#227: Head's General Store/St. Albans

I have never heard of St. Albans until this year. After visiting the community I figured this looked like a rich person's getaway place. When going into the village, there are unique-looking homes and buildings and a golf course, so it gave me that impression. Maybe so. However, St. Albans is not an incorporated community.

The Lewis and Clark expedition made a stop close to present day St. Albans in 1804. It is said that General Lewis nearly slipped and fell down a cliff, but was quick to react and saved himself. St. Albans was first settled in 1834 (back when it was first called 'Tavern Creek' because it was near Tavern Rock Cave). Germans decided to make a home here due to its closeness to the Missouri River. It was finally named St. Albans in 1837. The general store was built in 1893 for the people of the village to get their goods. It still stands today, and it was nearly destroyed by flood waters, notably the Great Flood of '93. The river was at one time across from the store, but it was moved and redug by workers. A lake sits there now.

Head's General Store was originally known as 'the St. Albans General Store', but was renamed after a longtime owner, Mae Pfeiffer Head, whose family bought it in 1915. She passed away in 2004. There are many other historical places in St. Albans, such as the Post Office next door to the store, and the Studio Inn, which was built by Theodore Link (who designed Union Station).

Head's General Store

A nice, closer look at the entrance with the cake in front

Shameless Budweiser plug

This cake seems to focus a lot about coffee. So it looks like this one is already a favorite for coffee-lovers! Unfortunately I don't drink coffee since its bad on my stomach.

Top of the cake. Cute, huh?

Left side of the cake

Back side of the cake

Right side of the cake

Unfortunately there is no official website that exists for this location; however, you can access its National Register of Historic Places registration form here.

3516 St. Alban's Road, ST. ALBANS, MO, 63073
Cake artist: Don Christeson

#166: Left Bank Books

So why this bookstore, of all of them? Or why this place in Central West End, of all of them? Needless to say, this is a place where I have to question where the historical part connects to St. Louis in any way. Not to be putting this place down in any way, but I do believe (on a negative note) there are other places that probably deserved a cake better than this place.

Don't get the wrong idea: I support independently-owned businesses and I really dig bookstores. Put the two together and you'll get something that is on life support. Let's look from one perspective: mom-and-pop bookstores have been doomed for the last two decades, at least, thanks to both big-box stores (Barnes & Noble, Borders) and the World Wide Web (Amazon). Borders, at one time the king of them, went bankrupt two years ago. Now, its the big-box stores that are suffering. Technology plays a big part of it, too, thanks to e-books. Also, more people are turning back to their local public and school libraries.

Left Bank Books has two locations: the one on Central West End (where the cake is at) and in the downtown area. They specialize in several books, some hard-to-find, as well as a large selection of publications. Authors, national and local, often make appearances and lecture, then sign autographs or pose for photos. LBB also partners with several area nonprofits to encourage children to read.

399 N. Euclid Ave., ST. LOUIS, MO, 63108
Cake artist: Peat Wollaeger

UPDATE (8/24/2016): The cake is still there.

#129: STL-Style

• St. Louis-styled clothing. Pretty much, you name it, St. Louis is on it!
• Business was founded in 2001 by twin brothers Jeff and Randy Vines.
• One of their ad slogans, 'You can't spell STYLE without STL!'
• According to their website, they custom-make everything.
• Began as a basement store before moving to Cherokee St. in 2010.

View from the other end of the Compton and Cherokee intersection

The cake sides, which focus on (of course) St. Louis and the Southern part of the city:

Right side of the cake

Top of the cake

Back side of the cake

Left side of the cake

There is an episode of KETC Channel 9's Living St. Louis that focuses on the Vines brothers on YouTube (for some reason I can't get it to load on here...): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ir37RFjFwGc

STL-Style on FB
Official website

3159 Cherokee St., ST. LOUIS, MO, 63118
Cake artists: STL-Style team

#126: Jay International/South Grand

No surprisingly, this was the cake to represent the diverse South Grand business district. In 1975, Jay International became the first grocery store in St. Louis to feature several different foods from around the world. Many foods that are unheard of in the United States are found here. Flags from different countries are hung in the aisles. Even kitchen utensils from countries such as China and Japan can be bought here. It is a food obsessor's dream. And yes, I am one of those people. By that I mean I am not afraid to try any new foods, at the same time learning about other cultures.

The International Institute, founded in 1919, makes its home in the South Grand area as well. According to the International Institute, St. Louis is home to more than 100 ethnic populations from around the globe.

Top of the cake

Front of the store

Entrance with the cake in front (nice shaded area, huh?)

A view across the street from Jay International

3172 S. Grand Blvd., ST. LOUIS, MO, 63116
Cake artist: Vince Sciaroni (Vince also decorated the Basilica of Saint Louis)

#121: Gateway Harley-Davidson

I'm not a motorcycle person, but at the same time I have nothing against bikers or riding those freedom machines. I do have friends that have great enthusiasm for the pricey hobby! I'm not sure how many Harley-Davidson dealerships are in the St. Louis area (I can only think of Gateway, Doc's and Frieze (sp?), so why of all of them, does this one get a cake? Must be something special. Maybe its the location. Or its the one that has all the sales. Hell, I don't know. All I know is this cake was located on the busy Lemay Ferry Road in South County and it was on a Saturday I caught this one after my short Jefferson Barracks adventure.

Note: According to fellow cake hunter Linda Gurley, this cake was originally to be put at Fast Eddie's Bon Air in Alton. You can definitely tell with the Piasa Bird painted on the cake (pictured below). For various reasons, I'm actually glad the Fast Eddies thing didn't happen.

And yes, KSHE 95 is a proud advertiser of the business!

