The Jazz Spoon Reopens in Forest Park

For many in Forest Park, The Jazz Spoon had always been more than just a place to catch live jazz or share a cocktail. The bar, which reopened its doors last month, is the kind of place where regulars greet each other by name. But for owner Vanessa Carter, the return of The Jazz Spoon marks not only a new chapter for her business, but a deeply personal journey. Carter made the difficult decision to close the bar late last year after her father s death. The loss, she says, left her uncertain about the future. “It was difficult,” says Carter. “My dad was just a hard worker. He owned his own barbershop for over 50 years. I always hear him saying, ‘Don’t quit.’ He would not have wanted me to just give up altogether because of him.” The outpouring of support from the local community eventually convinced her to bring The Jazz Spoon back. “People would see me at church or out in the community and say, ‘Hey, aren’t you from The Jazz Spoon? We’re so sad you closed. Will you ever come back?’” sh