They opened the store in the Galleria 9/2020? I was there over Christmas shopping. It had the longest line to enter and because so I skipped it. Must have been 50-75 people in line. I went back after the new year and the line was much smaller, I was able to get in.pattimagee wrote: ↑Jun 25, 2021Saw this job posting and thought of the Foundry:
Amazon apparently opening a 4-star store in the Galleria: https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/2571242904
- 398
The recent press release about Gerard Craft as food consultant at the new soccer stadium reminded me about a similar press release over a year ago blasted across all the local media outlets:
StLMag: Gerard Craft’s Niche Food Group named culinary director at City Foundry STL
Whatever happened with this? I don't see any mention of it or quote from him since. There was also an article last year about Hamilton Hospitality doing a project here, and nothing on that since then either...
StLMag: Gerard Craft’s Niche Food Group named culinary director at City Foundry STL
Whatever happened with this? I don't see any mention of it or quote from him since. There was also an article last year about Hamilton Hospitality doing a project here, and nothing on that since then either...
Steve Smith/Larry Group, along with Summit Development, submitted the competing proposal, hence the tie-in with this thread.soulardx wrote: ↑Jun 18, 2021Don't recall, but sounds like a Bob Cassilly thing to me!urbanitas wrote: ↑Jun 18, 2021To tie it all together and bring it back to City Foundry:
Anyone remember who submitted the competing Union Station redevelopment proposal to LHM's carnival and aquarium after the foreclosure and US Bank fire sale? Hint: Indoor water park...
Bigger picture, upon reading and reflecting more on what Urbanitas has added, City Foundry is Union Station 2.0, but in a way less beautiful wrapper.
I loved Union Station well into the late 90s. It was still going strong then. Have A Nice Day Cafe was probably the hottest club downtown. In Feb. 2000, ran into many Rams players there, showing off their brand new SB rings.
Now, cue sad trombone, inserting some cynicism into a forum that's mostly optimistic. (Thank god. I need it!)
City Foundry is a mall (declining industry). Brick-and-mortar retail (declining industry), a movie theater (declining industry) and food (*highly competative* local industry).
Yes, TBD on commercial/office but, absent regional job growth, downtown STL/Cortex/Clayton doesn't need more competition for commercial/office.
The region just saw a decade of zero population growth. I don't think it's wise to throw our limited tax money at malls. So, with tax $, rev-up the regional job growth strat instead. How? Again, above my pay grade.
Their proposal was for a water park, but presumably that would have just been Phase I, so maybe future phases would have included some Foundry-like attractions. Or maybe that would have conflicted with the family theme, but either way, just imagine a full-blown Food Hall, Market, and Biergarten in Union Station, with the new soccer stadium across the street...
^ Getting off topic but with a big surface lot between the shed and MLS practice field who knows what LHM has in mind going forward. Will keep my speculation to LHM thread
As Far Foundry, I really see Food Hall's long term success really tied to future phases (residential & office) as well as surrounding area whether it be SLU to Ikea stragglers to CORTEX/SLU crowd. It might be a short term regional draw but doubt that it will last as such if dependent on it. It won't hurt if Greenway can get trestle moving forward & done and pull off a I64 pedestrian crossing to Armory. So the the sooner the Foundry phase II can break ground, Cortex K to Armory phase II to future CORTEX development the better.
Another thought, anyone see a full service hotel in Foundry's future? Ask because a full service hotel with some meeting space/conference space might not necessarily need a full service restaraunt at this location. Instead, use affiliation of Food Hall tenants to provide catering to groups using hotel meeting/conference space and or a different twist on room service. In other words, order from food hall and hotel staff brings to room with bill added to room. Heck, you could probably use some existing Foundry space as future hotel meeting/conference space. My thoughts are leading me to the idea that a long term plan would be to replace the exist garage along FPP with a hotel or even hotel/residence.
As Far Foundry, I really see Food Hall's long term success really tied to future phases (residential & office) as well as surrounding area whether it be SLU to Ikea stragglers to CORTEX/SLU crowd. It might be a short term regional draw but doubt that it will last as such if dependent on it. It won't hurt if Greenway can get trestle moving forward & done and pull off a I64 pedestrian crossing to Armory. So the the sooner the Foundry phase II can break ground, Cortex K to Armory phase II to future CORTEX development the better.
