The Landmarks Association of St. Louis recently honored The Key Burger Bar & Boogie in its 2026 Most Enhanced Awards recognizing projects that exemplify excellence in preservation. Winners are selected based on the architectural and cultural importance of the building, the complexity of the restoration, the project’s inspirational value, and its impact on the surrounding community.
The Key’s two-building complex, consisting of a market building and a hardware store, were rescued from demolition by the Kranzberg Arts Foundation through an agreement with Saint Louis University and with support from the Landmarks Association of St. Louis and have been restored and returned to active use.
Built in 1887, the buildings are among the few remaining historical structures in the area, and adjacent to the former and historic Mill Creek neighborhood, providing a rare glimpse into St. Louis’ past and showcasing the enduring architectural beauty of a previous century.
The market building consists of a large central hall with ornate wood and steel trusses topped by a clerestory. The rehabilitation included extensive tuckpointing, removal of old exterior paint, repair and replacement of windows, and new custom hardwood clerestory sashes.
The adjacent hardware store is a two-story building with a basement and former apartments on the second floor. The ground floor was renovated with restored stamped tin ceilings, repaired wood floors, and new lighting designed to highlight the historic ceiling pattern. Masonry repairs, brick cleaning, new second-floor windows, and reconstructed storefront openings completed the exterior work.
The Key Burger Bar & Boogie juxtaposes the historic architecture of these century-old buildings with contemporary design. The former market has been adapted into a vibrant music hall, The Boogie, where modern linear elements and angled surfaces complement the existing trusses and historic character. The restored clerestory floods the space with daylight and becomes a dramatic feature during evening performances.
The design continues into the adjoining Burger Bar, where the original stamped tin ceiling remains a focal point. Lighting and utilities were carefully organized around the perimeter to showcase the building’s historic fabric.
Together, the music venue, restaurant, and bar create a new cultural destination that draws both neighborhood residents and concertgoers while celebrating the history and continued evolution of Midtown.
“Landmarks put out the rallying cry to energize the community around preserving these buildings that are an important part of St. Louis history and the history of the Mill Creek Valley neighborhood, and the Foundation saw it as an exciting opportunity to continue growing a thriving arts district and bring new community benefits and amenities to the broader Midtown area,” says Chris Hansen, Executive Director of the Kranzberg Arts Foundation. “We are thrilled to receive this honor for a project that so perfectly exemplifies KAF’s mission.”
