Hi! I went to Southeast Missouri State University. My friends and I became friends with some French foreign exchange students. I invited one of the students we became friends with to stay with my family during Spring break. We took him all over St. Louis. I think he enjoyed it, though I remember him saying that the Old Cathedral was just a baby compared to places in France and the rest of Europe. Lol! Well, since we were all college students, we decided to take him to White Castles to introduce him to Whities/sliders. Well, as much as we all love them, he wasn't too impressed. (Sorry, White Castles! We still love you!) So, he told my mom that he wanted to take us to a NICE restaurant. We weren't sure how "nice" of a place he wanted. (St. Louis is a great city for foodies with tons of choices!) He and my mom spent a few hours looking up different restaurants so he could look at the menus and see the prices. He was intrigued when he saw how the Clarion (which I think is what it was called then) had a revolving restaurant on the top floor. So...that's where he took us! It was so nice! That was the first time I had went to the "Top of the Riverfront." I don't remember exactly what I ate, but I remember enjoying it, along with the whole experience! Seeing St. Louis from up there was magical.
I really hate to see the Millennium being torn down, though I know it needed a lot of work and it was time to redevelop the site. The "Top of the Riverfront" was such a unique and cool destination. I know we have the 360 locations, but I really wish we had another revolving restaurant in St. Louis so people could enjoy a nice meal while also taking in the views of our special city.
We stayed at our reception way longer than we should have😂
When we arrived at the Clarion around 1:30am, our honeymoon suite had been given away so they gave us the Presidential Suite instead. We celebrated a few of our anniversaries with a stay and dinner at Top of the Tower restaurant 😊 Our 40th💕 year and we are taking pics of the once majestic tower being torn down while we are rooting for a Cardinals Win❣️
We had our first date at the top floor restaurant. We had an amazing time and have been together for 15 years married with kids. Thanks for the memories.
We had a limited time off work for our honeymoon, so we decided visiting St Louis and taking in a Cardinal game would be a great choice. We stayed at Stouffers because it had a great reputation and it was near all the sites. Memorable!!
My husband and i celebrated our 1 year of dating anniversary there in 2011. I hate to see this hotel and restaurant go. The atmosphere was amazing and you circled around to see the entire city of St. Louis.
I served as the financial controller for the food and beverage division of the Stouffer's Riverfront Inn from 1974-1975. During that year the second smaller tower was opened and the hotel became the Stouffer Riverfront Towers. It was a great experience and the beginning of my finance career with the Stouffer Corporation.
I worked at the Millennium hotel as my first hotel job, they closed shortly after and I got to stay on with security. During this time we got to discover all kinds of things about the building including finding old photographs. This building will always hold a special place in my heart with the BEST views!!
I got to see the progress of the whole arch museum expansion which was very neat to see.
During our senior year of high school (1994), our friend group decided that we shouldn’t let all of our fancy prom attire go to waste after only one night, so we dressed up for dinner at the Regal. These biannual celebrations, nicknamed our Regal Run, were always on the agenda when everyone was home from college in our first year after graduation.
Years later my soon-to-be husband and I enjoyed our own Regal Run as we prepared for our wedding.
I had an amazing time at my Senior Prom in 2014. It was at the Millennium Hotel in St. Louis. I was currently attending Northwest High School in Cedar Hill, Mo. All the high school students had a blast.
The first time I stepped into the Millennium Hotel it was then called The Clarion Hotel. One of my teachers took a group of students from an inner city high school to look around and experience something beyond their everyday surroundings. I vowed to make sure that I would be able to come back and dine at that revolving restaurant. Years later after graduating from college and entering my chosen field I was able to take my Mother,Grandmother and Aunt there for Mothers day. I was able to take my Mom at least 3 times and she would always say she couldn't eat another bite, until they offered her homemade ice cream (her weaknesses). They have all passed on but I will always have the memories. Including the time my Mom sat her purse on the ledge and couldn't find it because of the rotating platform, we walked around the restaurant and eventually found it. The Clarion/Millennium Hotel will always have a special place in my treasury of memories.