Another thought, anyone see a full service hotel in Foundry's future? Ask because a full service hotel with some meeting space/conference space might not necessarily need a full service restaraunt at this location. Instead, use affiliation of Food Hall tenants to provide catering to groups using hotel meeting/conference space and or a different twist on room service. In other words, order from food hall and hotel staff brings to room with bill added to room. Heck, you could probably use some existing Foundry space as future hotel meeting/conference space. My thoughts are leading me to the idea that a long term plan would be to replace the exist garage along FPP with a hotel or even hotel/residence.
Not sure if their is any new info on Biz Journals Foundry article other then Food Hall on track to open this summer with two phase approach with vendors/tenants
https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/new ... 1#cxrecs_s
The long-awaited food hall’s 20 spaces will open in two phases, with some vendors in the lineup scheduled for a later second phase.
https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/new ... 1#cxrecs_s
The long-awaited food hall’s 20 spaces will open in two phases, with some vendors in the lineup scheduled for a later second phase.
Also, finally, some verification of the status and schedule of the anchor tenants. As I suspected, it doesn't sound like anything other than the Food Hall and grocery store will open this year, and most probably not until late spring at least.dredger wrote: ↑Jul 09, 2021Not sure if their is any new info on Biz Journals Foundry article other then Food Hall on track to open this summer with two phase approach with vendors/tenants
https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/new ... 1#cxrecs_s
The long-awaited food hall’s 20 spaces will open in two phases, with some vendors in the lineup scheduled for a later second phase.
"City Foundry will then celebrate a series of grand openings over the next year as every anchor tenant builds and opens separately, Smith said. All of them are still signed on and plan to open, starting with grocery store Fresh Thyme Market, which is currently under construction and opening in the fall.
...
Construction of Alamo, a dine-in movie theater, and the 18 Rails event space will get underway in August or September, Smith said. Construction for Punch Bowl Social, a restaurant/arcade concept, started before the pandemic and will restart after addressing some changes to the design that Smith described as "technical" in nature. Work on the fourth anchor tenant, a German beer hall concept called Fassler Hall, will also get started sometime this fall."
"City Foundry will then celebrate a series of grand openings over the next year as every anchor tenant builds and opens separately, Smith said. All of them are still signed on and plan to open, starting with grocery store Fresh Thyme Market, which is currently under construction and opening in the fall.
...
Construction of Alamo, a dine-in movie theater, and the 18 Rails event space will get underway in August or September, Smith said. Construction for Punch Bowl Social, a restaurant/arcade concept, started before the pandemic and will restart after addressing some changes to the design that Smith described as "technical" in nature. Work on the fourth anchor tenant, a German beer hall concept called Fassler Hall, will also get started sometime this fall."
Talk about underwhelming. Every single "entertainment" option in this development exists within a few miles of the Foundry.
Without substantial improvement with truly unique offerings, I give it 2-3 years until going kaput.
...
Construction of Alamo, a dine-in movie theater, and the 18 Rails event space will get underway in August or September, Smith said. Construction for Punch Bowl Social, a restaurant/arcade concept, started before the pandemic and will restart after addressing some changes to the design that Smith described as "technical" in nature. Work on the fourth anchor tenant, a German beer hall concept called Fassler Hall, will also get started sometime this fall."
Talk about underwhelming. Every single "entertainment" option in this development exists within a few miles of the Foundry.
Without substantial improvement with truly unique offerings, I give it 2-3 years until going kaput.
Just another incident of dismissing granular development.
Rebuilding our neighborhoods with macro developments and sales tax islands is not the best path forward IMO.
Rebuilding our neighborhoods with macro developments and sales tax islands is not the best path forward IMO.
- 443
Please, enlighten me as to how this massive, environmental nightmare was going to go through granular redevelopment? This is a valid criticism of Iron Hill, not the Foundry.bwcrow1s wrote: ↑Jul 11, 2021Just another incident of dismissing granular development.
