Build A Bear Workshop Possibly Moving HQ Near Union Station

sc4mayor · PostMay 22, 2019#12019-05-22T01:05+00:00

Saw this little blurb in the Post-Dispatch this evening. Anyone have any details?

"St. Louis is courting a company that officials say could add 200 jobs near Union Station — but they’re staying mum on the company’s identity.
The St. Louis Enhanced Enterprise Zone on Tuesday approved a 10-year, 75 percent property tax abatement for the building at 401 South 18th Street. City economic development officials say the property’s owner, Woodcrest Capital of the Fort Worth, Texas, plans $3 million in improvements.
The potential tenant would put in $1 million and possibly move 200 jobs to the spot.
St. Louis Development Corp. Executive Director Otis Williams would not reveal the name of the company but did tell board members “it is not a city relocation.”
He described it as a “headquarters facility with a wide range of supporting jobs.”
He said the deal isn’t final but officials should know more in the coming months.
The building on 18th Street, the former headquarters of the Missouri Foundation For Health before it moved to Forest Park Southeast, is mostly vacant now, Williams said."

https://www.stltoday.com/business/local ... the-latest

RockChalkSTL · PostMay 22, 2019#22019-05-22T01:33+00:00

I know nothing, but should it become a reality, this sounds like a big win for downtown west.

chriss752 · PostMay 22, 2019#32019-05-22T01:49+00:00

It’s great that we will be getting 200 jobs, especially since they aren’t a relocation within the city. My guess would be either a technology company. It’s an odd choice but I think it makes sense to have some company’s sign facing 64/40 and having easy access to Metro.

RockChalkSTL · PostMay 22, 2019#42019-05-22T02:02+00:00

Tech companies and soccer kind of mix these days. Wonder if MLS plays any role in the potential move?

goat314 · PostMay 22, 2019#52019-05-22T03:25+00:00

KansasCitian wrote: Tech companies and soccer kind of mix these days. Wonder if MLS plays any role in the potential move?

I would guess the proximity to Cortex and NGA would be the biggest contributing factors. Tech companies also have been investing in cheaper markets in recent years, so as our tech hub grows expect more regional offices and possible HQ relocations from more expensive markets.

ImprovSTL · PostMay 22, 2019#62019-05-22T14:27+00:00

My guess is since he specifically said it's not coming from within the city that it's a county relocation or expansion. Otherwise I think he would note that it's a firm that is new to STL.

DogtownBnR · PostMay 22, 2019#72019-05-22T16:31+00:00

This could be big for the City Foundry and residential in that area. Lots of workers looking for a meal in the area and possibly a place to live.

addxb2 · PostMay 22, 2019#82019-05-22T16:46+00:00

It could be consolidation of Enterprise tech employees. They've been considering that move for a long time. With new naming rights on Enterprise Center and MLS stadium, they're prepping Downtown Southwest to be their village.

chriss752 · PostMay 22, 2019#92019-05-22T16:55+00:00

DogtownBnR wrote:This could be big for the City Foundry and residential in that area. Lots of workers looking for a meal in the area and possibly a place to live.

City Foundry is quite a bit away from this location. That would be a long walk or bike ride to City Foundry from this location. Driving gets you there faster but it’s still far.

addxb2 · PostMay 22, 2019#102019-05-22T16:58+00:00

chriss752 wrote:
DogtownBnR wrote:This could be big for the City Foundry and residential in that area. Lots of workers looking for a meal in the area and possibly a place to live.
City Foundry is quite a bit away from this location. That would be a long walk or bike ride to City Foundry from this location. Driving gets you there faster but it’s still far.

Or (Enter company here) will provide it's employees metro passes and they'll ride ONE stop between Union Station and Grand. A quick 10 minute trip with walking.

Tim · PostMay 22, 2019#112019-05-22T17:34+00:00

chriss752 wrote:
DogtownBnR wrote:This could be big for the City Foundry and residential in that area. Lots of workers looking for a meal in the area and possibly a place to live.
City Foundry is quite a bit away from this location. That would be a long walk or bike ride to City Foundry from this location. Driving gets you there faster but it’s still far.

Agreed. Even Laclede's Landing (and by extension any other location in the central business district) is closer to this site than the Foundry. I'm not saying they won't spend their money at the Foundry sometimes, but these 200 workers who sometimes venture out for lunch aren't going to have some sort of big impact on the Foundry like they would if they were located on site or within close walking distance.

DogtownBnR · PostMay 22, 2019#122019-05-22T18:20+00:00

Maybe wishful thinking, but there could be ‘some’ impact. I’m just worried that there will not be enough clientele to keep this place busy. (Not to get off topic)

debaliviere · PostMay 22, 2019#132019-05-22T18:28+00:00

The article's use of the words "wooing" and "courting" does not make it sound like this is a done deal.

RockChalkSTL · PostMay 22, 2019#142019-05-22T18:31+00:00

I've said it before and I'll say it again - I think lunch crowds could be big.

SLU is right there. Cortex is right there. The Grove and Central West End aren't far. Armory, Iron Hill, etc, will be close.

