Is Kriegshauser West Mortuary Looking For Company In Olivette?

Representatives from both sides are not saying much at the moment, but there is new discussion about the possibility of Berger Memorial Chapel, a Central West End staple for a century, joining forces with Kriegshauser West Mortuary at the latter's Olivette facility located at 9450 Olive Blvd.

A request for a building permit, on file with the city since mid-December, calls for a quarter-million dollars worth of renovations to the Kriegshauser location, on behalf of Kriegshauser and Berger Memorial Chapel. 

When asked about the permit Tuesday, Kriegshauser Location Manager Ed Lender said, "I can't tell you about that just yet," and declined to offer further specifics.

"We currently do not have plans to move to the Olivette area," Berger Funeral Director Emily Stein MacDonald told Patch Tuesday, putting the emphasis on "currently" in the conversation. "We remain in the Central West End where we have been for a hundred years," she said.

Talks have taken place over the years, MacDonald said, adding that whatever might happen would not include a merger. 

Berger and Kriegshauser operate under the same Dignity Memorial network but are not otherwise affiliated, as different businesses working with different communities.

The Olivette building permit has not been approved yet, said Carlos Trejo, the city's planning and zoning administrator. The work would not require further city backing.