Rebuilding our neighborhoods with macro developments and sales tax islands is not the best path forward IMO.
I'd agree with you from an environmental perspective. What peeves me is the land use for force-fabricating some inauthentic experience that's just a rehash of other places around the country. What is basically a subsidized mall clawing for sales tax dollars. Or found a way to implement residential right off the bat given how long this has dragged on. Of course, hindsight. When I look at this area and compare it to Steelcoate, I don't see why it couldn't have been successful in the same fashion. Take the money and build a neighborhood for people (earnings tax) not transients. Just my unsolicited, and useless opinion.BellaVilla wrote: ↑Jul 11, 2021Please, enlighten me as to how this massive, environmental nightmare was going to go through granular redevelopment? This is a valid criticism of Iron Hill, not the Foundry.bwcrow1s wrote: ↑Jul 11, 2021Just another incident of dismissing granular development.
Rebuilding our neighborhoods with macro developments and sales tax islands is not the best path forward IMO.
- 443
The Steelcote building was almost ideal for lofts, and it sits on a street grid amenable to the granular development you're describing.bwcrow1s wrote: ↑Jul 11, 2021I'd agree with you from an environmental perspective. What peeves me is the land use for force-fabricating some inauthentic experience that's just a rehash of other places around the country. What is basically a subsidized mall clawing for sales tax dollars. Or found a way to implement residential right off the bat given how long this has dragged on. Of course, hindsight. When I look at this area and compare it to Steelcoate, I don't see why it couldn't have been successful in the same fashion. Take the money and build a neighborhood for people (earnings tax) not transients. Just my unsolicited, and useless opinion.BellaVilla wrote: ↑Jul 11, 2021Please, enlighten me as to how this massive, environmental nightmare was going to go through granular redevelopment? This is a valid criticism of Iron Hill, not the Foundry.bwcrow1s wrote: ↑Jul 11, 2021Just another incident of dismissing granular development.
Rebuilding our neighborhoods with macro developments and sales tax islands is not the best path forward IMO.
I don't think its particularly inauthentic. How are you supposed to make a blast furnace and smelter feel authentic? Considering the obstacles, it looks like a great job. I'm not stoked about punchbowl or Fassler (which did what exactly Haufbrau should have done), but I am excited for Alamo (No Kids! WooHoo!) and the Food Hall because I trust Gerard Craft.
I also disagree with your mall comp. The primary tenants are restaurants. Not to mention the massive residential and office component that has already been announced on the property and another massive residential announcement nearby at grand and 40. All providing that earnings tax lifeblood we depend on. And with the incoming Top Golf and Rec Hall, this area is becoming the premiere entertainment district in the region and its all connected by the metro link to union station and BPV.
Looks like they're building the piers for the Brickline Greenway. It's hard to tell though, but in that second picture, it looks like there are wooden boxes set up in a way to hold the piers.
Regarding whether or not this is successful, my thoughts on it are simple: it depends on the clientele.
My feeling from this is that it's going to rely heavily on students from SLU looking for something fun to do (go to a movie, catch a bite, go to a beer garden style place, and play games at Punchbowl Social. Of course, other nearby residents and visitors will stop by for the same stuff, but this will rely heavily on SLU. If it can hold out for 5 years or so, then you'll have a better mix of people in the area to keep this place activated more than just during the August-May time frame. The 282 apartment building at the Foundry, 520 units in the Armory Towers, and the 153 at Steelcote Square (33 at Steelcote Lofts, 15 at Steelcote Crossing, and 105 at Mill Creek Flats), you'll have a greater number of outside residents to help support the usages at the Foundry.
The ultimate goal here, it seems, is to create a college town where bars, shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues are within a short walk or bike ride from one another. There's still several years of building to do to connect everything, but slowly it's coming together.
I also believe that whatever shops the Foundry picks up will make or break that component. If you have stores that keep people from traveling to Brentwood/Richmond Heights to shop, you have a winner for the City. If you have truly "unique only to the Foundry" shops, then you'll get a larger crowd coming in from more places in the region. It won't be perfect, but again, this is hinging on increased development in the area and SLU more than the region.
