The Wedge wants to rock South City
Concert club/restaurant the Wedge
The Wedge, an intimate concert club and restaurant in south St. Louis, has been operating quietly most of November as it worked out its kinks. Now it’s ready to rock.
The Wedge’s grand opening will be at 7 p.m. Saturday with free food samples and DJ Elemental Child. Free concerts begin at 9 p.m., with Lofreq performing its first show in two years and Holy Python performing its last.
Tyson Blanquart, manager of the club at 442 Bates Street, says his goal is to give the neighborhood a destination venue while maintaining a corner-tavern feel.
“We’re trying to get people down to South City who wouldn’t normally get there to see a show,” Blanquart says. “You can go anywhere in town to see some kind of show. You can go to South Grand or downtown or to the Pageant. Basically, what I’m trying to do is make it worth people’s time with good shows and good food.”
The two-level venue has a concert club, the Iggy Ziggy Room, upstairs, with a capacity of about 70. The name’s an obvious nod to vintage punk, but the room will feature most strands of rock.
“We don’t want to pigeonhole ourselves as one particular part of rock,” Blanquart says.
Jam bands, however, won’t necessarily be booked.
“There’s lots of other places where bands like that get to play,” he says. “We’re trying to carve a niche for ourselves”
The club also won’t venture into genres such as hip-hop or jazz.
The Wedge also hosts the Militant Propaganda Bingo Machine, NonProphet Theater Company’s comedy sketch show, on the fourth Friday of each month; Lola van Ella’s Burly-Q punk burlesque show on the second Saturday; and the Chippewa Chapel Traveling Guitar Circle on Thursdays.
The main level, which holds about 60, features Tenacious Trivia on Monday nights, as well as a full restaurant. Chef consultant Blake Brokaw created the menu, which includes pizzas, soups, salads and daily specials. Steve LaFata is head chef.
The Wedge has been renovated down to studs and bricks, so patrons of its former incarnation, Windy’s on the Wedge, may not recognize it. A DJ booth and a wheelchair-accessible ramp have been added, and the main entrance has been relocated.
Blanquart hopes the Wedge will remind patrons of classic venues like the Galaxy, Rocket Bar and the Hi-Pointe Café. He’s even hired some Hi-Pointe staff.
The Wedge is open daily, starting with lunch at 11 a.m., and closes at 1:30 a.m. Monday through Saturday and at midnight Sunday. Get more information at 314-351-1200, thewedgebar.com or myspace.com/thewedgestl.
Inside the Wedge concert club/restaurant
Kevin C. Johnson has covered the St. Louis' music and nightlife scene for the past decade. 
Won’t make it a month. plus there will be a murder/robbery in the first week of shows. not a good place to hang out in the late hours. Conceal and carry required.
Wont make it a month? Its already been open longer than a month you moron!!! I’ve been there a half donzen times and its always busy and the Pizza is some of the best I’ve ever had. I’ve lived in the neighborhood for 6 years and never had any problems. I eat at Iron Barley all the time (less that a block away) and I’ve never know anyone to be mugged or robbed while dinning there. Do you live in Chesterfield??
Agreed John. Neighborhood is just fine, no worse than most of South City. We’d all be a little better off with less hearsay about the crime in South City.
I hope this place can fill the void left by Rocket Bar and Hi-Pointe.
Hey stlwichita: This is my neighborhood. I am proud of this place and I will frequent it often. If anyone gets murdered or robbed I hope it is you.
Stopped in last night, nice spot despite being a smoke box. Nice design touches. Should fill in for the Hi Pointe nicely, although it is a fair amount smaller. Interesting push deeper into south city which will likely fare well for the long term. It seems to have all the cuts to have a loyal crew in the rock and roll scene.
Who is this clueless goof with his comment about impending doom of robbery or murder? Clearly he doesn’t know how things work in the business or is familiar with the neighborhood. I think he must be getting paid by some sort of fear institute.
The place is nice and the pizza is great. I live about 4 blocks away and have for over 3 years now, and it is a great neighborhood. Very quiet, residential area with no more crime or problems than anywhere else. But stlwichita, if you have a problem coming around there, I’m sure we won’t miss you.