ST. LOUIS IS A PLACE FOR CREATIVES, ENTREPRENEURS AND CITIZENS WHO WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
HISTORY
The scattered cobblestone streets of St. Louis are adorned with street signs painted with names that recount the history they hold. Monikers like Laclede Avenue speak to the adventurous early French explorers in the late 17th century, and those that later settled the city. Fast forward to the late 1800s and early 1900s, when a large part of St. Louis’ historic architecture and infrastructure was constructed in anticipation of the Louisiana Purchase Exhibition—commonly referred to as the 1904 World’s Fair—and the consequent 1904 Summer Olympics (the first ever on US soil). Forest Park and other major institutions within the city, like the Saint Louis Art Museum and the Administration Building (now Washington University’s Brookings Hall) were established. Fine art, ragtime, blues, jazz and high design thrived in the city, and the street names snaking through the area reflect the history. By 1900, St. Louis had grown to become the nation’s 4th largest city, and its population continued to flourish well into the 20th Century. The city’s African American communities—bolstered by The Great Migration—along with the German, Irish and other ethnic communities expanded in the city. The city’s urban core continued to industrialize. By 1940, more than 800,000 people lived in the city of St. Louis. The city’s population peaked in 1950, but post-World War II suburbanization lured much of the city’s population out into the rapidly growing, ‘new-frontier’ towns of St. Louis County. Social, racial and economic inequities have been a chapter in St. Louis’ history, as with many large urban cities. Important pages from the Dred Scott case to the death of Michael Brown and the Ferguson uprising have all been important landmarks in the city’s story, undermining our values and casting the greater community upon an unsustainable path. The citizens of St. Louis resolved to tackle these challenges and are working to lead the way to improve social equity and justice. In line with our history, St. Louis will pioneer new ways to inspire change and break new ground to create a foundation for our future to be built upon. St. Louis is a place for revolution and transformation. Beginning with a spirited troupe of French explorers, through the Great Migration, industrialization, expansion, decline and revitalization, St. Louis has been a city built and rebuilt for greatness. Every day, St. Louis citizens draw on the city for inspiration. We’re constantly striving to realize its boundless potential. That steady climb is what presents such an incredible opportunity here, and while we continue to make strides toward greatness, you can be part, too. Every contribution matters here.
WELLNESS
Whether you are passionate about ACUPUNCTURE, relocating your ROOFTOP YOGA practice, in need of a FLOATING SESSION, seeking the best grocer to
40 + unique YOGA STUDIOS 60 + GYMS dedicated to several genres including rock climbing, spinning, Pilates and more. 140 + year-round MAR ATHONS, 10K, 5K, TR AIL R ACES and FITNESS COMPETITIONS 30 + HOLISTIC CENTERS for wellness support 40 + HEALTH-FOOD STORES and NATUR AL GROCERS
support your KETOGENIC DIET or preparing for the GO! ST. LOUIS MARATHON, St. Louis offers a wealth of options and resources to consider. We have a huge WELLNESS COMMUNITy for those who want to be refreshed and positive, inside and out.
PHOTO: MEGAN MAGRA
Functioning as a central melting pot for some of the most esteemed musicians in the American music songbook, St. Louis has long been known as the crafting place for artists like Chuck Berry, Miles Davis, Tina Turner, Little Milton, Scott Joplin and Wilco. What might surprise visitors is the bubbling UNDERGROUND MUSIC scene prolifically producing AWARD-WINNING performers, songwriters, touring bands and INNOVATIVE FESTIVALS.
MUS
SIC More than 45 YEARLY MUSIC FESTIVALS + WORLD-CLASS INSTITUTIONS like the St. Louis Symphony, The Fox Theatre & The Muny + More than 25 REGIONAL PERFORMING ARTS THEATRES + 55 LOCAL CONCERT VENUES catering to all genres + ENLIGHTENED, BOLD UNDERGROUND EDM, jazz, hiphop and DJ scenes + More than 25 REGIONAL, AWA R D-W I N N I NG R ECOR DI NG ST U DIOS + 15 C I T Y M USIC SHOPS catering to vintage gear heads as well as cutting edge tech-lovers + ILLUSTRIOUS EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES for those seeking lessons or performance opportunities
Missouri sits snuggly in the middle of the country and presents the juxtaposition of the Ozark Mountains with a raging set of RIVERS streaming next to SPRAWLING FARMLAND. All of this WILDLIFE butts up to the city center, and affords residents an opportunity for the perfect BALANCE of urban and natural life. A SOLITARY HIKE is found as easily as a weekly RUNNING CLUB.
