The Mercantile Exchange is becoming downtown's newest gathering place, emerging within the area surrounding the MX and Laurel Buildings. Located at the epicenter of downtown energy, the MX will link downtown's most important residential, shopping and entertainment neighborhoods.

The MX began welcoming visitors this spring with the opening of Pi Pizzeria. Energy in the MX is building and will embrace retail, dining,entertainment, arts & culture, hospitality and residential living, following in the tradition of this area of downtown which links the Convention District to the Arch along Washington Ave. (recently named one of America’s 10 Greatest Streets) and to Busch Stadium and Citygarden along 7th (one of St. Louis’ best streets, from Dome to Ballpark).

The MX includes the recently renovated downtown Macy’s in the Railway Exchange Building, the three-screen MX Movies with in-theatre dining, downtown locations for Robust Wine Bar and Snarf's, a new boutique retail concept called The Collective that will bring together over 30 local designers and products, as well as the stunning Embassy Suites Hotel Downtown St. Louis and the magnificent Laurel Apartments. Additional dining, entertainment and shopping options will be announced in the coming months. The district’s name comes from the vital role this area played in the commercial history of St. Louis.

The MX district, at the foot of the Eads Bridge, has long been a gathering point for commerce, shopping and hospitality in the region. This relatively compact area included two of the three downtown highrise department stores: William Barr Dry Goods Co./Famous Clothing Store, later known as Famous Barr (now Macy’s) and Stix Baer & Fuller, later known as Dillards (now the Laurel). The third, Scruggs Vandervoort and Barney, set up shop in the Syndicate Trust at 10th & Olive.

The famed Lindell Hotel once stood where the Laurel is today. The Laurel building was complete in 1906, and it became the home of one of the city’s first department stores, The Grand Leader. In October 2011, the site returned to its hotelier roots with the opening of the Embassy Suites. The Laurel building itself is named after Washington Avenue’s original name, Laurel Street.

Surroundings

The Mercantile Exchange (MX) is downtown St. Louis’ newest retail, dining, entertainment, arts & culture and residential destination. The district is comprised of the area surrounding the MX and Laurel Buildings (formerly St. Louis Centre and the Dillard's building, respectively), at 7th Street and Washington Avenue. The MX links together the area's many well-known attractions:

• The Washington Avenue Loft District
• City Garden
• Busch Stadium
• Old Post Office Plaza
• The Gateway Arch
• The Edward Jones Dome
• America’s Center

Amenities

The diversity of the MX will keep the sidewalks hopping day and night. Among the district’s amenities are:

• Local dining favorites, including Pi Pizzeria, Robust Wine Bar and Café, Snarf's Sandwiches, and Takaya New Asian.
• The landmark downtown Macy’s (recently renovated)
• 3 screen luxury movie theater
• A 212-room Embassy Suites hotel
• The Laurel Apartments

Streetscape

The MX retail management team’s street-level service will ensure an inviting visitor experience, a beautifully built environment and an exciting array of well-marketed and produced events that build on the neighborhood’s natural attributes.

Highlights of the MX streetscape include:

• Warm street-level lighting
• Sidewalk cafés
• Fountains
• Public art
• Lush urban landscaping
• A dedicated, 24/7 security presence
• Festivals, markets and celebrations throughout the year