Indoor entertainment venue at The Armory to open in December

ST. LOUIS, Mo. (KMOV) - The largest indoor entertainment venue in St. Louis will open to the public December 9 at the historic Armory building in Midtown.

The first phase of the 250,000-square-foot entertainment destination will feature six acres of space to play, eat and drink. It boasts a 60-foot stage for national and regional touring acts. The space features multiple bars, a two-story slide and interactive games.

“Our goal with the Armory is to create the Midwest’s most industry-altering entertainment space, a place unlike anything we have in St. Louis,” said Ali Lamb, Director of Marketing at the Armory. “The Armory was designed to be the perfect day-to-day hang-out space, transform into the ultimate location for festivals and live music, host cause-based community events, and more, all in one day or week! The possibilities are excitingly endless, and each experience could be entirely unique.”

News 4 got an exclusive look inside the historic landmark that once held the 138th Infantry of the Missouri National Guard and was home to tennis greats like Arthur Ashe.

“The living room of St. Louis is how we internally like to call it,” said Lamb.

An additional five venues throughout the Armory will open throughout 2023, and the Armory is looking to fill hundreds of new jobs including front and back of the house.

All this excitement over the Armory comes as other attractions are set to open up in the Midtown region.

“A 10 screen movie theatre opening by the end of this year, a 36-hole putt shack that will also be opening by the end of this year,” said Brooks Goedeker, Executive Director, St. Louis Midtown Redevelopment Corporation.

Business leaders say development across Midtown is poised to turn this once industrial region into a destination hub.

“This means millions of dollars of tax base for the city of St. Louis along with thousands of new jobs that are coming in the area here,” he said.

Goedeker feels confident new projects like this transformation of the historic Armory will be successful based on what has been seen at the City Foundry.

“Over 90 percent of the visitors that are coming to the Foundry are outside of the zip code, outside of the area here,” he said.

“It helps expand the growth of St. Louis and we do see that in the numbers,” said Tina Pihl, who is the 17th ward Alderwoman representing parts of Midtown.

Pihl tells news 4 she’s excited for what is to come to the Midtown community, but also says the city needs to develop a comprehensive plan that will address future concerns with transportation, mobility and equity as the area continues to grow.

“Our plan at this point in time is in the 1940s and, so, we need to update that so we can look at the zoning, and the transportation issues and look at land use, and housing and economic development and all those pieces, and neighborhood development,” she said.

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