Welcome to the MX District: New Banners Help Usher in the Next Era
The MX District looked to Atomicdust to design a series of banners that would welcome diners, shoppers and tourists alike, ushering in a new era for the historic commercial district.
The area St. Louis now called the MX District is part of downtown’s rich retail history. The corners surrounding 7th Street and Washington Avenue were once home to region’s first department stores – names like William Barr Dry Goods Co. and Famous Clothing Store should ring a bell. And just a few short decades ago, the area was home to St. Louis Centre, one of the largest shopping malls in the country at its 1985 opening. But as the mall lost popularity, officially shutting its doors in 2006, the buildings sat vacant
And then in 2010, the MX District was born.
Down came the infamous sky bridge over Washington Avenue, and in came new retail and entertainment – including a movie theater, Pi Pizzeria, Snarf’s Sandwiches, Robust Wine Bar, and more places to eat, shop and live. Over the last few years, the MX District has continued to grow with the recent additions of Sugarfire Smokehouse, the National Blues Museum and (our personal favorite) Porano Pasta.
New banners, now visible along 7th Street, highlight popular activities of the MX District – listening to music at the National Blues Museum, catching a show at MX Movies, or dining at one of the many nearby restaurants.
While the MX District is part of downtown, they wanted visitors to feel (and see) the area’s unique energy. Not to be confused with surrounding banners for downtown activities, events and conferences, the illustrations and bright pops of color capture the spirit of the growing district day or night, and stand out against the neutral stone and brick facades of the surrounding buildings.
The banners were printed and installed this week with help from our friends at Engraphix.
If you haven’t visited the eastern blocks of Washington Avenue lately, now’s the time to go. To see this area transform over the last few years has been amazing, and we can’t wait to see what’s next for the MX District.
