What is Urban Roost?

Urban Roost has been at least five years in the making. 

Even though we didn't know it at the time, we first spoke Urban Roost into existence in March 2010 over breakfast at Benton Park Cafe. We were gazing at a beautiful St. Louis property across the street -- a large house that we had recently walked through with our realtor.  It was way beyond our means or needs at the time, but it sparked our inspiration.  Complete with a rooftop deck that offered views of the Arch and the Anheuser-Busch brewery, it included several floors of roomy living space, that historic St. Louis house was an ideal spot for an urban bed & breakfast. That morning, over eggs and coffee, we didn't merely dream -- we began to cast a vision of a business that expressed our values of community and Midwest hospitality. 

At that time, our "projects" (marriage plans, full-time jobs, educational pursuits, name changes ....) kept us occupied, to say the least. Despite all the activity, our vision persisted. For example, our honeymoon was more than an escapist road trip -- it included a seminar on running b&b's. During our honeymoon, the name Urban Roost emerged from our collaboration. Now, five years after we first brainstormed our urban b&b in Benton Park, we are ready to begin in earnest to bring Urban Roost to life. 

Urban Roost -- as our idea, name, and brand -- captures our values of hospitality, community, and sustainability in the city of St. Louis.  It is, of course, the urban and local neighborhoods that we love and aim to serve.  We wish to cultivate spaces where our friends and guests experience the city that we love. 

Currently, we reside in Tower Grove South, and we are hoping to establish Urban Roost in this area of the city so that those who travel to St. Louis can enjoy this diverse and growing neighborhood. Roost, in contrast, is a more rural term, I suppose you could say, and it represents a place to stay. It encompasses our love for fresh farm food, local arts ... including our own backyard chickens.  Roost is a term that reminds me of my farm upbringing in Kansas, and I hope to carry forward the idea that everyone should feel welcome and at home. 

We will strive to offer amenities from local businesses, restaurants, and markets in that neighborhood.Urban Roost will be located in one of St. Louis’ historic districts south of I-44.  These neighborhoods include Shaw, Southwest Garden, Tower Grove East, Tower Grove South, Soulard, Benton Park, and Cherokee St. Currently, we hope to maintain a Tower Grove South location,
given our commitment to this neighborhood.

We will especially advocate for urban & local food sources to emphasize a locavore philosophy for Urban Roost.  While we do not expect guests to maintain a vegetarian diet during their travels, we will not serve meat at our establishment to show our commitment to ecologically and ethically responsible eating. We assume we will attract guests who share this philosophy. This being said, private, fully-furnished kitchens in each apartment will be stocked with gourmet ingredients for guest to prepare a full range of breakfast items.  We promote local, vegetarian eating, so kitchen ingredients will include our own backyard chickens’ eggs and local seasonal fruits and vegetables as well as locally produced cheeses.

We aim to invoke a rural sensibility for our guests that is rooted in the present. Our style and decor will avoid kitschy country or shabby chic. Instead, we see Urban Roost as showcasing a modern, eclectic charm that is respun as old-fashioned.  Rustic details will incorporate an international, or even cosmopolitan feel.  We will rely on lots of color, especially bright or primary tones such as red, blue, yellows, or teal.  Overall, items and furniture might look rustic but their “bones” and details will include modern and mid-century touches.

We want our guests to step into a farmhouse for a new era, one that encourages urban homesteading, backyard farming, and individual gardening.  They can gather our eggs, meet our chickens, pick herbs or other vegetables (either in our own garden or surrounding farms), eat at restaurants that support sustainable food sources, and shop local markets.  We also want to invite them to have an experience of living in St. Louis, within our neighborhood, and help them discover the unique features of our City, even if just for a few days. We wish to be set apart for younger, even more urban travelers and/or for those visiting a city who wish to feel more at home in a local neighborhood.  

Traditional B&B’s often involve guests are sharing dining and living space with other guests and typically with the overseers/owners. Urban Roost exclusively provides private apartments that promote autonomy, a sense that guests are in a home away from home. While outdoor spaces and receptions will allow guests to mingle with others and with the owners, guests can expect a rather private and personally-tailored experience when they stay at Urban Roost.

As we move forward with our vision, this blog serves to express the ideas and reflections that that attempt to capture the personality and brand of Urban Roost.