And then you're going to eventually have the bike/walkway that goes through the development, connecting it to Forest Park and the riverfront and the neighborhoods between.

Tim · PostMay 22, 2019#152019-05-22T20:42+00:00

KansasCitian wrote: I've said it before and I'll say it again - I think lunch crowds could be big.

SLU is right there. Cortex is right there. The Grove and Central West End aren't far. Armory, Iron Hill, etc, will be close.

And then you're going to eventually have the bike/walkway that goes through the development, connecting it to Forest Park and the riverfront and the neighborhoods between.

I agree (those areas are actually what I would consider proximal), but I wouldn't really consider 200 employees at Union Station as a significant part of the Foundry's lunch crowd/economical success equation. Every tiny bit helps though.

PostMay 22, 2019#162019-05-22T20:44+00:00

debaliviere wrote: The article's use of the words "wooing" and "courting" does not make it sound like this is a done deal.

LOL - Yeah. Let's not get too excited here!

dredger · PostMay 22, 2019#172019-05-22T21:15+00:00

^ I think this might a legit one to get excited about. I doubt that this would have been let known if they were still in the sales pitch mode. Instead, I think it more in line with get ready for the incentives that will need to come from the city. In other words, get the good part of the narrative of jobs coming downtown out in front.

addxb2 thought about Enterprise looking to consolidate its tech employees downtown in between the Enterprise Center and possibility of MLS stadium makes a lot of sense. Great location, next to transit, entertainment and hotel rooms all within easy walking distance. Hope it is the case.

pattimagee · PostMay 23, 2019#182019-05-23T18:00+00:00

I think if you are Enterprise or WWT ownership... from a culture and recruiting perspective you have to be thinking about moving some sort of footprint next to your soccer stadium. Also if they have any arm or leg in the business, their time is super valuable - best to have some sort of satellite or expansion planned... time will tell I guess.

dredger · PostMay 23, 2019#192019-05-23T18:31+00:00

pattimagee wrote: I think if you are Enterprise or WWT ownership... from a culture and recruiting perspective you have to be thinking about moving some sort of footprint next to your soccer stadium. Also if they have any arm or leg in the business, their time is super valuable - best to have some sort of satellite or expansion planned... time will tell I guess.

Still hoping that WWT presence downtown through their subsidiary business gets big enough & adds enough jobs that they pull a trigger on Cupples X lease. That would be a nice one two punch for South of Market development if WWT expands Cupples presence in near future and Enterprise planting a tech flag next to Union Station/new MLS soccer stadium.

Get a nice Old Muni courts hotel/resident infill development project breaking ground in between them for good measure. Who knows you might see someone take a look at the space VA vacated and the parking lots across from Enterprise Arena/next to Intermodal Station. After that, maybe USPS and City look hard at relocating the downtown facility to south or north riverfront to free up more developable property in the immediate area as a long term plan.

GoHarvOrGoHome · PostMay 24, 2019#202019-05-24T02:57+00:00

Always thought that USPS building, at least the older one across from Union Station, would be a perfect museum of natural history. Or even a future aquarium expansion. At least that's my pipe dream for today.

symphonicpoet · PostMay 24, 2019#212019-05-24T04:45+00:00

It would be neat to see a mixed use facility that includes the postal service. Bring some life back into it. It's a glorious building. Not sure how much vacant space they have behind the permanently closed service windows in the main hall, but that's too neat a space to lose. A natural history museum might work, if the postal service relocated, though out by Forest Park and the Science Center makes more sense from a connectivity standpoint. Still . . . I suppose not EVERYTHING needs to be out there.

gone corporate · PostMay 31, 2019#222019-05-31T15:22+00:00

STL Biz Journal is reporting... it's Build-A-Bear Workshop's HQ!

Source: https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/new ... -city.html

Build-A-Bear Workshop (NYSE: BBW) may move its headquarters to the city of St. Louis, the retailer said Friday.
The company, located at 1954 Innerbelt Business Center Drive in Overland, could move operations to the Grand Central Building at 415 S. 18th St. near Union Station. The company said the new developments underway there, such as the aquarium and a possible soccer stadium, are a "strategic fit" with its business. In addition, the company would open a Build-A-Bear store at the new building.
“We are excited with the prospect of relocating our global headquarters to the dynamic downtown St. Louis area; at this point, nothing has been finalized as we await details from the city on an incentive package and continue to work through important points for a lease,” said Sharon Price John, president and CEO, Build-A-Bear Workshop. “We will not have further comment until we have additional information required to make a final decision.”
This story will be updated.

pattimagee · PostMay 31, 2019#232019-05-31T15:29+00:00

This is really awesome news - fingers crossed its a done deal!

sc4mayor · PostMay 31, 2019#242019-05-31T15:36+00:00

Wonderful!

ImprovSTL · PostMay 31, 2019#252019-05-31T16:32+00:00

From what I can gather they have about 1000 corporate employees, so 200 seems low. Maybe that is a first phase? Or maybe those numbers are wrong.