The evening of May 5, 1991, the night after our wedding we had a great dinner at the rotating restaurant before heading out on our honeymoon the following morning. I believe the restaurant was named The Top of the Riverfront at that time.
I was a Sales Secretary in the late 90's when this hotel was the Regal Riverfront Hotel! This hotel was so beautiful, and it became a favorite headquarter hotel for groups. I always enjoyed delivering banquet event orders because it gave me an opportunity to watch the pastry chefs carve ice and chocolate sculptures. I also loved the view from the Top of the Riverfront Restaurant if only for a few minutes. We had the best employee events, and they encouraged family envolvement when possible. Gary Boyd was the Asst. GM, and he is still one of my favorite people! He was always so warm and welcoming. That is very rare among upper management. I attended my first American Cancer Association Gala in one of the beautifuly decorated ballrooms. That event caused me to realize the importance of philanthropy.
In July of 1988, the Millenium was in the middle of it’s 12 year run as being known as the “Clarion Hotel”. The revolving restaurant on the 28th floor of the Clarion Hotel was called The Top of the Riverfront. It was famous for slowly rotating a full 360 degrees, offering diners panoramic views of the Gateway Arch, the Mississippi River, and the downtown St. Louis skyline.
Having met my “Girlfriend” years earlier, we made an annual trip to the VP (Veiled Prophet) Fair, the perfect summer date. Back then it was inexpensive and we could hang out all day. One year we literally “ran out of money”. This was before venders took credit. It did not dampen the day. Neither did the rain. Jody and I, along with 100s of other fun seekers, slid down the Arch Ground hills on pieces of cardboard, provided by the venders that used to set up all over the grounds. Summer time sledding! What fun.
The VP Fair was from Friday July 1st, through Monday July 4th in 1988. I had saved my money for this weekend. Jody’s birthday was Saturday July 2nd. I had purchased an engagement ring months before, and was anxiously waiting for our annual trip to the fair. I had made reservations at Top of the Riverfront restaurant (for 9pm) and did not tell Jody. She really enjoys fireworks and when I was stalling around for our reservation, she was getting nervous about not “finding a spot on the lawn” to enjoy the Fireworks show. I finally told her that for her Birthday present, we were going to eat at the Top of the Riverfront. I had timed it so that we got to see the fireworks show while we had our dinner. Near the finale, I excused myself to go to the Restroom where I attempted to remove the engagement ring from my shorts pocket. I had sewn it in my pocket because I didn’t want to lose it while we played at the fair all day. Imagine my frustration when I couldn’t get the ring out because I had sewn inside the pocket so well. I finally was able to “Bite through” the strings holding it in my pocket. I returned to the table, got down on one knee, and asked my lovely girlfriend to marry me… just as the fireworks finale was going off outside the windows of the Clarion. After almost 5 decades – we are still together and talk about the Clarion fondly! We will miss seeing Her as a symbol of where we committed to each other, almost 50 years ago!
On 12/21/1975, my brother, Kevin, and I took our Uncle Erv and Aunt Colleen to the revolving tower restaurant at Stouffer’s Riverfront Inn, after attending Mass at The Shrine of St. Joseph. Our mother and young sister took care of our 11-month-old cousin, Sheryl, so we could enjoy the outing. While we were dining, we took a picture of the Gateway Arch, as well as a barge which appeared to have broken loose on the Mississippi River.
