St. Louis Business Journal

Report: Pappy's Smokehouse Partners Embroiled in Lawsuit

A lawsuit has divided the partners behind one of St. Louis' best known and most successful restaurants, the Midtown barbecue joint Pappy's Smokehouse (3106 Olive Street; 314-535-4340). Joe Holleman of the Post-Dispatch broke the news of the lawsuit pitting Michael Wegmann against Mike Emerson (who i ... More >>

Victor's (a.k.a. Vic's) Opening in Roberts Tower After All?

Last week, I stopped by the former Shula's 347 Grill (411 North Eighth Street) in the Roberts Tower downtown to see what had become of its sucessor, Vic's on the Plaza. A brief recap, if you're late to the story: Shula's 347 Grill opened in May of last year, but then closed in December after the co ... More >>

Flying Saucer Draught Emporium to Land Downtown

The St. Louis Business Journal breaks the news in its latest print edition (subscription required to read online): Flying Saucer Draught Emporium, a Dallas-based chain with fifteen locations across seven states, will open at the Cupples 9 building, currently under renovation at 1120 Spruce Street do ... More >>

Tidbits from the Cheshire, Walkers Restaurant & Bar

- The Cheshire (6300 Clayton Road; 314-647-7300) plans three new restaurants, according to an article in the current issue of the St. Louis Business Journal (subscription only): a main restaurant featuring old-school dishes, a gastropub and a specialty market. Three Sixty chef Rex Hale will oversee ... More >>

St. Louis is Still in Super Bowl XLVI, Even Though the Rams Suck

The Rams may not be taking the field on Sunday at Super Bowl XLVI, but someone from St. Louis will be: Nick Smarrelli, chief operating officer at St. Louis IT firm GadellNet Consulting Services. He'll be helping to escort Madonna on the field for her halftime show, as reported yesterday in an articl ... More >>

Tidbits from Casa Gallardo, the Food Truck Scene and More

​It has been an especially busy week for St. Louis restaurant news. Here are a few more items that we've come across this week:- Real Mex Restaurants Inc., the parent company of Casa Gallardo and Chevy's Fresh Mex, has filed for bankruptcy, the St. Louis Business Journal reports. The California-ba ... More >>

The Tilted Kilt Returning in New Location

​When breastaurant chain the Tilted Kilt closed its Arnold location in July, the employee who confirmed the news to Gut Check mentioned that there would be a new location "somewhere in the area." At the time, a representative from the Tilted Kilt's corporate office told us that she had no know ... More >>

Senate Removes $300 Million in Incentives from China Hub Bill

The China Hub bill looks a bit like this today.​Those pushing for a bill to build a cargo hub at Lambert St. Louis International Airport were dealt a setback today. Senators meeting in special session removed a provision in the bill that could provide as much as $300 million in incentives for buil ... More >>

Post Offices In St. Louis May Be on the National Chopping Block

​When's the last time you sent a letter...or mailed anything at all besides a rent check? It's probably been a while; you probably do most of your correspondence online.The United States Post Office is taking notice. Today, the USPS released a list of 3,653 post offices nationwide to be studied fo ... More >>

Brandt's Café Announces Closure [Updated]

Ian FroebIt's curtains for Brandt's in the Delmar Loop.​Delmar Loop mainstay Brandt's Café (6525 Delmar Boulevard, University City; 314-727-3663) announced its closure on its Facebook page this morning. Owner Adam Brandt posted the news:Unfortunately ... Brandt's Café is closed.The Loop has been ... More >>

Portabella in Clayton Closing [Updated]

Image via​Word started circulating this morning that...something...was happening with Portabella (15 North Central Avenue, Clayton; 314-725-6588). George Mahe of St. Louis Magazine tweeted a photo of a sign outside the restaurant announcing that it was closed for remodeling. "Emphasis on remodelin ... More >>

Clayton Ritz-Carlton Attack Leads to $20 Million Suit

Daniel Hughes now faces a civil suit on top of criminal charges.​Well, we can't say we're too surprised by this one.The family of the nine-year-old girl who was subjected to an early-morning attack at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Clayton has filed a $20 million suit against the schmancy hotel chain, ... More >>

Reports: St. Louis-based Wings of Hope Nominated for Nobel Peace Prize

Will local angels earn their wings?​Yesterday's news was dominated by reports that WikiLeaks mastermind Julian Assange has been nominated for the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize. Now comes word that Mr. Assange faces some local competition with Wings of Hope, located in west St. Louis County, also named as ... More >>

Dick Fleming Retiring as President of RCGA; Don't Worry. He Can Afford It.