NAT
URE 10 + RIVER, CANOE and PADDLING rentals 10 + NATURAL BODIES OF WATER, including more than five
gorgeous rivers and channels
110 PUBLIC PARKS and GREEN SPACES 50 + HIKING TR AILS, paved and unpaved BIKE PATHS
DISTINCT
St. Louis is home to an impressive number of DISTINCT NEIGHBORHOODS, all of which have made unique contributions to the creative and cultural economy. Sitting
pretty at the center of America, St.Louis has had the privilege of developing a WIDE ARRAY OF EXPERIENCES, drawing on inspiration from our incredibly diverse population. Nature and design enthusiasts alike will find solace in the city at places like The Cactus House at MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN. Places like this also afford ample opportunities to network and stumble upon romantic relationships, or plan a date night with a significant other. St. Louis is ripe with FREE CULTURAL HUBS and experiences easily accessible to newcomers. Well-styled FLOWER SHOPS are tucked into modern neighborhoods, JAZZ BISTROS and BLUES CLUBS make dancing and swaying in your seat easy; curated WINE SHOPS and an impressive array of DESIGNER BOUTIQUES for both men and women make shopping simple—if gifts are your love language.
In 2016, when profiling 52 TOP PLACES TO VISIT in the world, The New York Times made sure St. Louis was on the list.
H IST St. Louis was rated by Forbes as the SEVENTH MOST AFFORDABLE CITY TO LIVE in the United States.
For more than 100 years, St. Louis has quietly been building and supporting an infrastructure awarded for having the BEST CITY PARKS, MUSEUMS, RESTAURANTS and RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES in the country. The ECLECTIC COLLECTION of NEIGHBORHOODS and HISTORIC DISTRICTS are protected by a diligent set of preservationists. Visitors note the cache of BEAUTIFUL ARCHITECTURE, mostly built solidly from the red brick the city has become so known for. When St. Louis was settled, newcomers realized that St. Louis was underlain by quality clay deposits, and since its inception—and unlike many cities of this size—most substantial building sites in the city have been supported by red brick. Known not only for their beauty, these outstanding, historic brick structures are also why St. Louis was rated one of the TOP 10 MOST AFFORDABLE PLACEs to live in the country by Forbes. These homes and buildings are prevalent throughout the city, and they are economical.
OR IC
V ISIONA RY
St. Louis consistently ranks among the FASTEST GROWING STARTUP scenes in the United States. With the LOW COST
OF LIVING, the plethora of WELL-DESIGNED RENTAL SPACEs and available property, numerous capital generators and the long list of willing mentors, St. Louis has become the go-to home base for a diverse and promising set of BIOSCIENCE, TECH and SMALL-BUSINESS VISIONARIES. In 2016, Business Insider ranked St. Louis as the FASTEST-GROWING START-UP CITY. Brookings Institute reserved a spot for our city in the top seven BEST INNOVATION DISTRICTS, and Popular Mechanics named St. Louis the NUMBER ONE STARTUP CITY in America.
JPMorgan Chase and ICIC recently identified St. Louis as the TOP BIOSCIENCE CLUSTER in the country and called the work of BioSTL—a regional organization that champions St. Louis bioscience—a MODEL FOR OTHER CITIES.
P R E S E R VA T I O N
Pe r h a p s m o s t f a m o u s l y o r i g i n a t i n g a t t h e 1 9 0 4 World’s Fair and since nurtured, expanded, preserved
and restored, Downtown St. Louis, its surrounding neighborhoods and St. Louis County are home to an impressive set of HISTORIC BUILDINGS ranging in origination from the MID-19TH CENTURY GREEK REVIVAL through the ARTS AND CR AFTS movement to
STR E A MLINE MODER NE. The stunning empire-st yle VICTORI A N TOWNHOUSES
The A mer ica n Pla n n i ng I nst it ute
in the city’s LAFAYETTE SQUARE neighborhood showcase St. Louis’ dignified taste in
designated Washington Avenue and
residential architecture, alongside COMMERCIAL MASTERPIECES like the PALA ZZO-
Delmar Boulevard as two of the BEST
STYLE Wainwright Building at the city’s center.
MAIN STREETS in United States.
C U LT U R E
THE CHEROKEE STREET NEIGHBORHOOD is a hot spot for innovative MAKER SHOPS, artisan FURNITURE and FOOD, evocative CONCERT VENUES and FASHION POP-UPS.
Cherokee is a great example of the vibrant St. Louis communities that live, grow and expand around the city. Naturally built with a rich Hispanic
cultural influence, Cherokee Street is home to some of the best MEXICAN RESTAURANTS in the city. Music venues thrive here, gallery spaces line the streets and VINTAGE and DESIGNER BOUTIQUES sit comfortably next to great dining options. Prolific ARTISTS of color are also making waves in the city, sprinkled throughout the unique set of districts, the mentorships and recognition earned by these creatives are long-deserved.
