Red Sea closes unceremoniously in Delmar Loop
Photo: the closed Red Sea, shot by Vincent Flewellen
Long time Delmar Loop nightspot the Red Sea is no more.
The club and Ethiopian restaurant, known in recent years for indie reggae and hip-hop among other things, unceremoniously closed last week after fading interest in the once vital venue.
The bi-level space is cleared out, with only scattered trash and some fixtures seen through the first-floor windows. The phone is disconnected, and mail can be seen piling up.
Concert-goer Beatle Bob, in an email, called the Red Sea one of St. Louis’ best-kept secrets.
He also wrote, “the club unfortunately went downhill on its once quality food, service, and cleanliness, but they did have a wonderful bar staff and I deeply appreciated the chance they gave to the newer rock & roll bands and their continuing support of reggae music.
“I hope the Red Sea’s owner, Tesafye Boru, can make a comeback with a better dining experience plan and better promotional support of the acts he would book again.
The Underground team, which booked shows in the Red Sea’s cave-like basement, had a different opinion, posted on its MySpace blog. “The Underground is currently closed as a venue space due to the Red Sea Lounge proprietor’s legal problems and subsequent cowardly flight. We hope to be leasing the space soon or working with other investors to reopen the space.
“On a positive note, the Red Sea Lounge and its proprietor are gone from the local music industry, (and) in all likelihood out of the business forever. Rejoice.”
That team is now booking shows at Cicero’s until a new South St. Louis spot called the Wedge opens.
Will you miss the Red Sea?
Mail stacks up at the closed Red Sea, shot by Vincent Flewellen
Kevin C. Johnson has covered the St. Louis' music and nightlife scene for the past decade. 
The Urge’s 1999 New Years Eve show there was one of the best shows I ever saw.
I will miss it because it was one of a few places to hear reggae in town. If only they had become a non-smoking club I would have spent a lot more time there. When will clubs start to come around to this? I just can’t handle the cigarette smoke anymore.
I haven’t been to the Red Sea in years. I actually forgot the place existed until driving by one day last week and noticed something looked out of sorts on that end of the block. Not a place I will miss at all. Wish them well but man, it seems that the Underground is determined not to keep secret how they really feel about Tesafye Boru & Co. I am heading to find their MySpace blog next–I am sure there’s some good reading going on there.
I think if you look closely enough in one of the pictures you can see the early stages of a rat’s nest.
You guys are about a week late with the scoop on The Red Sea; my wife told me last week that it was closed. Will I miss The Rea Sea? No, probably not. But I have seen hundreds of great shows there of mostly local acts. But as a native of the CWE/Loop area (I grew up in the Skinker/DeBalivere neighborhood) I avoid the Loop these days. I guess it is a little too sterile now a days for this post-punk middle-aged dad. My wife and I eat at Cicero’s every now and then but I miss the time when the Loop was a little grittier, and The Red Sea contributed to that grittiness.
I will miss the Red Sea, I used to play in a lot of bands when I lived in St.Louis. They always treated us with respect and honesty. Since Hector Was A Pup..Velvet Soul… want to say we are sad to hear about this news..
I thought the place was a dump. I can’t understand how antone would eat food in that place.
It is about time this place closed. I cannot tell you how many times I have received the most horrendous service from the staff. The food was crap. It is a great spot and hopefully someone who cares to do it well will take it over. I would always leave and go to Brandt’s. A.M.F.
We will miss the Red Sea. However, I used to go when they were still playing good reggae in the basement. They seemed to get away from that the past couple years and things went downhill from there. Never ate there, but just went for the entertainment.
I will miss Red Sea only because I felt that it helped to liven the atmosphere of the Loop with its live music. I’d eaten there once and was very disappointed by the food quality and service, but the ambiance of the music and company made for an overall great experience.
As far as the smoking, I wonder as well when St. Louis will catch on to offering “Outside-Only Smoking” at clubs. Houston is supposedly behind St. Louis regarding trends, but they have STL beat in this regard, as well as just overall night-life atmosphere, where restaurants by day become clubs by night with live dj’s, bands, and great socializing. I’m hoping that STL will catch up very soon.