll be able to keep up on the latest from our neighborhood business owners—new shops, new inventory, new sales, and more.

All you have to do is join the Facebook group by February 11th. On February 12th we’ll have a random drawing in which several lucky followers win gift certificates from a variety of Dutchtown businesses. Winners must pick up their gift certificates in person. Go on a Dutchtown shopping spree!

Participating Merchants

More Valentine’s Fun in Dutchtown

Cross Grand Selfie Photo Contest

Cross Grand, Downtown Dutchtown’s creative service agency, has a fun contest with great prizes. Take a selfie with your sweetie and write a three sentence love letter. Submit your letter and your photo by February 12th. You’ll be entered to win a basket loaded with a $20 gift certificate, stuffed animal, chocolate basket, and liquor bouquet. Plus you’ll get a 30 minute couples photo shoot with five edited images!

Forget Me Not’s Valentine’s Day Party

Forget Me Not Boutique at 4213 Virginia Avenue celebrates Valentine’s Day on February 13th with treats and specials. Sip while you shop and enjoy some chocolates to keep your spirits lifted. Shoppers can take advantage of free gift wrapping and get $10 off when they spend $50. And one lucky shopper will win a gift basket featuring merchandise from Forget Me Not.. Come shop from 10am to 5pm.

Valentine’s Treats at Perfectly Pastry

Perfectly Pastry, located in the Urban Eats Neighborhood Food Hall, offers special treats throughout the week leading up to Valentine’s Day. Find cupcakes, mini fruit pies, chocolate covered strawberries, and more. Perfectly Pastry is open from 7:30am to 2pm Wednesday through Friday and 8am to 2pm on Saturday and Sunday.

Four-family apartment buildings on Virginia Avenue in the Dutchtown Community Improvement District.

Dutchtown CID 2020 Annual Report

The Dutchtown Community Improvement District has released its 2020 annual report. The report covers the twelve month period ending June 30th, 2020.

In the 2020 fiscal year, the Dutchtown CID built additional momentum towards implementing goals laid out when the CID was established in 2017. COVID-19 certainly impacted our ability to closely interact with the community, but the CID and other Dutchtown organizations worked together to develop solutions and continue to serve our residents and businesses.

Safety and Security

In the reporting period, the Dutchtown CID ended their contract with Campbell Security, which provided limited secondary patrols in the area. Currently the CID is exploring alternate options which will maximize return on investment including camera systems and other strategies.

Beautification and Maintenance

The CID continued to contract with Metro Sweeping to provide disposal services at the 30-plus receptacles previously installed in the district. Additionally, the CID’s contract with St. Patrick Center provides workers to assist with general cleanup needs.

Marketing and Development

The CID and other neighborhood organizations collaborated on the Dutchtown Proud project. The project included providing yard signs to neighbors in the district and throughout the neighborhood to help build a stronger sense of community. The CID also continues to work with DutchtownSTL.org for marketing and promotion needs.

The Dutchtown CID continues to broaden its efforts by working with other Dutchtown organizations. In 2020, the CID worked with DT2 • Downtown Dutchtown and Missouri Main Street’s UrbanMain initiative to establish new Dutchtown Committees that focus on projects within the vital CID footprint and beyond. We can always use more volunteers and community input. Consider joining a committee to help guide the future of the CID and the Dutchtown neighborhood!

Juanita's Creole Soul Café, at the Urban Eats Neighborhood Food Hall in Downtown Dutchtown, St. Louis, MO.

The Dutchtown Business Showcase: Juanita’s Creole Soul

Welcome back to the Dutchtown Business Showcase! In this video series, we’ll be introducing you to some of the businesses throughout Dutchtown. Our second episode takes us to Juanita’s Creole Soul Café, where we meet Chef Curtis McCann.

Chef Curtis started in the catering business. In the summer of 2020, he moved into the Urban Eats Neighborhood Food Hall to open Juanita’s and showcase his culinary skills that were influenced by his grandmother (the eponymous Juanita) and the creole food of New Orleans. The success of his Downtown Dutchtown location has led him to open a second location in North St. Louis, coming January 9th to 1823 North Taylor Avenue.

Juanita’s is open Wednesday through Sunday, 11:30am to 7pm. Due to COVID-19, the Neighborhood Food Hall is currently takeout only (with sidewalk seating available on warmer days). You can also have Juanita’s delivered via Grubhub, DoorDash, and Postmates.

Supporting Dutchtown Businesses

Particularly during the current pandemic, Dutchtown businesses need your support. Restaurants especially struggle during the early, colder months of the year. But you can help keep our neighborhood strong and vibrant just by ordering dinner! Please consider ordering takeout or delivery from Juanita’s Creole Soul or any of our other wonderful Dutchtown restaurants for your next meal. Some restaurants are offering limited dine-in service as well.

DT2 and DutchtownSTL.org are developing resources to help support our neighborhood businesses. If you’re a new or established business owner, visit dutchtownstl.org/business to see what we have to offer. And if you’d like to have your business featured in the Dutchtown Business Showcase, get in touch with us.

This Dutchtown Business Showcase video was filmed and produced by Chip Smith of Cross Grand, also located in Downtown Dutchtown. Subscribe to the DutchtownSTL YouTube channel to catch the next Dutchtown Business Showcase coming soon!