And finally, bouncing back to the story from the BizJournal. It's nice to see that Phase 2 will begin construction in September or October and be completed within two years. That's sooner than a TIF commission document specified.
My feeling from this is that it's going to rely heavily on students from SLU looking for something fun to do (go to a movie, catch a bite, go to a beer garden style place, and play games at Punchbowl Social. Of course, other nearby residents and visitors will stop by for the same stuff, but this will rely heavily on SLU. If it can hold out for 5 years or so, then you'll have a better mix of people in the area to keep this place activated more than just during the August-May time frame. The 282 apartment building at the Foundry, 520 units in the Armory Towers, and the 153 at Steelcote Square (33 at Steelcote Lofts, 15 at Steelcote Crossing, and 105 at Mill Creek Flats), you'll have a greater number of outside residents to help support the usages at the Foundry.
The ultimate goal here, it seems, is to create a college town where bars, shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues are within a short walk or bike ride from one another. There's still several years of building to do to connect everything, but slowly it's coming together.
I also believe that whatever shops the Foundry picks up will make or break that component. If you have stores that keep people from traveling to Brentwood/Richmond Heights to shop, you have a winner for the City. If you have truly "unique only to the Foundry" shops, then you'll get a larger crowd coming in from more places in the region. It won't be perfect, but again, this is hinging on increased development in the area and SLU more than the region.
And finally, bouncing back to the story from the BizJournal. It's nice to see that Phase 2 will begin construction in September or October and be completed within two years. That's sooner than a TIF commission document specified.
Chris, didn't realize the part about phase II starting construction in September or October is huge in my opinion and exactly what Foundry is meant to serve in the long run, the immediate area and not so much as a regional draw Another tower crane in near future.chriss752 wrote: ↑Jul 12, 2021Regarding whether or not this is successful, my thoughts on it are simple: it depends on the clientele.
And finally, bouncing back to the story from the BizJournal. It's nice to see that Phase 2 will begin construction in September or October and be completed within two years. That's sooner than a TIF commission document specified.
Yes, their a retail component and no so unique entertainment. Sorry, their isn't anything truly unique except those who buy into the marketing hype and those who want to criticize the marketing hype. But, The office component fully leased, has a grocery store coming, space that probably be converted into office other uses and more residential & office coming. I can easily see turn within the food hall and not so successful entertainment venues but it has an immediate area growing and a college campus nearby. Think Foundry will be very successful as whole over the long term.
Sorry, I should really apologize. I feel like the bemoaning native STL resident thing got the best of me here. Really, shouldn't be judging anything until I see it. And if other people like it, then so be it.BellaVilla wrote: ↑Jul 11, 2021The Steelcote building was almost ideal for lofts, and it sits on a street grid amenable to the granular development you're describing.bwcrow1s wrote: ↑Jul 11, 2021I'd agree with you from an environmental perspective. What peeves me is the land use for force-fabricating some inauthentic experience that's just a rehash of other places around the country. What is basically a subsidized mall clawing for sales tax dollars. Or found a way to implement residential right off the bat given how long this has dragged on. Of course, hindsight. When I look at this area and compare it to Steelcoate, I don't see why it couldn't have been successful in the same fashion. Take the money and build a neighborhood for people (earnings tax) not transients. Just my unsolicited, and useless opinion.BellaVilla wrote: ↑Jul 11, 2021Please, enlighten me as to how this massive, environmental nightmare was going to go through granular redevelopment? This is a valid criticism of Iron Hill, not the Foundry.
I don't think its particularly inauthentic. How are you supposed to make a blast furnace and smelter feel authentic? Considering the obstacles, it looks like a great job. I'm not stoked about punchbowl or Fassler (which did what exactly Haufbrau should have done), but I am excited for Alamo (No Kids! WooHoo!) and the Food Hall because I trust Gerard Craft.
I also disagree with your mall comp. The primary tenants are restaurants. Not to mention the massive residential and office component that has already been announced on the property and another massive residential announcement nearby at grand and 40. All providing that earnings tax lifeblood we depend on. And with the incoming Top Golf and Rec Hall, this area is becoming the premiere entertainment district in the region and its all connected by the metro link to union station and BPV.
