Ameren grant is taking shape in East Loop cafe

By Martin Van Der Werf

Of the Post-Dispatch

04/12/2005



The idea was to give incentive grants to help create jobs in big and small towns in AmerenUE's service area.



But among the grants to open business incubators and build railroad spurs, one grant awarded last week by the Ameren Community Development Corp. stood out: $250,000 to one of the toniest bakery/coffeehouses in Clayton.



Companion Bakehouse will use the money to move its wholesale bakery from south St. Louis to a site on Delmar Boulevard in the East Loop, where it will open what could be another lucrative cafe.



Others doubt the efficacy of creating retail jobs, calling them low-paying and transitory. Blanche Touhill, the chairman of the foundation's board, said, "We weren't viewing this as a retail operation. We figured that by moving, they could hire more bakers and food preparers, and people could learn a profession."



While the Clayton store, on Maryland, is doing very well, it represents only about 15 percent of Companion's business, owner Josh Allen says. The Clayton operation has been the only growing part of his enterprise for the last two years or so, and annual sales have plateaued at about $5 million. The rest of the business is selling bread and pastries at Schnucks and Dierbergs stores, and catering.



"We met the criteria they were looking for," Allen said. "We'll create a couple dozen new jobs. And we obviously use a lot of electricity. We're good Ameren customers."



The current wholesale bakery is on Gustine Road, where a retail operation isn't practical. The new location will allow for an expansion from 14,000 to 18,000 square feet. Washington University owns the building, at 6045 Delmar Boulevard, a former Dobbs Tire and Auto location, and helped lure Companion to the site.



The Ameren money will come from a foundation created in 2003 as part of a rate reduction by the Missouri Public Service Commission. The cost of building the bakery and retail cafe will top $2 million, Allen says.



To read more:



Source: Ameren grant is taking shape in East Loop cafe

Below is an excerpt from an article in the West End Word.



Edwards said it would be a "sleek-looking" 10-story hotel designed by Kiku Obata & Co., the company responsible for the look of The Pageant and Regional Arts Commission's new offices. In both look and function it would compliment The Pageant and Pin-Up Bowl, properties he owns on either side, Edwards said.



Here's another snippet....







Aldermen, developers request TIF for three new East Loop projects

By Tim Woodcock

Posted Wednesday, August 17, 2005



Lyda Krewson is heading up an effort to establish a multi-million dollar tax increment financing district for the eastern portion of the Delmar Loop. Krewson, 28th Ward Alderman, said the funding is necessary for three major projects that will help revive the area.



Part of the proposed TIF district is also in Frank Williamson?s 26th Ward.



The projects that would fall under the proposed TIF plan include a 120-room hotel, a small shopping center that may include restaurants and new-build condos.



Neal Shapiro, owner of The Original Cast Lighting at 6120 Delmar Blvd., bought the vacant buildings directly across the street from his business about 18 months ago. The buildings were last used by Yellow Cab Company. He plans to demolish them and replace them with a 33,600-square-foot retail center that he wants to fill with small and medium-sized businesses.



He and his son, Josh, working under the name Metroscapes, have been working on plans since the land changed hands and they now have architectural drawings showing a brick two-story building with metalwork archways and balconies on the second floor. The Lawrence Group drew up the plans, and it would be a $7 million project, Neal Shapiro said. The project would eliminate an ?eyesore? and complete that block of Delmar, he said.



To read more: Aldermen, developers request TIF for three new East Loop projects