urbanSTL

It has been said repeatedly that as plant science research hubs go, the main place is St. Louis and the second place is the Triangle Research Park. If the TRP loses a thousand Bayer plant jobs and St. Louis gains them, that does put some distance between us in that little race.

Was the brewery comparison above suggesting that displaced Monsanto employees might want to start small plant science companies as Florin did with Urban Chestnut after the AB buyout? Perhaps the better comparison is Pfizer. How many local laid off Pfizer employees started biotech companies?

Yeah, that does suck for them. It could certainly happen here though if we get a general assembly and governor from the same party.

arch city wrote: Instead of trying to shoot down (or counter) my perspective - like you usually do - try using some common sense. There's no reason not to believe new plant science and ag start-ups would emerge IF Monsanto is bought out.

I usually do? Sorry about that. I admit to using uncommon sense most of the time.

Monsanto is in the middle of a move to Chesterfield and there are building projects and other things in the air, and their old campus is the planned home for this new innovative plant science district. How a thousand Bayer employees fit into that is a bit confusing.

Isle of Capri moved to St. Louis in 2006 because Hurricane Katrina damaged its HQs in Biloxi, Mississippi. It was never a big local employer. They had no casinos in St. Louis.

They were welcomed in St. Louis - especially after President Casinos, Inc. - was bought out by Penn National Gaming of Philadelphia, but from what I can tell, they were not an involved major corporate citizen. I could be wrong.

When IOC moved to St. Louis it had over a $1-billion in revenues and even made the Fortune 1000, but fell off list. They started laying off and selling casinos - and only recently was getting healthier. I think their revenues are now just below $1-billion.

This was a big locally-based entertainment company (in terms of revenue) and helped it St. Louis' economy to be diverse. Fortunately, there won't be many local jobs impacted.

Well, $2.2-billion is not exactly chump change. IF Riney kicks the bucket, Riney could do a whole lot for his family - including his sons - in death with this $2.2-billion he's reportedly getting from the sale.

Nonetheless, while Scottrade has done a lot for St. Louis, I think it is quite interesting that some people are more concerned about St. Louis losing a company and jobs when the company's owner is literally fighting for his life. Based on the article, Riney's medical condition is "under control" - not remission. I could be wrong, but it doesn't sound good - quite frankly. Those employees and St. Louis will survive - if not immediately - eventually.

Further, Scottrade is not a public company. If it were a public firm, I would have expected Scottrade to stick around once Riney announced he was battling cancer. However, I knew the dynamics of this firm would change once it was disclosed he was diagnosed with cancer. I was hoping he'd get through it, but this man is in his 70s - battling cancer.

Riney would have never given up this company, in my opinion, if his prognosis wasn't dire. He was "the" founder and "the" face of this company for decades. I've never met or spoken to him, but imagine building something as big as Scottrade - as he did. Blood, sweat and tears. From my perspective, Scottrade is his baby. And at least with the sale, he had more control over what happened to it while he's alive versus Scottrade going to pot when he's gone.

To me, that's the saddest part.