History

Morgan Street Brewery opened in September 1995 at 721 N. Second Street on Laclede's Landing. The brewery is operated by the husband-and-wife team of Steve and Vicki Owings. The Owings are also owners of the establishment along with Dennis and Randy Harper of Columbia, MO.

A native of Unionville, MO, Steve Owings attended the University of Missouri-Columbia where he studied agricultural economics. He went to work for Harpo's bar and restaurant to make some extra money and discovered he really enjoyed the bar and restaurant business.

Owings graduated from college and returned to St. Louis to pursue the restaurant business. In 1982, he found a location on Laclede's Landing and, with the support of Dennis and Randy Harper, opened another Harpo's restaurant and bar on N. First Street. In 1984, they opened a second restaurant on Laclede's Landing called Sundecker's that caters to the sports crowd and business lunch patrons.

A graduate of Ritenour High School, Vicki attended the University of Missouri-Columbia and later studied in Atlanta to become a paralegal. Steve and Vicki were married in 1988.

By the mid-1990's, Dennis, Randy and Steve had sold Harpo's and were ready for their next challenge. In May 1995, they acquired the former Schoelhorn-Albrecht Machine building, which had been last occupied in the mid-1980s by the Second Street Diner.

This property was cleared in 1791 and was the site of the freeing of the first Mulatto slave, Esther. The building was constructed more than 120 years ago and is one for the oldest buildings on the Landing. Originally, it was used by the Schoelhorn-Albrecht Machine Company, where they manufactured capstans for the Mississippi River barges. As you walk up Morgan Street towards Third Street, you will notice that the sidewalks are uneven, concealing a room underneath Morgan which was used to hide run-away slaves.*

*Courtesy of Laclede's landing Merchant's Association archives. for more information on the history of Laclede's Landing, check out http://www.lacledeslanding.org/Tour/walking_pics.html

They built the microbrewery on the first floor, installed two bars on the first and second floors, created a very European outdoor, cafe-style dining on the sidewalk facing Second Street. In 1997, the three partners leased the building behind the restaurant, and renamed it "The Lodge," to provide additional space for private parties, banquets and weekend dancing. Steve serves as managing partner of the brewery while Vicki is the restaurant's banquet coordinator.

"In developing the restaurant and microbrewery, we were looking to create a casual but nice menu with something of a western flair," Steve recalls. "Dennis and I had visited several such establishments in Denver and really like the atmosphere they had, so we brought that "hunting lodge" feeling to St. Louis as the Morgan Street Brewery."

Trisha Donze was appointed executive chef at the Morgan Street Brewery in October 1998. Donze has brought a bright, creative outlook to food preparation in her new duties. Originally from Festus, MO, Donze returned to the St. Louis area from North Miami, Florida where she most recently served as executive chef at the Oceania restaurant. She is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America and has worked in a number of fine restaurants, hotels and yacht clubs.

She has introduced several new menu items to the Morgan Street bill of fare including: Smoked Duck Cakes, Fried Chicken Salad, Smoked Duck Pizza, Veggie & Portabella Mushrooms Pizza, Smoked Mushroom Tenderloin Fettuccini, Fresh Herb-Encrusted Salmon, Orange Habanero Baby Back Ribs and Oven-Roasted Herb Chicken.

Marc Gottfried started brewing beer at age 13 in the basement of his mothers' house. His mother, Dr. Sandra Alters (a noted biology professor and author) respected his interest for it's scientific value. This proved to be a step in the right direction for Marc resulting in the beginning of his career working for Worm's Way Homebrewing Supply at age 18. His frequent shopping and awards for his product landed him a job as their brewing sales representative. At age 20, Marc became assistant Brewmaster at Morgan Street Brewery, moving up to Brewmaster just two years later. Nearly 22 years old at this point, Marc was named the youngest Master Brewer in North America by MBAA, professional brewing's sanctioning body. Since his promotion, Marc has acquired several awards from the industry including a bronze in the World Beer Cup, a gold and a silver in the Greater Saint Louis Beer Festival, and had his brewery named "Best in St. Louis" by St. Louis Magazine. The Association of Brewers named Marc the youngest Brewmaster ever to win a global award after his World Beer Cup win in New York City. Marc has been featured on national news broadcasts, radio, and various magazines.

Morgan Street Brewery
721 North Second Street
Saint Louis, MO 63102

314-231-9970
314-231-2469 fax
email