50 Years of Thrills - BLUEBERRY HILL CELEBRATES 50 YEARS OF BURGERS, BEER, AND MUSIC
Oct 20, 2022 11:25AM ● By Jessica Wilmes
FROM PEANUTS TO GOURMET BURGERS
"We wanted to open a welcoming place
that was about music, pop culture mem-
orabilia, and great food to share a beer
over," said Joe and Linda on the website.
"We wanted the unique atmosphere to
make conversation easy and enjoyable.
Within a week of opening, we realized we
also needed to help revitalize the Delmar Loop area."
Starting with a hot dog machine, peanuts, and beer nuts to complement their extensive beer selection, Joe saw the need to bring good burgers to the city so he expanded the kitchen in 1974 with a new grill.
"Our most popular menu item is our Famous Burger, and these days we're known for our wide range of burgers, including classic, breakfast, and vegan," said Joe.
The Rock & Roll beer originated in 1981 and Joe contract brewed the
beer for about 10 years. Recently, the
beer was brought back by 4 Hands
Brewery and is available at the bar. To
honor the beer's 80s origins, the can
design captures the decade with totally
tubular artwork.
MEGA JUKEBOX TO LIVE MUSIC VENUE
Aside from famous burgers and great beer, music has always been integral to the theme of Blueberry Hill. From day one, Joe and Linda had a Seeburg jukebox with a rotating collection of 30,000 records from Joe's personal collection. Joe was committed to introducing people to music they might not hear otherwise. The Seeburg was named the #1 Jukebox in the United States by Billboard and Esquire and #1 in the world by the BBC.
In 1985 they added the Elvis Room to bring live music to Blueberry Hill and The Loop, a move that helped put the area on the map as the live music center of St. Louis. Then, in 1997 came the Duck Room, inspired by Chuck Berry, who missed playing in small, intimate music venues. This addition led to 209 concerts from Chuck Berry as he consistently played once a month, which Joe considers the most iconic event that has taken place over their 50-year timespan.
Other acts have included Ed Sheeran, The Lumineers, John Legend, Nelly, and Grandmaster Flash. From burgers to live music, Joe has seen and done a lot but ultimately keeps at it for simply bringing joy to others.
A FEW FAVORITE THINGS
"[My favorite thing is] the fact that people from all backgrounds
feel comfortable hanging out together at Blueberry Hill and that
they all have a nice escape from their daily lives, even if it is
just for an hour or two," Joe says. "There's so much for them to
enjoy with all the pop culture memorabilia, the excellent food,
the strong drinks, and of course, the extensive beer selection!
I think people are going to enjoy both popping in to play some darts and having parties, reunions, and work events here. I think kids and adults alike will love it."
Blueberry Hill
6504 Delmar in The Loop
St. Louis, MO 63130
(314) 727-4444
