urbanSTL

^Maybe the signage could be better and it's not the shortest route, but you don't actually have to get on the highway. Right before it merges onto 55 there's a ramp to the right that takes you to MLK drive. Four blocks west of where Riverpark comes off Eads and joins Collinsville. About the only thing where I think it'd make all that much difference is if you're going to the East St. Louis riverfront. Is Eads convenient for motorists? Sure, a few. Is it a better use of the asset than pedestrian or cycle infrastructure? Maybe not. Can you have both? Maybe, but it's always a compromise. And making that trip shorter, better, and safer for pedestrians and cyclists is more important to me than saving a motorist five minutes of drive time. Could two lanes of traffic work? Maybe. But I'm not sure what they really bring to the table. We lived so long without any lanes at all . . .

I don’t know whether to laugh or cry when I consider that City SC will likely accomplish in 5-7 years what the Cardinals have failed to accomplish in BPV in almost 20 years.

^Agreed. Perhaps local (as in, born/raised/lives here) ownership actually matters? Not clear to me that current Cardinals ownership group ever actually intended to deliver on their promises.

^^^Holy crud that is sweet looking. We're thinking this is actually going to happen?

does anyone know why Billy's on Broadway is closing? I got an impression that they were trying reimagine their concept - is that right?

stlurbanist wrote: ↑

Oct 24, 2024

does anyone know why Billy's on Broadway is closing? I got an impression that they were trying reimagine their concept - is that right?

Cardinals drawing 600,000-700,000 hurts all those south of Busch restaurants

In other news: BBQ restaurant coming to 1317 Washington. (Formerly Friends Bar and Grill that could never get a liquor license).

When Eads bridge was renovated years back it was designed to be closed off for festivals. I believe they installed extra electric to be used by booths. They even had a regular event called Eats Bridge. The problem was not many people came (even though downtown had more workers and visitors than it does now). The one time I went, it was so ungodly hot being on the pavement in the summer I decided not to return.

Definitely seems more fit for evening events in warmer months

Telecommunications giant AT&T said Friday it is relocating jobs from St. Louis to other U.S. offices in a move that will impact hundreds of employees locally.
AT&T said in a statement it's consolidating “some work functions” in St. Louis to other cities where it operates. The Dallas-based firm said “several hundred positions in St. Louis are part of this change.” It did not provide a specific figure for how many jobs are leaving St. Louis. AT&T also did not disclose the type of roles impacted nor where they would be relocated. AT&T did not say if the consolidation process is already underway, only that it's expected to be completed by mid-2025.

“We've streamlined our business to be simpler, more focused, and efficient, aiming to be the best provider of 5G and Fiber connectivity. As part of our ongoing review of operations and efforts to bring teams closer together, we are consolidating some work functions from St. Louis to other strategic hub locations,” an AT&T spokesperson said in a statement. “We will continue to maintain a presence in the St. Louis area including an employee base serving in various roles.”

^ Believe it has been well underway for the last year or so based on my wife's experience and within her group that had employees throughout various regional offices.  Including some of her coworkers who work and live in St. Louis.  Some have decided or already moved on and some like us, or planning to move to Dallas (or Atlanta).  

Also, ATT from what I see with my wife's years at the company is good for having periodic layoffs including a recent one in the last couple of months.   They have so many employees nationwide that things don't seem to get much attention on national front or even if regional.  ATT consolidations and layoffs of its Northern Cali regional office get nil on local coverage.   

By Nathan Rubbelke – Reporter, St. Louis Business Journal
Oct 29, 2024

Mexican restaurant Brew Tulum is dropping its plans for a restaurant on Laclede's Landing, saying its timeline for opening the location has been delayed, prompting it to scrap the project.
Brew Tulum said Monday in a social media post that its new restaurant at 700 N. Second St. has been "delayed by factors out of our control." The specialty coffeehouse and Mexican eatery, which did not provide specifics on the cause of the delay, had been targeting a fall 2024 or early 2025 opening at its new location.

Brew Tulum closed a previous location in November 2023 at 5090 Delmar Blvd. in the Delmar Maker District, in the Central West End, after a lead contamination dispute with its landlord there. Owners and husband-and-wife duo Laura McNamara and Alberto “AJ” Juarez opened Brew Tulum in fall 2022.