St. Louis Commerce MagazineDick Fleming​After nearly 17 years at the helm, Dick Fleming is retiring from St. Louis' Regional Chamber and Growth Association, a.k.a. RCGA. The St. Louis Business Journal has an interview with Fleming today on the topic. The RCGA president says that at the age of 65 h ... More >>

Twitter Co-Founder, St. Louis Native Jack Dorsey Raises $27 Million for Square

Jack Dorsey​The Wall Street Journal reports this week that Jack Dorsey has raised $27.5 million in venture capital for his latest start-up, Square, that allows smart phones to process credit-card payments.The funds come courtesy of Sequoia Capital, the California-based firm that provided early see ... More >>

Record-Breaking Kindness: Goodwill Aims for a Million Donations in 2010

image via​How charitable are you feeling today? If the answer to that question is "at least a tiny bit," MERS/Goodwill is looking for YOU. The local chapter of the charitable organization has collected 914,000 donations this year, and they've got their hearts set on crossing the million-donat ... More >>

Brad Kessler: Attorney-Cum-Artist with Great Hair and Killer Tats Running for Office

TwitterSilver-haired hunk wants your vote!​So, it's official. Criminal defense attorney Bradford (Brad) Kessler is running for the St. Louis Board of Aldermen to represent the city's Sixth Ward. That's the downtown loft district currently represented by alderwoman Kacie Starr Triplett. Since we ca ... More >>

Richmond Heights Wants to Become "Tourist Destination" -- by Taxing the Hell Out of Tourists

Admit it: You'd pay ungodly tax rates to vacation here.​With a tax rate on hotel rooms of 15.67 percent, the suburb of Richmond Heights already has one of the higher hotel tax rates in the nation -- higher than such tourist meccas as San Francisco and New York City, the St. Louis Business Journal ... More >>

Kroenke Wants to Rent-to-Own St. Louis Rams?

Two bits: How Kroenke reportedly wants to pay for the Rams.​Stan Kroenke wants to pay for the St. Louis Rams in installments, according to a report out today. Under a deal Kroenke is said to be ironing out with the NFL, Kroenke would make an initial payment to the current majority owners Chip Rose ... More >>

Cardinals "Stand for Stan" Campaign: Please Stop Calling it "Grass Roots"

​So, if you haven't heard by now, the Cardinals have launched a campaign to get baseball legend Stan Musial the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest distinction a U.S. citizen can receive. The so-called Stand for Stan campaign is a virtual social-media blitzkrieg with the Cardinals crafting ... More >>

Saint Louis Brewery (Schlafly) Owners Discussing Sale, but Nothing Imminent

​The St. Louis Business Journal reports today that St. Louis Brewery co-founders Tom Schlafly and Dan Kopman have opened discussions with senior staff about selling their ownership stake in the company, which produces Schlafly beer.Kopman, who is the brewery's director of operations, tells Gut Che ... More >>

Burn! Scientists Say Missouri and Illinois Pay Billions to Import Coal

Image sourceA gift to clean energy advocates from the Union of Concerned Scientists​A report on coal imports from the Union of Concerned Scientists was just about a month too late for the Great Coal Debate at Washington University.,It's a pity too, because the environmental activist group found th ... More >>

Will the Buck Stop Here For Truman Day?

Happy birthday dear Harry! (Maybe for the very last time...) Happy birthday to you!​Though Missouri has produced only one President, we made sure he was a good one. Which is more than Pennsylvania, home of James Buchanan, can say. And unlike our neighbor, the Land of Lincoln, we don't have to ... More >>

Could St. Louis Have Casino King to Complement East St. Louis Casino Queen?

​Monday was the deadline to submit bids with the St. Louis Development Corporation for a new downtown casino to replace the President, which is closing this summer. As the St. Louis Business Journal reports, three companies have thrown their name in the hat. They include Isle of Capri, Koman Prope ... More >>

Co-Founder, Editor Catherine Neville Leaves Sauce Magazine [Updated 2x with Comment from Neville, Allyson Mace]

​The St. Louis Business Journal scores today's big food-media scoop: Sauce Magazine co-founder and editor-in-chief Catherine Neville is leaving the magazine. She sold her share to her fellow co-founder, Sauce publisher Allyson Mace.According to the Business Journal, Mace will edit the publication ... More >>

St. Louis Geezer Buys $100,000 Worth of Bernie Madoff's Jewelry To Teach Daughters A Lesson in Fiscal Responsibility

Photo of Lester Miller via St. Louis Business Journal​Lester Miller knows a thing or two about being filthy rich. He also knows what its like to be dirt poor. Maybe that's why he's taken such an interest in the rags-to-riches-to-orange-jumpsuit story of Bernie Madoff.Miller, a 77-year-old Ladue re ... More >>

Recession, Schmession. Who Wants to Build a Billion-Dollar Waterfront?

