History of The Bevo Mill

Prior to World War I, August A. Busch, Sr. and his architects studied Flemish architectural styles with the intention of building an authentic windmill in St. Louis.  In 1915 he chose a spot exactly halfway between the brewery and Grant's Farm, his home.  Mr. Busch used the beautiful Mill Room as his private dining room for many years, while the remainder of the restaurant was opened to the public in 1917.

From the beginning, the Bevo Mill became a favorite family restaurant, boasting of several unique architectural details.  The exterior is finished with stones personally gathered by Mr. Busch from Grant's Farm.  Following a German and Dutch tradition, a pair of storks are mounted on top of the chimney to ensure good luck.

The vaulted ceilings of the foyer and Mill Room have groined arches which end in stone-carved gnomes, each of them holding a mug. The gnomes were originally exhibited at the Paris Exposition in 1889.   On the walls of the Mill Room are two large, tile murals of angelic children frolicking with animals. All tiles, light fixtures and millwork are original, carefully restored through 1984-1986.

The brewery spent 20 months and over one million dollars to renovate the Bevo. Patrick's Restaurants, the operator, has taken great pleasure in recreating the old traditions and adding some new traditions for your dining pleasure.

What is Bevo? A non-alcoholic drink that tasted like beer served to Bevo Mill customers back when prohibition was the controversy of the day.  The novel idea that drinks could be served only at tables with meals and this new drink helped make the Bevo Mill a popular family restaurant.