PHOTO: TIM KEMPLE
24+ GROUP BIK E MEETUPS, including The Full Moon Ghost Ride and the World Naked Bike Ride 20 + dedicated CYCLING SHOPS 40 + MOTORCYCLE and POWER-SPORT HUBS
A DV E N T U R E
CLIFF JUMPING, SKY DIVING, ROCK CLIMBING, CYCLING, SKATING AND MOTORCYCLE CLUBS all boast fabulously inclusive communities in St.
Louis. In fact, wallethub.com rated St. Louis one of the TOP RECREATIONAL CITIES in the U.S. in 2017. From transforming abandoned churches into SKATE PARKS, to state-of-the art CLIMBING FACILITIES bringing global competitions to the Midwest, adventure in St. Louis is something we know well.
EX PER IENCE
For some, renting a gorgeous historic home in St. Louis and spending low-key evenings with Netflix and a book is a choice life. For those
who choose to explore the city, the individual neighborhoods in the St. Louis region set the city apart. Most know of St. Louis’ world champion CARDINALS or the unwavering fan loyalty to BLUES HOCKEY. Visitors to St. Louis may have heard of the CITY MUSEUM or stood under the GATEWAY ARCH. Take time to explore what might be the WORLD’S BEST TACOS on Cherokee Street, or take a VICTORIAN HOUSE TOUR in Lafayette Square. We feel on top of the world when we ride the Ferris wheel on the roof of the CITY MUSEUM and are right at home among the packed-in restaurants on wheels during “FOOD TRUCK FRIDAY” in Tower Grove Park.
Wallet Hub calls St. Louis one of the TOP 10 CITIES for a STAYCATION.
Aside from the impressive number of JAMES BEARD AWARD-winning chefs and restaurants that have decided to call St. Louis home, our city houses a wide array of culturally diverse neighborhoods—most of which house ECLECTIC and AUTHENTIC CUISINES inspired by their immigrant populations. The Gateway City also boasts an impressive set of large and small CRAFT BREWERIES, all with a well-defined palette. In 2016, Redfin noted that St. Louis was the TENTH-BEST CITY in the U.S. for beer-lovers, and Wine Spectator consistently awards St. Louis restaurants for excellence. Every city loves food, but what sets St. Louis apart is the dedication to innovation and creativity in the kitchen.
CUIS
40 + JAMES BEARD AWARDS and nominations 20 + of CR AFT BREWERIES, BREWPUBS and WINERIES C OU N T L E SS new r est au r a nt s, pop-up a nd u nderg r ou nd experiences every year
SINE
Simply put, St. Louis is home to a lengthy list of some of the most innovative, award-winning and AVANT-GARDE MUSEUMS and FINE-ART INSTITUTIONS in America. And St. Louisans help to ensure that many of them are free to visit. The PULITZER ARTS FOUNDATION in GRAND CENTER is an illustrious historic- and modern-art museum sharing a block with the dynamic CONTEMPORARY ART MUSEUM and was founded by Emily Rauh Pulitzer, who received the National Medal of Arts under President Barack Obama. Grand Center, home to these two vibrant institutions—as well as nearly 15 OTHER GALLERIES, CONCERT VENUES AND THEATRES—is only a drop in the ocean of artistic talent and curation provided by the City of St. Louis’ residents. Tucked inside Forest Park are the SAINT LOUIS ART MUSEUM and THE MUNY, America’s largest outdoor musical theatre. The Old North neighborhood is home to an innovative set of ARTS INITIATIVES, blowing up the concept of social art and breaking new ground with some of the city’s most talented SPOKEN-WORD POETS. From highly respected arts institutions to underground, burgeoning organizations, St. Louis is at the cusp of a prolific time in the city’s fine art history.
AR
T 30 + ART FESTIVALS and SHOWS 40 + MUSEUMS Hundreds of ARTS EDUCATION and COLLABOR ATIVE EXPERIENCES
UNEX PECTED
There’s a reason Thrillist named St. Louis the most overlooked cit y in the countr y in 2016. The modest Midwest personalit y
of the city coupled with its IMPRESSIVE, AFFORDABLE PROPERTY and LIFESTYLE, HISTORIC ARCHITECTURE and the DEEP CULTUR AL SPHERE have been moving the city away from its status as a historic sleeper state towards a new identity as a HUB FOR URBAN RENEWAL. The sprawling city is so spread out and CULTUR ALLY DIVERSE that it can be hard to believe what is available in just one
place. St. Louis city is home to 79 DISTINCT AND ECLECTIC NEIGHBORHOODS, all packed with NATIVE ARCHITECTURE—some dating back to its early French settlers near the start of the 19th century. Numerous WALK ABLE GREEN SPACES have been preserved and developed throughout the city, including the modern CITY GARDEN and the historic FOREST PARK, rated best urban park in the United States according to USA TODAY.
Trip Advisor ranks St. Louis as one of the TOP 25 DESTINATIONS TO VISIT in America.
