Photo by David Carson (Post-Dispatch)
Crown Candy Kitchen
After the inaugural STL 100 back in 2015, I decided you didn’t need me to tell you to go to Crown Candy Kitchen. This is the St. Louis institution, after all, turning a spry 106 this year. You know about the sundaes, the malts, the Heart Stopping BLT. Andy Karandzieff has shepherded his family’s legacy into the 21st century, and he’s one of St. Louis’ best Twitter follows. But if you follow his tweets, you know he’s passionate about the problems facing Crown Candy’s Old North St. Louis and the city in general — he even ran for mayor in 2017. That kind of engagement with the community is all too rare. Crown Candy Kitchen isn’t simply an institution but the vital beating heart of a neighborhood.
Hours: 10:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Saturday
Last year's ranking: New this year
Opened: 1913