The story
The Thaxton Speakeasy occupies the lower level of the building at 1009 Olive Street in downtown St. Louis, a Kodak display building from the late 1920s. Mark Thaxton Pitliangas began restoring the building in 2002 to bring back its Art Deco character, after it had sat vacant for years. It was renovated in the early 2000s into a bar and event space with Jazz Age decor.
The speakeasy marks 19 years in November 2026, which suggests it opened around November 2007. It typically opens at 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, depending on the events schedule. Guests enter through a side door off the back alley and ring the doorbell, and passwords are posted in all caps on Instagram.
What's There Now
An active speakeasy bar, typically open Thursday through Saturday evenings depending on private events.
Everything that was here
- 2007–present · still open
Thaxton SpeakeasyBar
Down a side door off the back alley of a former Kodak building, a basement speakeasy admits guests who ring the bell and give a password posted weekly on Instagram.
See the map in 2008 → - 1994–present · still open
The Thaxton Event VenueEvent Venue
A Kodak display building from the late 1920s that later housed a fur business now serves as an Art Deco event venue in downtown St. Louis.
See the map in 1995 → - 1927–1990
Eastman Kodak StoreRetail Store
Eastman Kodak built this Art Deco display space as a prototype, but plans to copy it in other U.S. cities fell through during the Great Depression.
See the map in 1928 →
Did you know?
Connected places
Alexander's Hartman House
The Ivanhoe Restaurant
The Stockade
Luna Cafe
Mahogany Hall
Kiel Opera House
Explore the full web of connections on the map.
Nearby history
Level on Locust Apartments
Marriott St. Louis Grand Hotel
AC Hotel by Marriott (planned)
The Syndicate Condominiums
St. Louis Coliseum
Miss Hulling's Cafeteria
Know something about Thaxton Speakeasy? An old photo, a date, a memory of what stood here before?
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