Where we've been:
 

Welcome to Novak’s Bar & Grill, my home away from home, and hopefully, yours too. I’m Nancy Novak, your friendly owner, operator, and bar keep. Officially established in 1996, the first Novak’s opened its doors up the street at 4146 Manchester. Novak’s actually began in my home years ago with lots and lots of house parties. It was called “Nancy’s Place,” and it had a sign and everything. We like to keep that “house party” feeling alive in the bar today. As I often say, “I throw a party for a living.”

The old bar, affectionately known as “Novak’s Fox Hole” was made up of two different rooms and a patio. It could hold two separate parties. The main bar had a grill/kitchen area, which greeted customers as they came in with the aroma of our signature Novak’s Burger. The bar was adequately sized and transformed into a stage when dancers hopped on the bar to perform. The other side of the bar functioned as a gameroom, and had a big ‘ol garage door that opened onto the patio. Live bands and DJ dance parties got booties bumpin’ in the gameroom, and our parties spilled out onto the patio in warm weather. Those who remembered the old Novak’s may recall it “raining” indoors from a perpetually leaky roof I was responsible for fixing, along with many other repairs. Constant repairs ultimately led us to decide not to renew the lease because of the megabucks needed to keep the building standing. All rain clouds have silver linings, as the “house” party MOVED ON UP across the street BIGGER & BETTER.

Hundreds of customers and two specific men helped me MOVE Novak’s forward to a new era in the spring of ‘04. March 31, 2004, the pouring rains stopped long enough for us to move the Old Novak’s stuff into storage. The sun came out and we formed a human assembly line down Manchester into storage next door to our future – The New Novak’s. The music was pounding in the street, and the beer was flowing! As if it was scripted, a big ‘ol rainbow came out almost minutes after we finished. We had a blast!

Oh, about the two men that helped… The first was John Knowles, owner of nearby “family” bar Magnolia’s. While the new Novak’s was being built, we spent time at Magnolia’s Upstairs and kept employees working and customers coming. We will be forever grateful that “family” acted like family during our time of need. Thank you, John, staff and customers who followed us. The second man was Don Bellon, owner of Bellon Wrecking & Salvage Company who believed in me – and our community – and built the current Novak’s. Because of ALL of you, the house party that is Novak’s keeps going and going and going…
 

Where we're going:
 

The new party officially began November 2004 with a Grand Opening Gala attended by VIP guests, including Mayor Francis Slay in a dashing tuxedo. The custom décor was an instant hit with patrons. Unlike the old Novak’s, which came ready made, I got to design the new Novak’s. From the time Don Bellon showed me the building at 4121 Manchester (the old Leon’s police uniform store), designing my own bar was a great experience. Where there was once a dirt floor, now sits a magnificent and spacious horseshoe bar that accommodates tons of thirsty customers. Bellon used all recycled materials salvaged from historic St. Louis buildings. The actual bar is built out of gigantic doors. I picked rooms for the bathrooms, sensitive to the fact that our mostly female clientele would like lots and lots of stalls and mirrors. Next were the kitchen and the gameroom. The kitchen was strategically placed in a central location, adjacent to the gameroom. In the center of the new bar, I designed a Lazy Susan and had it custom-made to display our patron’s favorite liquors and topped it off with a blazing neon Novak’s logo. Wow! was all our customers could say when we opened the NEW NOVAK’S.

And Wow! they continue to say as we continue to open the new additions. We perpetually tweak Novak’s in an effort to build the ultimate HOUSE PARTY for our customers. The stage in front of the bar has evolved into a dance floor where everybody is a STAR! as they dance the night away in the showcase windows on Manchester Street. Ultimately, we will transform the building behind the bar into a combination dance bar/arts venue.

Just last spring we opened a three-tiered state-of-the-art patio featuring a hand-built marble bar, and outdoor stage, a fabulous sound system, and new commercial-grade patio furniture. Simultaneously, the secured parking lot made its debut. Now our customers can walk seamlessly from car to bar, enjoy food and drink, party inside and out, see kick ass shows, Drag or Cabaret-style, enjoy LIVE bands on the patio, sing Karaoke, and play Washers, too. Dressy enough for a wedding or catered party, and homey enough for a casual Friday night on the town, the New Novak’s has it goin’ on!

We’ve been in business for 10 years now. And there’s more to come. Look for us to perfect the house party here in St. Louis, with continual updates and improvements. And although Novak’s currently leases from Bellon, ultimately, the goal is to own Novak’s St. Louis. And look for Novak’s Key West by 2010… after all a house party as great as Novak’s has to bust out ALL OVER.

<- Return to Novak's Main Page

View our Awards ->