ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. — Grammy Award-winning rock singer Melissa Etheridge hosted an intimate concert in north St. Louis County to help rebuild an abandoned shopping complex.
The rock legend performed Saturday in Dellwood to about 100 lucky fans, fundraising for the Refuge and Restoration nonprofit organization.
Rather than a concert hall, Etheridge used the new nearly 12,000-square-foot entrepreneur space off of West Florissant Avenue that is part of the complex under construction. Phase 1 has already been fully funded totaling about $16 million.
"I mean we've got grandmas who give $25," CEO of Refuge and Restoration, Beverly Jenkins, said. "To a person who gives $2 million. We are blessed."
"We could not write the names on the wall that helped us finish this year," she said.
The R&R Marketplace project at Dellwood's Springwood Plaza at 10174 West Florissant Ave. had its musical night sponsored by Cathy's Kitchen. Raising funds for a massive economic access center in this area has been in the works for a decade.
"This is the sort of thing that changes communities," Melissa Etheridge said.
"This is not a band-aid," Etheridge said. "This is not just teaching someone to fish. This is teaching them to own the fish market."
Etheridge is best friends with Jerome and Cathy Jenkins who own Cathy's Kitchen.
The husband and wife have lived in Florissant for thirty years and met Etheridge after she came to their restaurant a few years ago. It budded a long-term friendship, including a trip to the Grammy's together on Feb. 4 with Etheridge's wife, Linda Wallem.
"Someone like Melissa Etheridge can be attracted to it, who wants to sing here, that will give the next person an opportunity," Jerome Jenkins said. "This building will represent the next building down the street."
"If we're able to build this building and do it right, you can tell, it is right, down the street will be another building that creates another opportunity," he said.
The first time Etheridge visited Cathy's Kitchen, she missed meeting the owners but left a $100 tip when she went to dinner with her wife and a signed CD.
Cathy was told she missed one of her favorite artists and made a post on Facebook inviting Etheridge back if she was ever back in St. Louis. Etheridge reached back out and said she'd love to visit again.
Cathy finally got to meet Etheridge the second time she came to her establishment.
"Mike Brown and everything had happened, we weren't doing that good in the restaurant, it was tough times back then," Cathy said. "I always say, on one of my worst days, she walked through the door."
Etheridge decided to auction off the guitar she played in Dellwood and sign it for $10,000 if anyone was interested in buying the piece on Saturday.
All to go toward the $20 million Phase 2 cost, including a Black Box Theater for live theater and concerts. The arts and music opportunities Etheridge said she's most passionate about.
Phase 2 construction including the theater is expected to be completed by early 2025.
If you're interested in donating to the non-profit R&R organization you can click here.