National Candy Company Factory

[ncortivo]

it also was pretty empty nothing left just alot of graffiti and trash. there was actually other people there but they were tagging walls but this place is pretty big on the inside.

[SubLunar]

Cool. Last few times I drove by, there were some shady meth-head looking types hanging out back..

[DJEquine]

That last shot is gallery worthy!!

[stromo]

Cool. Last few times I drove by, there were some shady meth-head looking types hanging out back..

Not meth, but the group there was smoking weed. Scared the shit out of them by knocking some metal thing over behind them while they were tagging.

[Chris]

That is a cool looking building. I hope someone reinvests in the property (the whole block is empty) but with it sitting "above" everything like it does I think it may be hard to generate interest.

[archinstl]

At one time the National Candy Company was owned by the father of Vincent Price, the St. Louis born and raised horror actor.
See http://route66news.com/2009/11/13/st-lo ... -register/
And a LOT more info and history at
http://www.dnr.mo.gov/shpo/nps-nr/09000889.pdf
It has photos of the outside and inside, along with blueprints!

At one time it was the largest candy company in the USA (multiple plants).

EDIT - I agree with DJEquine; that last shot is gallery -worthy!

[KatyaRose92]

That last shot is fantastic!

[EmmaDVIlle]

Shemp and I checked this candy factory out today. It was pretty bare, with tons of graffiti. But still pretty neat nonetheless. It is HUGE. Lots of neat things in that same area too.

[Nicotti]

Supposedly the Candy Factory is going to be remodeled into a new Imagine school.

Originally built around 1930 as a candy factory, this 8 story, 225,000 SF masonry building will become home to the latest Imagine Schools project with a curriculum focused on the arts. When all phases of work are complete, the building will house an elementary, middle, and high school along with a gymnasium, auditorium, new stairwell, and mechanical tower, and new entries for each school. A regulation size soccer field is planned across the street from the school.

From Here. Images of the plans are at their website.

[SubLunar]

Imagine went under, so that isn't going to happen anymore.

[archinstl]

Interestingly, the Imagine Group's ownership had purchased the old candy factory (plus the entire block!) on Gravois for $4.3M (!) - and then walked away from it.

[Mandi Milenko]

I checked this out last week. It was cool, but as already said, bare. I also ran into a tagger. I snapped a pic when he wasn't looking













'

[mindwaave]

I've got to go here...

[Mandi Milenko]

Yeah it's definitely worth a visit. I want to go back and check out some of the other buildings in the complex. I know one of them used to be the Alligator Leather Co.

[Mandi Milenko]

Also I normally don't like graffiti but I must admit this was kind of cute.