The IKEA (STL vs KC) debate got me wondering. What major retailers (any consumer industry) do we have in the St. Louis Metro area, that cannot be found anywhere in
else in Missouri, especially KC Metro area (KS & MO)???

Neiman Marcus

Saks Fifth Avenue

We had Trader Joe's for a while before KC got them (KC has them now). We're getting Menard's about the same time. I don't think there is a Nieman Marcus.

Other than that, I can't think of any Top 100 retailers that we have and they don't.

They have Saks Off 5th but not the full line store.

Saks Fifth Avenue - St. Louis

They only have STL. There is one "Off 5th Saks Outlet" in KCK

STL has several Off 5th's as well. Nieman Marcus and Saks both were on the plaza in KC way back... but both closed. The only department store on the plaza is the local Halls Dept. Store there.

Minneapolis is losing their Neiman's as well this coming spring. The closest for them will be Chicago.

Matguy - St. Louis does not have any Off 5th Stores. We are getting one next year in the Simon Premium Outlet Mall in Chesterfield.

AG Jeans is a boutique chain, not a major retailer

There was a "Off Fifth" at the Mills Mall that closed a few yrs back.

To the OP: Why so concerned about this KC vs StL stuff?

STL has the only Louis Vuitton store

http://www.louisvuitton.com/front/#/eng ... n=missouri

HH Gregg Stores now in STL

Not retail: Ritz Carlton, Four Seasons Hotel, Omni Hotel, and Millennium Hotel - all exclusive in STL

Good call on HHGregg.

Louis Vuitton is not a major retailer

The hotels you mentioned are all franchises.

I agree Arch City and sorry Mat (was just trying to keep the discussion on point-while you pointed out a lot of good things), I view a Major retailer as a top 100 in sales. But regardless, for the most part KC and StL have mostly the same retailers with the exception of Saks, Nieman, HHGregg, and maybe a couple others. KC has IKEA, Nebraska Furniture Mart, and several others that we don't have. Oh well. Not a big deal.

Based on my experience as a retail commercial real estate broker, sometimes it's not the city/market/trade area that causes a retailer to pick one over the other, it's just having the right site and deal terms best for the retailer that ends up resulting in them picking a KC over St. Louis, or Indy over St. Louis, or vice versa. Hence, IKEA. KC has the right site (highway visibility, deliverable site, and a city willing to play ball). We had a city willing to play ball, great site, but undeliverable due a few sellers unwilling to sell. My guess is you'll see IKEA in the next 5 years either at the Chrysler plant site in Fenton, Richmond Heights as planned (if they can get the people to sell), or Northpark.

This topic does not require in-depth analysis, but I admit that my wording could have been more specific. I meant national/international chains, regardless of rank or size.
I read several IKEA-KC articles and a number of then mention how they beat out St. Louis and how some were surprised KC got it over STL. Some almost brag or cheapshot STL.


What retailers are exclusive to St. Louis (not in other parts of MO or KC metro).
Some examples were provided, like Neuman, Saks ... etc. I know there is a Menards in Jeff City, so that is not exclusive to STL. For some, a large variety of national /international retail, especially trendy and unique chains like IKEA, validate a city in the retail sense. I think STL has come a long way in 20 years. I'd like to see that trend continue. Anything from Cars, food and clothing, to household and hardware.

I'm just guessing, don't know for sure, but are there any other Lamborghini or Jaguar dealerships in Missouri. I think KC is just now getting an REI.

DogtownBnR wrote:This topic does not require in-depth analysis, but I admit that my wording could have been more specific. I meant national/international chains, regardless of rank or size.
I read several IKEA-KC articles and a number of then mention how they beat out St. Louis and how some were surprised KC got it over STL. Some almost brag or cheapshot STL.


What retailers are exclusive to St. Louis (not in other parts of MO or KC metro).
Some examples were provided, like Neuman, Saks ... etc. I know there is a Menards in Jeff City, so that is not exclusive to STL. For some, a large variety of national /international retail, especially trendy and unique chains like IKEA, validate a city in the retail sense. I think STL has come a long way in 20 years. I'd like to see that trend continue. Anything from Cars, food and clothing, to household and hardware.

I'm just guessing, don't know for sure, but are there any other Lamborghini or Jaguar dealerships in Missouri. I think KC is just now getting an REI.

Well if we're expanding to cars, as far as I know, St. Louis is the only metro area in Missouri to have dealerships for Bentley, Rolls-Royce, Maserati, Lamborghini, Bugatti, Lotus, and Aston Martin.

^However, what is good for KC KS is not good for STL MO or MO in general. It seems like a lot business is heading to the KS side. It has become a huge point of contention in KC. It is a MO vs. KS thing. It is not just a KU vs. MU thing over there. I think KC'ers are much more into the "rivalry" (STL vs. KC) because they feel they are slighted and looked down upon by STL'ers. I agree with what you are saying, but when it comes to jobs (and IKEA ) KC is the competition. Why are companies like Harley and Ford in KC and not here? Who knows, but any Midwest town is competition for STL when it comes to jobs. Apparently, Connecticut is competition as well. I saw a comment below a KC vs. STL
thread on some blog, where a KC resident said he hates STL so much, it makes
him feel good to see the weather channel leave us off the map in favor of KC.
LAME!!!

REI. Container Store. WHOLE FOODS.

Surely some others outside Brentwood Square, right?

Kansas City has Whole Foods. Is getting REI. Great call on Container Store

^Oh, so they do. I was looking by state and didn't check Kansas.

DogtownBnR wrote:^However, what is good for KC KS is not good for STL MO or MO in general. It seems like a lot business is heading to the KS side. It has become a huge point of contention in KC. It is a MO vs. KS thing. It is not just a KU vs. MU thing over there. I think KC'ers are much more into the "rivalry" (STL vs. KC) because they feel they are slighted and looked down upon by STL'ers. I agree with what you are saying, but when it comes to jobs (and IKEA ) KC is the competition. Why are companies like Harley and Ford in KC and not here? Who knows, but any Midwest town is competition for STL when it comes to jobs. Apparently, Connecticut is competition as well. I saw a comment below a KC vs. STL
thread on some blog, where a KC resident said he hates STL so much, it makes
him feel good to see the weather channel leave us off the map in favor of KC.
LAME!!!

The Kansas side of KC area has all the money. Overland Park, Leawood, and Shawnee Mission arewas are their "West County." And I don't care if someone in KC is like KC better than StL. KC has a lot to offer.

I know KC doesn't have a Qdoba, but they have a whole bunch of Chipotle restaurants. It seems there's one ever 3 miles or so. Alas, they don't get to enjoy the queso options inside their burritos

The key is to get the retailers that are not already located here to set up shop downtown. It would be the only location in the region that would draw people from all over the region instead of opting for the nearest location.

How can we do this? Maybe offer a pop up store front or offer a temporary short term lease for one of these unique retailers?