On 12/15/1984, my husband’s new employer, EDM, held its Christmas Party at the Clarion Hotel. We only danced to two songs that night, but enjoyed visiting with Pete, Ann, Jerry, Kay, Jeff, and Colean, who were seated at our table. We took advantage of the special room rate that night, leaving the party about Midnight. Our American Express charge was $44.75 ($35 room + $3.75 tax + $6 Stadium Garage parking). The next day we enjoyed brunch at the tower restaurant ($24.44), attended Noon Mass at The Old Cathedral, took a Tram Ride to the top of the Arch ($3), and arrived at The Fox Theatre in plenty of time for the 3 PM performance (for which our tickets cost $37.55). The Judds sang for about one-half hour. Roy Orbison sang four songs (including “Pretty Woman”), after which Lee Greenwood put on a spectacular performance (including “Fools Gold”) for an hour.
On 12/13/1997, EDM held another Christmas Party at the same hotel; however, by then it was known as the Regal Riverfront Hotel. The party began at 7 PM, with dinner at 8 PM, followed by carriage (sleigh) rides starting at 9 PM. The sleigh was equipped with blankets, held four people, and took us around Kiener Plaza. We didn’t spend the night that year, as former neighbors Katie and Chad were caring for our 5-year-old child.
What wonderful memories of the times spent at that hotel, and what sadness overwhelms me in knowing that the Millennium Hotel is currently being demolished.
My then girlfriend Jacquelyn resided in Belleville and we often went to St. Louis to the zoo, Cardinals games, and so on. For my thirty-seventh birthday we celebrated at the revolving rooftop restaurant of the Millennium, taking in the beautiful sights of the Arch, Mississippi, and downtown at dusk. At the next table was a rather tartily dressed couple ha ha. The event will always be a special memory of a wonderful time at the dear old Millennium Hotel.
Back in 1988 I took my girlfriend to the then Clarion Hotel to have dinner at the restaurant at the top of the building. It was a nice restaurant with the rotating floor so you could see downtown from every angle. I had a steak/w peppercorn on top and this really nice sauce to balance it out. There was a man playing piano and atmosphere was perfect. It was an unforgettable night!
My future wife and I had dinner at the revolving restaurant on top of the hotel on June 1, 1991 which was the anniversary of our first kiss (which occurred by the north reflecting pool on the arch grounds). After dinner, we walked to the arch grounds and sat near the south reflecting pool (the north pool was closed due to construction). I had a blanket, flowers, a "boom box" playing a romantic song, a candle and of course the ring. Just as I was about to propose, a security guard drove up in his golf cart blaring "the park is closed" over and over on his loudspeaker horn. When he got close to us, he told us the park was closed and we had to leave immediately. My future wife told him that it was a special anniversary and said we would be leaving shortly. The security guard then said he had just celebrated his wedding anniversary a few days ago and to stay as long as we liked. He drove away, I got on one knee and proposed. I will never ever forget the look on my beautiful wife's face that night when she said yes! We were married on June 6, 1992. Thus, I will never forget dinner at the hotel and the arch grounds will always be special to me. We have two wonderful grown children, a son and daughter. Sadly (just like the hotel) not everything lasts and we divorced after 31 years of marriage. We are amicable towards one another and have welcomed a daughter in law and our first grandchild, a beautiful little girl!
My story is short and simple. My husband and I stayed there the night of our wedding, almost 22 years ago. We loved it and ate at the top. I always see it and it reminds me of my wedding, I hate to see it go just like any other old building. I understand things change but it's hard to let go. I hope the sites future does come to fruition and others can enjoy it.
My late wife and I decided to celebrate our wedding anniversary at the revolving top floor at what was then known as Stouffer's Riverfront Inn. We ordered a fantastic dinner as we marveled at the beautiful view from high above downtown Saint Louis. We were then living in what is now Maryland Heights Missouri. While we were awaiting our food my wife Jan decided to call the babysitter of our young daughter Jennifer but Jan rushed back to our table to inform me that there was no answer so I tried to call the babysitter but still no response so we feared the worst and rushed home to find that the sitter had fallen into a deep sleep and didn't hear the phone ring after our frantic phone calls. Needless to say we never again used that sitter but we did return to that hotel several times later when our daughter was older!