Wikimedia CommonsIf they're gonna build a canal, why not a mountain, too? Just like in the real San Carlos, Mexico! ​St. Chuck, apparently.Mike Sellenschuetter, president of Dean Homes, has a $1.5 billion plan to erect the Harbor San Carlos not far from the Family Arena. The developer hatched the ... More >>

'Cause You Can't Keep Unemployed St. Louis Journos Down, We Present the New Globe-Democrat

This used to be a two daily town. In the morning came the conservative-leaning St. Louis Globe-Democrat. In the afternoon, the liberal-leaning St. Louis Post-Dispatch. ​Then came a joint-operating agreement, in which the two papers agreed to share some costs and expenses. But even that wasn't enou ... More >>

New Town Developer Files Bankruptcy; Whittaker Homes Plans to Reorganize

That's the way the New Town crumbles.​The fifth-largest homebuilder in the St. Louis region has filed for bankruptcy. St. Charles-based Whittaker Homes filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy last week. The company, headed by Greg Whittaker, is perhaps best known for its massive new-urbanist development ... More >>

FoodWire: Ellisville Straub's Closing October 31

Straub's announced today that it will close its new store in Ellisville on October 31, less than a year after the 40,000-square-foot location, which includes a cooking school, opened. Both the Post-Dispatch and the St. Louis Business Journal have the story, including the official Straub's statement, ... More >>

Segway Inventor Brings FIRST Robotics Competition to St. Louis

It may not be the Olympics or even the All-Star Game, but St. Louis will get a chance to bask in the international spotlight for three consecutive Aprils starting in 2011 when the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) finals will come to the Edward Jones Dome.flickr.com/photos/silkegb​Well, OK, it's a ... More >>

Beethoven Rolls Over; St. Louis to Lose Only Classical Music Station

​After 61 years on the airwaves, a last-ditch effort to save Classic 99.1 (KFUO-FM) was all for naught. Yesterday the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod announced the sale of the classical music station to Christian music broadcaster Joy FM. The church owns the rights to KFUO and began quietly negotia ... More >>

Another Local Elected Official -- Mike McMillan -- Reportedly Under Scrutiny

Local license collector said to be subject of inquiry​Both KMOX and the St. Louis Business Journal are reporting that License Collector Mike McMillan is the subject of a federal investigation. KMOX says the FBI is looking at McMillan; the Business Journal says the U.S. Treasury Department requeste ... More >>

Spanish Lake Casino Opponents Set to Picket County Planning Commission Meeting Tonight

www.knitwareblog.com​Remember the late-July proposal from a North St. Louis County developer for a massive casino and resort next to the Columbia Bottom Conservation Area? The one that would turn 376 acres of wetlands into 8,000 parking spots, an 18-hole golf course, and another Casino in the St. ... More >>

Keep Your Wallet Far From Spazio's Westport Tonight

flickr.com/photos/31272503@N02​A Texas Internet-type company called iJango is holding a meeting at Spazio's in Westport tonight to attract St. Louis-area investors, and the Better Business Bureau is warning St. Louisans to be wary, the St. Louis Business Journal reports.More specifically, the BBB ... More >>

Schnucks Wins Coveted Black Pearl Award

flickr.com/photos/misterajcWhat is the Black Pearl Award, I hear you ask in a tone of great bewilderment? And why is it coveted?We at Gut Check are here to help!We must also confess -- we were drawn to this arduous research task by our fondness for pirates.Shopping at Schnucks, particularly during t ... More >>

Thy Neighbor's Worth

A new St. Louis online paper will let you know whether that family moving next door is rich and famous.

Cincinnati Inquirer

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis might live up to its name — by relocating.

All Fun & Games

...until Unreal puts our eye out. Plus: We hit the lake for some high-speed action, then attempt to chill with Chuck Berry.

A Cherry on Top

VIP motorcades are no big deal -- they're just illegal

Giants' Lesson: Part 2

How Frisco success ruined case for stadium welfare handouts

Uh, What We Meant to Say...

Cardinals find a new closer for their stadium quest

Ballpark Pillage

Proposed Cardinals boondoggle gives new meaning to fuzzy math

Stop the Stadium Madness

Here are 10 good reasons

Switch Hitters

When it comes to being given a stadium, Cardinal owners want it both ways

Putting on the Ritz

Developers of pricey high-rise condominiums are selling Clayton as a place for the rich and famous. So far, out-of-towners aren't buying.

The Great St. Louis Casino War

Published the week of July 5-11, 2000

A Tale of Two Buildings

Things are looking up for the Arcade Building, but what will happen to the Marquette Building is anyone's guess; plus, other St. Louis follies and foibles

We Don't Get Fooled Again? Don't Be So Sure

Soldier On