Feasting Fox

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Anheuser Busch operated both this restaurant and the Bevo Mill throughout the difficult years of prohibition. With the repel of prohibition, anti-trust laws would not allow a brewery to operate a drinking establishment. Al Smith leased and successfully operated Al Smith's Restaurant from the 1930's through 1961, when Fred and Evelyn Krumm took over operations after managing the business since 1945. The restaurant suffered a fire on May 5, 1968 and was completely refurbished and continued to serve Dutchtown for many more years. The restaurant sat vacant from 1986 until 1993 and suffered from neglect. Anheuser Busch was preparing to sell off the property to a franchise that planned to replace the historic building with a fast food restaurant. Local activists convinced the brewery to continue looking for a buyer who would use the existing building. The Dutchtown South Neighborhood Association took the lead in the battle to save the landmark and convinced the state to give the brewery a tax credit upon the donation of the property to the Association. Susan and Martin Luepker, longtime residents of the neighborhood, took on the challenge of rehabbing the abandoned restaurant in 1993. Sue and Marty restored wood, plaster, brick and tile work to its original state. Once finished with the building, they took on the next phase -- furnishing it. After much consideration, they devised a plan that would preserve even more St. Louis restaurant history...

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