Maplewood, MO

The Maplewood neighborhood of St. Louis holds a spot as one of the oldest suburbs in St. Louis. Established around the end of the 20th century, the neighborhood rose to prominence thanks to busy Manchester Road and for its position along the St. Louis streetcar line. The neighborhood was also known for its close proximity to the train line that traveled in and out of the city.

Many of the historic homes, built between 1900 and 1910, still remain in the area. Much of the development of Maplewood had to do with the surrounding transportation in and out of the community. Residents seeking more information on the role of transportation in the growth of Maplewood can visit the neighborhood’s St. Louis Museum of Transportation to learn more about the area’s history.

Locally owned niche establishments and eclectic dining destinations make up the Maplewood restaurant scene.

At Schlafly Bottleworks, diners select from an extensive menu of traditional American pub food while sipping on a list of locally brewed beers. Schlafly is a local brewery, and at the Bottleworks restaurant, diners enjoy exclusive dishes designed to complement the brewery's beers while sampling the city's largest selection of Schlafly products. Make sure to save room for desert as this restaurant serves its massive pecan pie served with Serendipity Homemade Ice Cream.

If you really love pie, check out Pie Oh My on Sutton Blvd. These delectable made-from-scratch goodies originate from recipes passed down through the generations. The bakers dish up year-round favorites, including banana cream and lemon lavender. Diners here partake in seasonal flavors, such as strawberry cream in the summer and pumpkin walnut crumble in the fall.

Those interested in the Maplewood nightlife scene visit Boogaloo. During the day, the establishment serves an extensive menu of Cuban dishes, but at night, it serves as one of the premier nightlife destinations in the community. Located right along Manchester Avenue, Boogaloo features nightly drink specials, live bands and even themed nights. The establishment's massive bar stands as the establishment's main attraction as it features swings instead of traditional bar stools.

Manchester Road takes residents in and out of the Maplewood community and connects this neighborhood to downtown and several surrounding communities. This road makes travelling by car convenient and quick. Plus, with Interstate 64/40 and Interstate 44 nearby, this community has become a “go to” for those seeking easy access to downtown St. Louis. Street parking is prevalent, and there are some free parking lots in the area around some of the major attractions.

Cabs are prevalent in the area and are typically quite easy to hail in the evenings thanks to all of the restaurants in Maplewood. However, Uber car service doesn’t have a presence in St. Louis. The MetroBus and MetroLink stations serve Maplewood, and the community has several bus stops, included three along Manchester Avenue. There is also a nearby MetroLink stop found at the Brentwood Station.

The tight-knit community of Maplewood is home to several community parks. Residents with canine companions can visit the local dog park, where friendly pets are welcome to roam around off-leash. The Maplewood Dog Park is attached to Kellog Park, a 1-acre public park with its own playground. At Central Park on Elm Avenue, residents can enjoy a kid-friendly destination that has a playground and picnic tables.

Down the street at Laclede Station Road, Deer Creek Park offers all types of sights and attractions. This includes soccer and baseball fields, public playgrounds, barbecue grills and plenty of open grass across more than 11 acres of space.

At Lindbergh park, many community wide meetings and events take place on the more than 4 acres of open space across. There is also a kid-friendly playground for little ones to enjoy.

Life in the Maplewood area generally carries an average to below average cost of living compared to both the rest of the city and the state. The cost of leasing a home or apartment in the neighborhood is typically around $604 per month, which is less than other areas in the city. A MetroLink ride to downtown St. Louis costs $2.50, while gas prices are typically about 7.9-percent higher than the national average. You can expect to pay around $3 for locally brewed beer in Maplewood, while craft beers run you around $6 a pint.

Locally owned businesses and destination shops create the Maplewood shopping scene, where there are destinations to fit every style and preference.

Cooking fanatics can browse the massive selection of spices at Penzeys Spices. Everything from standard lemon pepper and seasoning salt to exotic flavors are available for purchase.

At Femme, women can shop a selection of fashion-forward clothes, shoes and accessories from an award-winning local boutique. The selection constantly changes, so shoppers are encouraged to come back often to see what is new. Seeking items with a French flare? Visit Gisele's on Manchester Avenue. From baby items and bedding to soaps and home accessories, this store has all types of French-inspired products available.

Maplewood residents get their groceries at the Shop ‘N Save, located right in the heart of the city on Manchester Avenue. Here, residents can explore a collection of everyday food and cooking items, offered at affordable prices. For a different selection of local items, residents can stop by the Maplewood Farmers' Market, located in the Schlafly Bottleworks parking lot. In addition to finding fresh produce from local farmers, residents can shop for handmade treats, cheeses, breads, cookies and everything in between. The market is open Wednesdays from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.