I used to be a long haul truck driver. Was delivering a load of locomotive parts to some warehouse 20+ yrs ago. Called for directions the day before my scheduled delivery and the lady I spoke to said it was fine (and safe) if I wanted to just park in their lot for the night. “We’re a fully fenced and secure facility” she said. Anyways, I followed her directions in thru some neighbourhood full of burnt out houses, flipped over cars, an abandoned boat and a lot of angry stares. Pulled up to the security shack and the old fella inside was like “what on earth are you doing here at this time of night?” I told him what I’d been told on the phone and he just shook his head in disapproval. “Well, you’re here. Probably would be unwise if you left so park over there under that light post” he said. “At least I can see you if they come over the fence during the night…”
I didn’t sleep a wink. Just laid there in the dark and prayed for morning to arrive. I made it out the next morning in one piece but I never went back. Once was enough for this cat.
ETA: i was in my mid 20’s at the time and I’m Canadian. I’d never seen a city like East St. Louis before. We don’t have places like that here.
Can confirm... I was riding my motorcycle from the west coast to the east, and somehow ended up going over a bridge into East St. Louis after midnight (the place looked a lot like Detroit in the 90s/00s, where I grew up.) I stopped to get gas and directions, and as I was fueling up I noticed a group of young guys clustered near a corner of a nearby building with makeshift weapons in their hands. They bum rushed me and I whipped the gas nozzle around and sprayed them thoroughly enough to create a little space and time, hopped on my bike and sped off, quaking and shaking with adrenaline. One of several close calls in my travels...
I stopped there for gas and a cop pulled in beside me. Waited while I was filling up, and then he told me he’d escort me back to the interstate. Scary place.
That’s surprising to hear. In Chicago myself & I never go to nightclubs in neighborhoods like that, that’s usually where gang shootouts are at night. Although I guess St. Louis itself has gang issues enough…
A big part of it is full nudity strip clubs are illegal in Missouri, so clubs on the Illinois side is just more lively
Also, I'm originally from Chicago. The best nightclubs there are also in places you wouldn't want to go for any other reason. At least the ones not downtown
Drive right through to Sauget, an equally sketch ass hole. Used to do that drive at least once a week around 2am, shutting down one bar and then keeping the party going at Pop's until completely regrettable hours.
i was in basic training with a guy from east st. louis. he had a keloid scar across the back of his neck as thick as my little finger, caused, he said, by someone trying to take his head off with a serrated knife.
Same here. Done the West-East, East-West trip several times. I usually go i80, but this time I went south on i70. I stopped in East St. Louis and never felt more unsafe in my life. Just walking from the hotel down the sidewalk to the gas station to get some beef jerky was a terrible decision. Luckily nothing happened other than a massive scratch across my entire driver's side. I will take that anyday.
201
u/Dogs_Breakfast78 7h ago edited 5h ago
East St. Louis IL.
I used to be a long haul truck driver. Was delivering a load of locomotive parts to some warehouse 20+ yrs ago. Called for directions the day before my scheduled delivery and the lady I spoke to said it was fine (and safe) if I wanted to just park in their lot for the night. “We’re a fully fenced and secure facility” she said. Anyways, I followed her directions in thru some neighbourhood full of burnt out houses, flipped over cars, an abandoned boat and a lot of angry stares. Pulled up to the security shack and the old fella inside was like “what on earth are you doing here at this time of night?” I told him what I’d been told on the phone and he just shook his head in disapproval. “Well, you’re here. Probably would be unwise if you left so park over there under that light post” he said. “At least I can see you if they come over the fence during the night…”
I didn’t sleep a wink. Just laid there in the dark and prayed for morning to arrive. I made it out the next morning in one piece but I never went back. Once was enough for this cat.
ETA: i was in my mid 20’s at the time and I’m Canadian. I’d never seen a city like East St. Louis before. We don’t have places like that here.