EX PLOR E
St. Louis’ central location puts the city in close proximity to HUNDREDS OF DAY TRIPS that will leave you feeling renewed. DRAMATIC VIEWS accompany the winding
GREAT RIVER ROAD snaking through Alton, Illinois and hugging the LIMESTONE BLUFFS that soar over much of Missouri. HISTORIC ST. CHARLES is nestled just 30 minutes from Downtown, Mark Twain’s HANNIBAL, MISSOURI WINE COUNTRY, FLOAT TRIPS and CAVE DIVING are all short drives away. Experience WILDLIFE, ART and the fantastic HISTORY of the region in a matter of hours.
The Fiscal Times rated our port city as the NUMBER TWO CITY in the United States that gives you bang for your buck, ranking our COST OF LIVING a full 10 points below the national average.
How does St. Louis inspire and influence your work?
As someone who lives [to], and is dedicated to, helping people solve problems and come up with creative solutions, I’d say that there is an incredibly supportive community, and there is never a shortage of things to work on. I love St. Louis—flaws and all—and love finding inspiration through challenges. Were you born here, or are you a transplant? If you moved here, why?
I was born in Chicago and grew up in rural Mississippi. My family lives in Memphis now. I moved to St. Louis for undergrad and then moved away. The reason I moved back—and
DE N ICHOLS Occupation: Social Impact Strategist
Home base: Tiffany, near Botanical Heights
Favorite Neighborhood: Cherokee
what kept me here—is the community. The artist community here is unparalleled. As an artist, so much of my work is collaborative, and people here are so open to that. You really can’t get that anywhere else. This is a city where people are always willing to give support for good ideas. That culture keeps me here. What resources does St. Louis provide to support your work and lifestyle?
Street, the Grove or the Central
The Volunteer Lawyers and Accountants for the Arts is an amazing
West End
resource. The Regional Arts Commission also has some great training resources. The creative coworking spaces here are great. I am based in the Cortex [Innovation Community], but Nebula is great and so is TechArtista. What is your favorite thing to do in the city?
Oh, my goodness! I could go to Cherokee Street on the weekend and just spend all day there. I’d stop at a pop-up shop at Mesa Home, hang out and eat with the crew at Master Pieza—there is always something going on at 2720 or Blank Space, and then of course I’m always bumming around The Luminary. Also, the cuisine in St. Louis is to die for! You can have so many explorations. Describe your St. Louis in five words.
Unflinching, radically creative, fearless, conscious, supportive.
GER A RD CR A FT Occupation: Chef, Partner Niche Food Group
Home base: University City
How does St. Louis inspire and influence your work?
The people here are genuine, honest and real. That’s truly representative of what we strive to achieve as a restaurant group. What is something you can do here that you can’t do anywhere else?
Stand up paddle boarding in Forest Park. Were you born here or are you a transplant?
I’m a transplant. I moved here to open Niche. What resources does St. Louis provide to support your work and lifestyle?
Easy access to the outdoors, great community of local farmers and artisans within reach to collaborate with and learn from. What is your favorite thing to do in the city?
Mountain biking in Castlewood State Park. Describe your St. Louis in five words.
Exciting, diverse, accessible, innovative, welcoming.
How does St. Louis inspire and influence your work?
My roots are here, and I have always been inspired to create something that would truly add something outside of what St. Louis is known for. With JORD I wanted to make sure people knew that this brand started in St. Louis. The city of St. Louis is very close. The sports teams all support one another and have a goal of making this city better. Charitable organizations support large initiatives to make change not only in St. Louis, but globally as well. What is something you can do here that you can’t do anywhere else?
Visit the Gateway Arch.
SA LMA N SHA H Occupation: CEO, JORD Home base: Downtown West
Were you born here? If so, why did you stay put?
I was born here, and I decided to stay after going to Missouri State University because I wanted to work with my brothers. Having a family business has always been something we wanted to do. My father immigrated here from Pakistan when he was 18 and has worked with his brothers throughout his entire life. What resources does St. Louis provide to support your work and lifestyle?
For work, there are great networking events and continuous vision for growth in the city. The city has a great core for activities and social living. The continuous support and vision for growth makes St. Louis a great area for companies to work together and leverage one another. As for lifestyle, I am a huge fan of the Blues. I also like to play hockey, play golf, cycle and hang out with friends and family. What is your favorite thing to do in the city?
My favorite things to do in the city are finding nice patios and having dinner. That, and Blues games. Describe your St. Louis in five words.
Energy, culture, potential, connected, opportunities.
J EN N IFER N. A VA R I S I L VA Occupation: M.D., CMO, SentiAR, Inc. Director, Pediatric Electrophysiology Washington University School of Medicine
Home base: The Central West End (CWE)
How does St. Louis inspire and influence your work? What is something you can do here that you can’t do anywhere else?
