St. Louis and area news - business, events, politics, etc. (market, about)

[flynavyj]

The former Northwest Plaza site is being re-branded as The Crossings at Northwest. I'll try to get over and take some photos within the next few days (something I've been wanting to do for a while). The mall went under some heavy demo earlier this year to include razing the former Dillard's, JC Penny and Sears stores. The old Famous Bar with it's architecturally interesting roof will remain, and was slated to become a technical school and the office tower will be receiving some renovations but will remain as well.

The Western side of the site that was formerly parking is making way for the new Menard's which is scheduled to open this fall. The Eastern side of the mall has been refaced and now includes some outdoor entrance shopping/facade. Additional construction will begin for 4 more stores (although the design has changed several times) and then there will be open space for additional retail once/if things pick up.

The image below is the current plans, which shows the Menard's, a Rothman Furniture (which is currently a Bedroom Store), and a Ruler Foods (currently vacant Tile Store). The only store to remain open is the Jack n' the Box pictured.



I sent in a suggestion to the developers over a year ago to make the area a "destination" with opportunities for dining, movies, etc...and would love to see the city of St. Ann embrace it as a new town square, since St. Charles Rock Rd is essentially main street anyway. But I don't see that happening in the near future. Below were some ideas I sent over, to include combining the parking into a garage feature to reduce the requisite number of lots, increasing the retail, making additional foot traffic areas, and incorporating an ring which could be used for ice skating in winter and roller skating in summer, a small farmer's market, plus numerous fountains as a homage to the old plaza site that was covered in fountains.

[OuttaTheLouBurbs]

That's an incredibly cool proposal, but the problem is that it's too forward-looking for the developer. Most developers are busy building for the present instead of the future. But seriously, your idea is really cool. Why do you think they didn't give it consideration?

[BioMechanical]

Sugarfire Smoke House is opening a location in the city. If you haven't been before, definitely check this place out. Award winning BBQ, and they have had a ton of buzz in the media in the last year. I guarantee this place will bring people to Washington avenue for the BBQ alone.

Sugarfire Smoke House to open downtown location : Entertainment

[BioMechanical]

"St. Louis is still the largest U.S. city without access to a peer-to-peer, app-based ride-sharing service like UberX or Lyft, but that’s expected to change."

UberX Will Launch Soon in St. Louis - St. Louis Magazine

[BioMechanical]

What is up with that Mendards at the new Northwest Plaza? Construction on that place has been done for many months, and yet it has never opened for business. Seems very strange.

Anyone heard anything about that?

[BioMechanical]

St. Louis Post-Dispatch Selling Building, Looking for New Location

Don't freak out though

He says the Post-Dispatch wants to stay downtown.

St. Louis Post-Dispatch Selling Building, Looking for New Location « CBS St. Louis

[BioMechanical]

Nice donations from Enterprise

Enterprise Holdings founder Jack Taylor and his family are poised to announce on Wednesday their second large slate of donations within two weeks. This time, the rent-a-car family is giving away $92.5 million to 13 cultural institutions and charities, most of which are local.

The two largest gifts, of $30 million and $25 million, are going to Forest Park Forever, the nonprofit that shares management and maintenance of St. Louis’ largest park, and CityArchRiver, the foundation spearheading the $380 million renovation of the Gateway Arch grounds.

Taylors give $92.5 million to 13 recipients, including Arch, Forest Park : News

[BioMechanical]

Travel channel names St. Louis to list of "Best All American Vacations 2015"

Travel's Best All-American Vacations 2015 : TravelChannel.com

[BioMechanical]

IKEA will open at 9 a.m. on Wed, Sept 30th.

They will probably open before the Menards at Northwest, which still hasn't opened yet for some reason.

[BioMechanical]

If anyone still cares, that Menards finally opened. Jeeze.