My family would frequently pass through downtown (on then Interstate 70) on our way to South St. Louis. Long before I stepped inside, I would see the green lines that supported the windows of the lobby facing the arch. At night, the lights of the lobby and dining would have a certain glow to it, one I had never seen before, and haven't since. I was drawn to the millennium (then Regal Riverfront). Many trips down interstate 70 past the structure, I'd see those green lines and lights, and long to get inside.
Flash forward to 2010, my then girlfriend - now wife decided it was time to stay at the Millennium for two nights. We arrived on a beautiful fall afternoon. We ascended to the 21st floor and took in the views. We had a south facing window with views of the river. Even though it was after Labor Day, we still headed to the pool - which was still open. It was cold, but worth it. Later, we ascended to floor R - (as it was marked on the elevator.) We still joke if R stood for Restaurant, Roof or Rotate!
We sat down to dinner just as the St. Louis sun was going down, about 6:30 PM. From there, we got to see the highlights of St. Louis all from above. This was the first time I'd ever been in a high floor in downtown St. Louis, so it was quite the treat. The full trip around took about an hour or so. We watched the moonrise to the east, as we enjoyed a lovely dinner.
The next day, we enjoyed breakfast in the very area I had driven by many times in the lobby. We then explored the lower level. It was seemingly un-ending, and I enjoyed exploring how it connected to its other building as well as the parking garage across the street. On our 2nd night there - the fire alarm went off! So, down we went 21 floors of stairs to the street. We never found out why it went off, but it is something we still talk about to this day.
I was the drummer for the Dana Kinsman Trio, which played at the Top of the Tower, as it was called back in those days, circa 1979 to 1981. Dana, George Lehman, bass guitar, and I were there 5 or 6 nights a week playing everything from the '20s through the early '80s. Dana was a Bing Crosby-type crooner who, if one closed their eyes and just listened, might have thought Bing was in the room. Dana, an exceptional entertainer would come in and listen to the room's ambient musical note, sit down at the piano, and play the note on the piano and announce it to Georgeand me---"It's a C# tonight, gentleman." "Swanee," "Ain't Misbehaving," "Sweet Georgia Brown," "Woodchopper's Ball," Moonlight Serenade," "Manhattan Skyline," "Feels so Good," and a crowd favorite, Dana's rendition of "My Kind of Town"---replacing "Chicago is" with "St. Louis is," treated every patron, young or old, to a song they knew and to which they could sing and dance. I can't even begin to think of how many people we entertained during our run---had to be thousands. We were set up in the middle of the restaurant, just to the right of the bar, looking across the river toward East St. Louis---beautiful, panoramic views every night. As a young, professional musician in St. Louis, I couldn't have had a better gig!
And I wish I could remember her name, she tended bar every night I was there. Bl8nd, wore glasses, and alwats looked sharp in her black pants, vest, and bow tie! We could never connect because when I asked her out, she was dating someone. And, of course, when she asked if I still wanted to go out, I was dating someone else! It just wasn't meant to be!
Great restaurant, great times, great memories!
We took a risk having a November wedding back in 2008. Typically November has a chance of snow, with anything after Halloween likely to end up with cold, windy and wet weather - but we lucked out. When we woke up the day after Halloween after dressing in costume for our rehearsal dinner - Jessica Simpson and Tony Romo - we woke up to a beautiful, sunny fall day. And after we were married in Lafayette Square and took pictures in Kiener Plaza, arguably the most impactful day of our life led us to this beautiful downtown hotel. We celebrated with a few hundred of our best friends that night, taking pictures in their beautifully windowed spaces, overlooking the river and city. In the morning we caught up about the festivities for brunch in the rooftop restaurant. It was the perfect cap to our beautiful day, that now has led us to 17 years together, two beautifully creative kids and five STL businesses. It's a memory and a place we'll never forget, as I'm sure many other can relate too.