I can walk to work! I live and work in a great part of the city. The high-quality academics at Washington University, coupled with the emerging Cortex district, make for an amazing site for entrepreneurship. There are few cities with this unique set of qualities. Were you born here, or are you a transplant? If you moved here, why?
I’m a transplant. Born and raised in northern New Jersey, trained in Miami, St. Louis and Boston and came back to St. Louis after I completed training. It was the only city that we wanted to live in that had an academic infrastructure that could support both my career and my husband’s academic career! (And let’s be honest—the choices were slim!) What resources does St. Louis provide to support your work and lifestyle?
St. Louis is committed to developing small businesses. The resources available in Cortex— ranging from BioSTL, BioGenerator, all the local investment companies (PinPoint, Cultivation Capital, iSelect Fund, etc.)—are tremendous for people starting companies. For me, one of my favorite parts of STL is the people. They are truly welcoming, kind people! What is your favorite thing to do in the city?
I love walking through the CWE, walking through Forest Park, taking my kids to the Zoo and Missouri Botanical Garden. There are so many fun things to do in the city! Describe your St. Louis in five words.
My St. Louis is: energetic, vibrant, creative, smart and entrepreneurial!
How does St. Louis inspire and influence your work?
St. Louis reminds me of Brooklyn 20 years ago—there is an abundance of space and potential. That’s what’s most inspiring to me. What is something you can do here that you can’t do anywhere else?
St. Louis is the kind of city where you can generate your own thing,make something that you want to see happen—as opposed to being in a city that is already oversaturated.
AMY GR A NAT Occupation: Executive Director, Parapet Real Humans
Favorite Neighborhood: My favorite neighborhood is where the gallery is, Tower Grove East/ Fox Park.
Were you born here, or are you a transplant?
I was born and raised here. I left for New York when I turned 18 and then came back 20 years later. What resources does St. Louis provide to support your work and lifestyle?
St. Louis is fantastically supportive of the small, local and unique. I believe that enthusiasm has a big impact on a city’s culture and quality of life. What is your favorite thing to do in the city?
Taking my son for a paddleboat ride in Forest Park on a quiet summer evening. Describe your St. Louis in five words.
Green, lush, red brick, rivers, BBQ.
K WA K U OW USU Occupation: CEO, Ilerasoft Home base: Downtown St. Louis
How does St. Louis inspire and influence your work?
St. Louis is a vibrant city full of life. Living Downtown, I pass by the Gateway Arch each day on my way to work. I am inspired by the bold yet simple, elegant and timeless design of this icon. I am inspired to reflect these characteristics in my work. What is something you can do here that you can’t do anywhere else?
Being relatively new to St. Louis, I have been surprised by the overwhelming support throughout the tech ecosystem. In St. Louis, you can get access to anyone, anywhere. This sets the city apart and has been the catalyst behind growth at Ilerasoft. Were you born here, or are you a transplant? If you moved here, why?
I moved to St. Louis from Houston after Ilerasoft won an Arch Grant in November 2016. What resources does St. Louis provide to support your work and lifestyle?
St. Louis is a startup hub full of smart and creative people. The diversity of thought from this ecosystem is an invaluable resource. Furthermore, institutions like T-Rex and CIC offers a space to experiment and enable grand ideations in a uniquely Midwestern way. What is your favorite thing to do in the city?
My favorite things to do in St. Louis are to visit all of the free museums or take an evening stroll around the Gateway Arch. Describe your St. Louis in five words.
Washington Avenue, Startups, Jazz, Baseball, Forest Park.
How does St. Louis inspire and influence your work?
I’m inspired by the doers: the people making music and art; the people taking a risk and starting a new business or nonprofit; the people doing ambitious projects on shoestring budgets; and the people working behind the scenes at neighborhood- and business-association meetings to make St. Louis a better place. St. Louis is being reinvented from the bottom up. What is something you can do here that you can’t do anywhere else?
In other cities, you can’t buy industrial and commercial buildings and repurpose them for creative uses. You can’t buy a foundry building and build a National Building Arts Center like Larry Giles has done. You can’t
JA S O N DEEM Occupation: Developer Home base: Cherokee Street (Benton Park West neighborhood)
buy a former shoe factory or cement plant and turn it into an amusement park like Bob Cassilly did. Where else can a group of skaters take a church and turn it into a skate park? Were you born here? If so, why did you stay put?
I grew up in St. Louis. My parents were both school teachers. My Italian grandfather on my mother’s side owned a grocery store on The Hill, and my grandfather on my father’s side was an engineer for the Missouri Pacific Railroad. I decided to stay in St. Louis because of the incredible architecture, culture and arts scene. What resources does St. Louis provide to support your work and lifestyle?
