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School of rock: Business turns old schoolhouse into music venueBy Shawn Clubb (Editor's note: This is part of a series of articles on small family businesses in South St. Louis that won Neighborhood Businesses of the Year awards at the 2006 City of St. Louis Business Celebration Luncheon. Merchants from each ward were selected because they are long-time business anchors that have enhanced the quality of life in the neighborhoods where they are located.) Dan Jameson had something different than sock hops in mind when he converted the upstairs gymnasium of an old schoolhouse into a music hall. Jameson and his wife, Mia, bought the former St. Lucas Slovak Lutheran Church, an adjoining one-room schoolhouse and three other buildings at the corner of Gravois and Allen avenues more than two years ago with the idea that they could create a catalyst for the undeveloped edge of the Soulard neighborhood. They are in the process of redeveloping the buildings. Two of them already have opened as Lucas Meeting and Events Center. They first developed the ground floor of a brick building at 1264 Gravois Ave. They call this the Lucas Club Room. The upstairs of the building serves as the business's office. The business began renting the club room last year for private parties and board meetings. Next came the Lucas School House at 1220 Allen Ave., which opened June 2. They turned the upstairs gym into a music hall that seats 220 people. It can also be used as a banquet room for 96 people. The former downstairs schoolroom now can be rented for dinner parties. The business also rents out an outdoor courtyard. Jameson is working to renovate the former church to be a larger concert venue. He sold another building to a man who plans to create an Asian art showroom. Jameson has not announced plans for the last building. He and his wife live in the former parsonage behind the church. Jan Andersen, who handles marketing for Jameson, said the venue had about 500 people between the schoolhouse and the courtyard on New Year's Eve. "The schoolhouse is the anchor of what's going on in this half block," Andersen said. "We're doing it our own way," said Jameson, who has designed the venue to fit his own ideas. "Conventional wisdom isn't what we listen to all the time." For example, the schoolhouse prohibits smoking. Jameson said he wants the place to stand out from the crowd. He has incorporated leather furniture, comfortable seating and high-end audio-visual equipment. Jameson said the future of the Club Room across the street is to become a private club with membership benefits. He calls the concept an urban country club. "There was this under-utilized pocket in a great part of town," said Jameson of the total of his properties. "My intent is to be a catalyst. My intent is to bring this area of Soulard up to what it should be and revitalize it." Jameson envisions other developers coming in to create stores, homes and other specialty properties around the core he is creating. The schoolhouse already has attracted attention. Jameson said groups enjoy the upstairs music hall. It has booked singer-songwriters, jazz, blues, bluegrass and rock acts. "I'm not bashful about this: The room sounds great," he said. The business also treats visiting musicians like family, Jameson said. His wife cooks for them and makes them feel at home. Jameson said he wants the church to be ready in 2008, so it can hold groups who need a larger space than the schoolhouse can offer. Those wanting to find out about upcoming shows should call (314) 621-6565.
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