• Family owned and operated since 2002. 
• Holds several events (including live bands) for families and motorcycle enthusiasts
• Describes their inventory as 'large', and has new and used available. 
• Offers riding lessons as well and has renting services. 

Gateway Harley-Davidson on FB
Official website

3600 Lemay Ferry Rd., ST. LOUIS, MO, 63125
Cake artist: Theresa Hopkins

#84: Eckert's

One of the most popular family attractions is one of the city of Belleville's most iconic places. Eckert's dates back to more than a century ago. Today it is run by 6th and 7th generation Eckert family members. As one would assume, Eckert's started out as a simple roadside fruit stand. Since its inception in 1910 it has evolved into a very successful retail, restaurant and of course, produce stand.

• Eckert's is the largest family-run pick-your-own orchard in the United States.
• It has branched out 3 more locations (Millstadt, St. Louis and Grafton)
• Live local bands play here on weekends during the summer.
• Recipes are featured on their website (the ingredients you will likely find at their place!)
• The orchard is operated on what was called 'Turkey Hill', where fruit trees were first planted in 1890. 
• Open all-year round, even during the winter-time. Many festivals take place, such as the Strawberry Festival.

The Eckerts' sign, taken on Thanksgiving Day 2014

Frontal view of their store, with the cake in front

The parking lot and behind it, the orchards

The cake, which mostly focuses on pumpkins:

NOW: The cake is still sitting there as of 7/16/2015.

Eckert's on FB
Official website

951 South Greenmount, BELLEVILLE, IL, 62220
Cake artist: Mary Hessler  (also did the Ted Drewes cake)

#41: Vintage Vinyl

One of my favorite hangouts of all-time just happens to be at the Delmar Loop. I'm usually guilty of not buying anything, but glancing through the hundreds of popular and obscure record albums in the store. For those that don't know me well, I am a lifelong music enthusiast, and I have been collecting records all of my life. I don't even know how many I have! But I'm always up for anything that looks or sounds good.

There actually used to be a second location in Granite City for a long time, but it closed down in, I believe, 2007. Possibly because of the deterioration of the steel community, I don't know. I actually did like going to that one as well. There is one thing I do miss: when The Point (before Emmis bought them) used to play their commercials with Papa Ray voicing them. VV would sponsor their drive-time game, Trivia From Hell. And Papa Ray would just have the weirdest voice and advertising pitches, such as 'Ordering your music over the phone is like telephone sex...'. Don't judge, this was 1995! The record/music industry has changed so much since then. Actually come to think of it, that was almost 19 years ago! Dang I feel old.

Anyway, with the music industry on life support, it is awesome that Vintage Vinyl is still standing. It may as well be known as the only neighborhood record store in St. Louis. The only other one I can think of is Euclid Records, which is a little more South. There was also Webster Records (in Webster Groves), but that one closed within the last two years. The millenials are now buying their music digitally, or streaming them. It's too bad they missed their chance on what it was like buying the physical copy of their favorite musician/artist. However, the good news is, vinyl has been making a sneaky comeback, thanks to millenials. I've got a lot of different theories on this, but nevertheless I am so happy about that. I just think that generation is curious about the retroness, and maybe, about what their parents listened to back in the day. Heck I don't know.

Vintage Vinyl does play an important part in U. City, as it has helped build and shape the Delmar Loop. Every year, since, I believe...probably 2008 or 09, they have hosted Record Store Day, which has brought several record buyers and collectors together for that special day, usually in April.

Also, several bands (nationally and locally known) have done 'in-store' appearances and performances in the store. The Flaming Lips is one of them.

The other sides of the cake are pictured below. It is a nice, fitting tribute to 250 years of producing the best music to come in and out of St. Louis. The white keys on the bottom represent the artists, musicians, venues and organizations that have given the city its unique sound. The piano keys on the cake read: Chuck Berry, Johnny Johnson, Grace Bumbry, Twilight Tuesdays (History Museum), Fontella Bass, Scott Joplin, Bach Society, Tommy Bankhead, St. Louis Chamber Chorus, Pee Wee Russell, Kiel/Peabody Opera House, Bessie Smith, 5th Dimension, D.H. Peligro, College/University Choirs and Orchestra, Shottinger Music, Michael McDonald, The Isley Brothers, Willie Mae Ford Smith, handbell choirs, Robert McFerrin, Sr., St. Louis Cathedral concerts, Willie Akins, KFUO-FM/Radio Arts Foundation, Gaslight Square, church choirs, Jazz at the Bistro, St. Louis Symphony Chorus, Stan Kann, The Pageant, In Unison chorus, St. Louis Blues and Jazz Hall of Fame, Whitaker Series (Missouri Botanical Garden), Powell Hall, Javier Mendoza, Union Avenue Opera, Blues on the Landing, St. Louis Children's Choirs, Josephine Baker, Sheldon Concert Hall, Bob Kuban, community choruses, Nell Carter, Ambassadors of Harmony, Muddy Waters, Touhill Performing Arts Center, Tina Turner, Donny Hathaway, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Muddy Blues Festival, Fabulous Fox, American Chamber Chorale, Nelly, Opera Theater St. Louis, J. Scheidegger Center for the Arts, St. Louis ragtimers, MUNY, Bach at the Sem, Miles Davis, Kilgen Wicks Pipe Organ companies and Christine Brewer.

Please note: there are at least three more independent record stores that go by the name 'Vintage Vinyl', such as in Saskatchewan, New Jersey, and Evanston, IL.

Here's an episode of KETC Channel 9's Living St. Louis focusing on Vintage Vinyl (sorry, could not get the link to work):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8UoFpln0G8

As of 4/30/2015, the cake is still on display outside Vintage Vinyl.

Vintage Vinyl on Twitter
Official website

6610 Delmar, ST. LOUIS, MO, 63130
Cake artist: Mark Tillman