- 2,632
The majority of the retail space still hasn't even begun build out yet despite the looming opening date, I think they are struggling to find the right retailers. At this rate I'm doubting that there will be any significant retail by the Christmas season. I could be wrong, hopefully they announce soon.
Once a few of the bars/restaurants/food hall are open, having a small Billikens Team Store, that also has some HSSU and STLCOP gear, would be a great way to get parents/visitors/fans to check out The Foundry. It could even mostly be open on weekends to cover many game days and parents weekend type events, and be a sort of pop up shop without much build out, at least initially.
If they haven't signed a lease yet, in which case we definitely would have heard about it, then they won't be opening this year.GoHarvOrGoHome wrote: ↑Jul 12, 2021The majority of the retail space still hasn't even begun build out yet despite the looming opening date, I think they are struggling to find the right retailers. At this rate I'm doubting that there will be any significant retail by the Christmas season. I could be wrong, hopefully they announce soon.
No retailer is going to pull the trigger to sign a lease and spend hundreds of thousands on tenant improvements here unless they can get a reliable estimate and guarantees of the traffic walking past their storefront on opening day. The uncertainties right now over the who, where and when of anchor tenant openings makes that impossible.
Steve Smith's repeated assurances to the media that, "coming soon announcements will be coming soon" are worth exactly nothing to the brick-and-mortar retailers' lenders and investors.
There is a permit for some work by FOPA Partners LLC on the city building division site, but it's clearly not the whole trestle. I'd guess that they committed to replacing the demolished trestle piers, and they want to get that work done now so they won't have a bunch of barricades and a muddy/dusty fenced-in mess in front of their Food Hall entrance whenever it opens...Tim wrote: ↑Jul 12, 2021Definitely looks like they're pouring the piers for the greenway trestle.
IMO… GRG and partners are investing tens of millions into the site acting as a “hub” for Brickline.
A lot of people/orgs have a lot riding on this working… revenue or not… it’s not going to fail.
A lot of people/orgs have a lot riding on this working… revenue or not… it’s not going to fail.
^ I’m not exactly surprised at the folks predicting this will be abandoned or “kaput” in 3-4 years. This is St. Louis after all and having only lived here for a year and half now that attitude seems par for the course in this town. Incredibly negative.
My guess is it will be wildly successful because the developers behind this project have done quite a bit more homework than anyone on this website has.
…cue the outrage haha.
My guess is it will be wildly successful because the developers behind this project have done quite a bit more homework than anyone on this website has.
…cue the outrage haha.
That was my point. I'm sure the Foundry Partners want to see it happen, and they probably have committed to replacing what they demolished and making the connection to their new building, but GRG will bear most of the cost. And not only does GRG have to restore the whole trestle and possibly replace the bridge over Vandeventer, but they'll also have to build some sort of at least partially-elevated connection all the way to Sarah. That's many tens of millions, and I don't think they even know how they are going to pay for that yet. And that doesn't even include the I-64 over/underpass connection.addxb2 wrote: ↑Jul 12, 2021IMO… GRG and partners are investing tens of millions into the site acting as a “hub” for Brickline.
A lot of people/orgs have a lot riding on this working… revenue or not… it’s not going to fail.
Meanwhile, there are much cheaper ways of connecting the Brickline to the Foundry and Grand Metro station than reusing that trestle.
Don't forget that 40Grand (Armory District Tower) could begin by the end of the year or into early next. So there could be two tower cranes up at the same time within a short distance of each other.dredger wrote: ↑Jul 12, 2021Chris, didn't realize the part about phase II starting construction in September or October is huge in my opinion and exactly what Foundry is meant to serve in the long run, the immediate area and not so much as a regional draw Another tower crane in near future.chriss752 wrote: ↑Jul 12, 2021Regarding whether or not this is successful, my thoughts on it are simple: it depends on the clientele.
And finally, bouncing back to the story from the BizJournal. It's nice to see that Phase 2 will begin construction in September or October and be completed within two years. That's sooner than a TIF commission document specified.