St. Louis offers affordable real estate and a low cost of living. It makes St. Louis an ideal place to experiment with a new idea, product or company. What is your favorite thing to do in the city?
Biking along the floodwall up to the Chain of Rocks Bridge and canoeing the Mississippi River with Big Muddy Adventures. Describe your St. Louis in five words.
An experiment in adaptive reuse.
N I NA GA NCI Occupation: Designer, Owner of Skif International
Home base and Favorite Neighborhood: My home is overlooking the Mississippi [River] in Mount Pleasant, close to Cherokee Street—one of my favorite neighborhoods to be in.
How does St. Louis inspire and influence your work?
St. Louis is an inspiring place to be. I love our tremendous artistic community that is truly supportive of one another and so much fun. The Skif mission statement is, “We make great clothes for great people!” That is because everyone who comes to our shop is a creator, visionary, leader, radical, wild and, most importantly, fun. What resources does St. Louis provide to support your work and lifestyle?
The city is full of diverse neighborhoods, with international communities, traditional food, beautiful historic buildings, an amazing music scene and the best museums and galleries. What is your favorite thing to do in the city?
My favorite places are the City Museum and the Citygarden, and anywhere listening to our community radio, KDHX. Describe your St. Louis in five words.
St. Louis is: friendly, always changing, has a rich history, is full of artists and is easy going.
How does St. Louis inspire and influence your work?
We are in the U.S. because Arch Grants helped us get here from the U.K.—with both a $50,000 grant as well as assistance to obtain a visa. We owe them, their team and their benefactors a debt of gratitude. I remember our first day well. Every day since then has been continuous growth in our belief that this is where we want to work, live and settle. For us, the three key benefits of St. Louis for work are: people who are friendly and generous with their time, access to business people at any level and the low cost of living. What is something you can do here that you can’t do anywhere else?
It’s a small big town. I love the fact that driving from place to place is easy. I love the spirit of entrepreneurs in the city. It’s a real belief in their own businesses, combined with the belief that this is the best place in America to build and grow a business. The cost of living is amongst the lowest in America, so whether you have a job or you run a business, your money goes many miles further compared to other cities.
AMIT KO T H A R I Occupation: CEO, Tallyfy. We’re an app that
Were you born here, or are you a transplant? If you moved here, why?
I am a transplant from the U.K. We are now here to stay, despite the fact
makes workflows easy.
that many of the investors in our company are in Silicon Valley. If we
Home base: My wife and I live in St. Louis Hills.
ever need to fly to the coasts, being in the middle of the U.S. is a huge
Favorite Neighborhood: That’s hard to pick,
advantage!
but I’d say South Grand. I also like Lafayette
What resources does St. Louis provide to support your work and lifestyle?
Square and Webster Groves, and want to visit
We feel the freedom of exploring without the shackles of expectations or
those areas more often.
stereotypes. This city and its vibrant array of cultures is still in the making, which is what I love the most about it. I’m glad that this is not New York, packed with tourists. Awesome people choose interesting and great places to be in, and St. Louis fits that mold. What is your favorite thing to do in the city?
I love exploring interesting restaurants, especially if they are local or family-run. I also like finding interesting bars—and dive bars, too. If you like beer, there are all the microbreweries you can discover. If you’re into wine, wineries are not far away. The countryside is peaceful and green. Most of all, I just love looking up at the buildings Downtown and realizing how incredibly beautiful they are. Very few cities offer all of this. Describe your St. Louis in four words.
It’s vibrant, beautiful, unexpected and charming.
JA S O N BOCK MA N Occupation: Owner, Strange Donuts Home base: St. Louis Hills
How does St. Louis inspire and influence your work?
I feel like it’s a big enough city that you have continued exposure to new people and experiences, but small enough that you have to be honest if you want to thrive. The city keeps you honest and authentic. I feel like these checks and balances keep me true to who I am. What is something you can do here that you can’t do anywhere else?
Fail cheaply. There are enough people living here to support great ideas, and if they don’t, you won’t be ruined. This is a great city for entrepreneurs. Were you born here, or are you a transplant? If you moved here, why?
I was born in England. My dad was in the United States Air Force. We were stationed at Scott Air Force Base when I was a kid, and we stayed. What resources does St. Louis provide to support your work and lifestyle?
A supportive small-business-focused community and tight-knit chambers of commerce. We were really lifted up by Maplewood and the city officials—before, during and after we opened our first location. There’s also a lot to do here, and it’s easy to get to—art, theater, sports, parks, museums, great schools and universities. What is your favorite thing to do in the city?
Go to Brennan’s, Cardinals and Blues games, eat, bike or run in Forest Park, and a bunch of kids’ stuff since we had babies. Describe your St. Louis in five words.
Warm, real, family, convenient, BBQ. I just love this city.
How does St. Louis inspire and influence your work?
