Coworker Jake has been owing me lunch for shooting his engagement pix… Yesterday our schedules finally synced so we could run off to this place he’s been telling me about since we started working together… “Crown Candy”

Of the countless times he’s told me of the joint – he always has sported the same dumbfounded “I can’t believe you’re a native and have never been” look on his face.

What’s not to believe? St. Louis has got to be one of the most polarized in the union…. (North and South)… For a south-county white boy: if you travel North of downtown proper you may as well be in another city. And actually… yesterday was the first time in 34 years I’ve ever stepped foot in the area which has to be only about 15 to 20 blocks north of downtown.

Just now there’s a lot of restoration and development going on by companies similar to my employer… But it’s still pretty banged up… Like… Post apocalyptic banged up…

With all the redevelopment going on – it didn’t quite “feel” like the dangerous DMZ it once was just a few years ago… Regardless…. Tucked right into the corner of a red brick sits this little family owned soda and candy shop… Where it’s been sitting and operating for over 90 years. From from what I could tell, it hasn’t changed much aside from a partial retrofit in the 50’s…. I suspect the wooden booths are all original.

Everything has a curious yellowed patina to it… but it didn’t feel dirty – as much as just really broken-in and loved.

I had a chili-dog…. a chocolate banana malt…. and a little freak-out that I hadn’t ever been to this trip of a little hole in the wall before.

Took a short stroll to walk off lunch and take pictures of burnt out buildings and abandoned outdoor malls…

Seriously cool mid-day adventure.

I must take the guys to this place.

I must find a new gimmick.