Developer purchases downtown Ferguson building

Joe Scott

Of the Suburban Journals

North County Journal

06/14/2006

Another downtown building may receive a facelift after its purchase by an area developer.

Rob Birenbaum, who owns a couple of properties in Maplewood that include retail and loft apartments, purchased the building at 137 S. Florissant Road in downtown Ferguson from area resident Ralph Rockamann.

The building has a mix of retail, office space and upstairs apartments, but it is mostly empty, Birenbaum said.

"I'm seeing a trend from people outside the area becoming more interested in Ferguson," said Shannon Howard, executive director for Ferguson Citywalk, the downtown business district. "Prices are soaring through the roof for places in Maplewood and University City. They think Ferguson will be the next big thing." 

Prospects such as the Express Scripts headquarters moving to the University of Missouri–St. Louis and the planned NorthPark development has people excited about the area, she said.

Birenbaum said recent developments and the obvious commitment from local business people, the special business district and municipal government attracted his attention.

Birenbaum founded Drum Headquarters, a percussion store, and his wife Sherre Birenbaum owns Disc Connection, a music store. Both are in the Maplewood area.

"They're both musicians and they're already involved in the community," Howard said. "(Sherre) is in a rock group called the Hot Flashes, and they're playing a concert in Ferguson later."

Birenbaum declined to comment on his plans for the building, fearing his plans could change later.

"There's obviously a lot of potential there," he said.

He did point out that Ferguson resident Joe Lonero has had success at redeveloping buildings and putting in businesses such as the Corner Coffee House and Vincenzo's restaurant.

Lonero's latest effort, redeveloping the Sportsprint building, has attracted restaurants such as O.T. Hodge's Chile Parlor, El Palenque Mexican restaurant, Curves, Quizno's and Ga Ga Vintage Furniture.

Lonero is pursuing another redevelopment in downtown Ferguson.

"There's been retail growth," Birenbaum said. "Joe has set the bar very high."