St. Louis offers a rich history and diverse cultural networks to draw from and work within—all of which we appreciate and gain inspiration from, even though we are critical of certain aspects. Our work is highly derivative of the context we work in, and our method is based on forging a dialogic relationship to this context, as opposed to dialectic. In this, I mean that we attempt to understand the historical, social and physical environments we are working in, and then we work toward solutions that seek to respect this context, while finding challenging solutions that are of our time. There is a unique spirit to what is occurring in St. Louis at this time, and I am inspired every day to play a proactive and positive role in the evolution of our city.
BR ENT CR ITTENDEN
Were you born here, or are you a transplant? If you moved here, why?
Occupation: Architect and
I am a native of the region, born in Granite City, but [I] moved away
Urbanist. CEO, UIC.
before I was 10. I returned when I was 29. My wife Sarah and I were living
Home base: Botanical Heights
in London and at a crossroads in where we wanted to land permanently after spending our 20s in New York City and Europe. Ultimately we chose to move to St. Louis—where we both had ties—because we were drawn to the opportunity to play a role in a city in transition and to do so at a younger point in our profession than we could in other cities. What resources does St. Louis provide to support your work and lifestyle?
Over the past 11 years, we have been able to create a practice that we feel is at the forefront of where a proactive architectural practice can be. The opportunities and business community in St. Louis have allowed us the time and space to build our highly entrepreneurial practice and scale quickly. Every time we have hit a roadblock, we have been able to find the support to get us moving in the right direction, and we are very thankful. What is your favorite thing to do in the city?
As passionate as I am about our practice, my favorite thing about living in St. Louis is the ability to have a strong work-life balance. We have three young daughters, and St. Louis really is a great place to raise a family.
CA RA S TA R K E Occupation: Director, Pulitzer Arts Foundation Home base: I live in Lafayette Park, which I love because of its history and architecture.
Favorite Neighborhood: I would start with Grand Center, where the Pulitzer Arts Foundation and so many other arts organizations are—from the St. Louis Symphony to the Fabulous Fox Theatre. It’s a really vibrant place to visit, with as many different architectural styles as artistic venues.
How does St. Louis inspire and influence your work?
The St. Louis community is a significant inspiration for the exhibitions we present as well as the public programs we hold, which aim to engage more deeply with our local audiences. What is something you can do here that you can’t do anywhere else?
Three things that come to mind are taking in architect Eero Saarinen’s monumental Gateway Arch, experiencing the indescribable City Museum and visiting the phenomenal Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site , which is the site of a great prehistoric native civilization. Were you born here, or are you a transplant? If you moved here, why?
I moved from New York to lead the Pulitzer two years ago and was charmed by the city, intrigued by its history and energized by its future. What resources does St. Louis provide to support your work and lifestyle?
My work and lifestyle are sort of inseparable, but I have greatly appreciated the incredible depth of resources in the cultural, culinary, academic and medical fields. What is your favorite thing to do in the city?
Exploring. Discovering the city has been fun and has led to many surprises; the neighborhoods have such distinct personalities, it is almost like visiting different towns. Describe your St. Louis in five words.
I’ll use three: Best-kept secret.
How does St. Louis inspire and influence your work?
My work is a constant balance of feeding the creative need to express myself through my designs and staying inspired in running a business. Luckily, St. Louis offers the best of both worlds. There are amazing galleries and museums in St. Louis that are accessible and exceptional. There are extremely stylish, well-traveled men and women in St. Louis that are tapped into what is happening in global fashion and the arts. There is also a strong and growing entrepreneurial community. I find that being around other business owners and creatives is incredibly inspiring for both sides of my brain. Were you born here? Why did you stay?
I was born in St. Louis but went to school on the East Coast and then lived and worked in New York for several years before moving back to St. Louis. I still spend a lot of time traveling for work and for fun, but St. Louis is a great
E M I LY B R A DY KO P L A R Occupation: Founder & Designer of Wai Ming
Home base & Favorite Neighborhoods: I live in Clayton, work Downtown
home base. I was able to establish my business and am able to travel because of the low overhead and living costs that come with being a St. Louis resident and business owner. What resources does St. Louis provide to support your work and lifestyle?
There has been a commitment by the city and the community to nurture
and spend a lot of my down time in
new businesses. I am a member of the Saint Louis Fashion Incubator,
the Central West End.
which is obviously specific to my field of work, but there are other programs like Arch Grants, T-Rex, Cortex, Brazen, Rise and more that were created to support and/or house startups in a wide range of industries as well as entice entrepreneurs to move their businesses to St. Louis. There are so many creative minds in the city, so it’s great to have hubs where people can share ideas, make connections and get access to the support and resources that might be harder to come by in other cities. What is your favorite thing to do in the city?
