"THE EXIT" COFFEEHOUSE IN THE FORMER GASLIGHT SQUARE IN SAINT LOUIS RAN ITS RUN FROM THE MID TO LATE 1960S.
BY 1968, IT HAD CLOSED, ALONG WITH THE REST OF THE "SQUARE"; LOCATED AT THE INTERSECTION OF BOYLE AND OLIVE.
IT WAS CHARACTERISTICALLY SAINT LOUIS; THAT IS , IT DID NOT LAST LONG AS IT IS TYPICALLY THE SAINT LOUIS THING TO DO.

BUT FOR THOSE OF US WHO WERE FORTUNATE TO HAVE BEEN THERE, IT WAS THE WONDERFUL YEARS OF OUR LIVES. NOSTALGIA IS A PAINFUL EMOTION. A KIND OF THE "WAY WE WERE" AND WE CAN NEVER GO BACK TO THE HOT SUMMER NIGHTS WHEN GASLIGHT SQUARE WAS THE FOCUS OF OUR EXPERIENCE.
TODAY, THE ENTIRE COLLECTION OF BUILDINGS IS GONE AND REPLACED BY A HOUSING DEVELOPMENT CALLING ITSELF GASLIGHT SQUARE, BUT IT IS NOT.
IT IS AS IF IT NEVER WAS THERE AND IT NEVER HAPPENED;
WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT TODAY.
-PATRICK GENNA, 18 DECEMBER 2004, SAINT LOUIS, MISSOURI