Eat! There are so many great restaurants in town specializing in everything from St. Louis standards like toasted ravioli and gooey butter cake, to incredible BBQ, Vietnamese, Italian, Turkish, Thai, creative American, as well as many restaurants specializing in farm-to-table for vegetarians and meat-lovers alike. Describe your St. Louis in 5 words.
Accessible, full of hidden treasures.
CHR IS MOTL EY Occupation: Founder & CEO, Better Weekdays
Home base: Downtown St. Louis
How does St. Louis inspire and influence your work?
The intentionality of the many organizations [that] want to make the region a desirable place to build one’s life. What is something you can do here that you can’t do anywhere else?
I never limit what I can do or where I can do it. I choose to be in St. Louis because I can make a difference and build a company with fewer obstacles. What resources does St. Louis provide to support your work and lifestyle?
The entire entrepreneurial ecosystem. What is your favorite thing to do in the city?
Anything in Forest Park. Describe your St. Louis in five words.
Place to make a difference.
How does St. Louis inspire and influence your work?
Our business literally couldn’t exist without St. Louis. We are continually inspired by St. Louis’ sense of place, its unique history and urban character, and these qualities are what keep our ideas constantly flowing. St. Louis is big enough to offer a wide variety of audiences and experiences, yet it’s easy to plug in and connect with the right people to make things happen. This is a city of makers that hasn’t been saturated; it’s a place that is always evolving. What is something you can do here that you can’t do anywhere else?
We are so spoiled here. If you want an incredible 19th-century row house with original details in a burgeoning
R A N DY VINES Occupation: Co-owner of STLStyle, a St. Louis-centric design
neighborhood within easy walking distance to parks, shops, nightlife
and retail shop.
and restaurants, we’ve got it in spades. Our built environment is our
Home base: Skinker/DeBaliviere Favorite Neighborhood: Cherokee Street (Benton Park West and
Gravois Park Neighborhood)
number one competitive advantage; they just don’t build cities this cool anymore. Were you born here? If so, why did you stay put?
I was born and raised in the St. Louis suburbs but have been a city resident for more than 16 years. I continue to travel frequently, and I always appreciate St. Louis more and more every time I return from a trip. There is just a good feeling here, and it is such a great home base. What resources does St. Louis provide to support your work and lifestyle?
St. Louis is a fiercely loyal city, and people here are great supporters of local talent and indie culture. This is a city that turns out to support great ideas and events, and there are always new opportunities for collaboration popping up. A great quality that any creative would appreciate is the city’s relative permissiveness when it comes to letting things happen. What is your favorite thing to do in the city?
I love taking public transit. Taking the bus or train is the most authentic way to experience the city and soak up the neighborhoods. Describe your St. Louis in five words.
Unfiltered, classic, weathered, original, enigmatic.
GA BR IEL M B A L AV I E L E Occupation: Ph.D., Associate Professor of Medicine, and Co-founder of Confluence Life Sciences, Inc.
Home base: St. Charles County
How does St. Louis inspire and influence your work?
As a Midwestern city with great academic and business institutions, St. Louis offers a relaxing environment while providing numerous competitive opportunities for career development. What is something you can do here that you can’t do anywhere else?
The combination of affordable housing, low cost of living and great school districts makes the St. Louis area a great environment to raise kids. Were you born here, or are you a transplant? If you moved here, why?
Born in Congo, Africa; went to France for graduate studies; moved to San Antonio, Texas, for postdoc training, then to St. Louis for employment. What resources does St. Louis provide to support your work and lifestyle?
Great academic institutions, booming biotechnology industry. What is your favorite thing to do in the city?
Gateway Arch, Saint Louis Zoo, Saint Louis Art Museum. Describe your St. Louis in five words.
Our family chose St. Louis.
FUTUR E
Straddling the confluence of revolution and cherished antiquity, the city of St. Louis, is at once a gateway to a new world and a beloved home base. Grit and glamour live comfortably and unapologetically side by side, creating an ideal space for inspiration, innovation, creativity and a raw, real pride that is only found in a great city. The accessibility and economical landscape of St. Louis, juxtaposed with the beauty of its storied history, provides a balance for residents that is unlike most other cities in America. A young couple just starting their life together with a limited income can make their home in a century-old, restored Victorian townhouse in a vibrant, progressive-thinking neighborhood. A growing family can build their nest in a welcoming, safe community with award-winning elementary schools, coffee shops and health-food stores within walking distance. A scientist or startup team can build their base in a newly designed Downtown loft and access the closely located bioscience and tech generators in St. Louis’ flourishing innovation community, all while being next to some of the most talked-about arts institutions in the country. An ambitious activist committed to change or a philanthropic leader with a novel nonprofit business plan can spark a revolution here. St. Louis is purposeful. St. Louis is committed. St. Louis is thriving— with our feet firmly rooted in a history of revolution, revitalization and creativity. St. Louis is always exploring.