"To date, we simply have not been able to get the new project at Laclede's Landing off the ground. Given the challenges and hardship we were already rebounding from, we had to make the extremely tough decision to walk away," the restaurant said in a social media post. "Unfortunately, we found ourselves strained to the point of near fracture as we attempted to sustain the significant and unexpected delay in the timeline for this new vision."
Brew Tulum's new restaurant was to be located in Hoffman Lofts, a redevelopment project completed last year by Advantes Group. Hoffman Lofts includes 21 apartments and 15,000-square-feet of retail and office space. It is one of six buildings owned by Advantes, which has redeveloped buildings on the Landing with a focus on adding residents there, transitioning the Landing away from its nightlife-oriented past.
Ryan Koppy, a broker for the Hoffman Lofts, said Monday in an email that Advantes is still under a lease agreement with Brew Tulum. Brew Tulum in a statement to the Business Journal said it's "still navigating the details of our exit." Gretchen Minges, who owns Advantes Group alongside her husband, Brian Minges, didn't respond to a request for comment.
Brew Tulum has been serving coffee in Laclede's Landing at The Cobblestone STL, a market, deli and café that opened this summer at 701 N. 1st Street. Brew Tulum said Monday in its social media post it will no longer have a "daily presence" inside the Cobblestone, effective immediately. It said it plans to host future pop-up events at the Cobblestone and elsewhere. Brew Tulum has operated at farmers' markets and said that will continue, including at the Tower Grove Farmers Market and U City Farmers Market.

"We plan to work on improving our online presence for catering and for online sales of our coffee offerings by the bag," the restaurant said.

TRUESONJB wrote:

Mexican restaurant drops plan for Laclede's Landing location

A Mexican restaurant that planned to open on Laclede's Landing says it's walking away from the project.

Dilip Vishwanat

By Nathan Rubbelke – Reporter, St. Louis Business Journal
Oct 29, 2024

Mexican restaurant Brew Tulum is dropping its plans for a restaurant on Laclede's Landing, saying its timeline for opening the location has been delayed, prompting it to scrap the project.
Brew Tulum said Monday in a social media post that its new restaurant at 700 N. Second St. has been "delayed by factors out of our control." The specialty coffeehouse and Mexican eatery, which did not provide specifics on the cause of the delay, had been targeting a fall 2024 or early 2025 opening at its new location.

Brew Tulum closed a previous location in November 2023 at 5090 Delmar Blvd. in the Delmar Maker District, in the Central West End, after a lead contamination dispute with its landlord there. Owners and husband-and-wife duo Laura McNamara and Alberto “AJ” Juarez opened Brew Tulum in fall 2022.


"To date, we simply have not been able to get the new project at Laclede's Landing off the ground. Given the challenges and hardship we were already rebounding from, we had to make the extremely tough decision to walk away," the restaurant said in a social media post. "Unfortunately, we found ourselves strained to the point of near fracture as we attempted to sustain the significant and unexpected delay in the timeline for this new vision."
Brew Tulum's new restaurant was to be located in Hoffman Lofts, a redevelopment project completed last year by Advantes Group. Hoffman Lofts includes 21 apartments and 15,000-square-feet of retail and office space. It is one of six buildings owned by Advantes, which has redeveloped buildings on the Landing with a focus on adding residents there, transitioning the Landing away from its nightlife-oriented past.
Ryan Koppy, a broker for the Hoffman Lofts, said Monday in an email that Advantes is still under a lease agreement with Brew Tulum. Brew Tulum in a statement to the Business Journal said it's "still navigating the details of our exit." Gretchen Minges, who owns Advantes Group alongside her husband, Brian Minges, didn't respond to a request for comment.
Brew Tulum has been serving coffee in Laclede's Landing at The Cobblestone STL, a market, deli and café that opened this summer at 701 N. 1st Street. Brew Tulum said Monday in its social media post it will no longer have a "daily presence" inside the Cobblestone, effective immediately. It said it plans to host future pop-up events at the Cobblestone and elsewhere. Brew Tulum has operated at farmers' markets and said that will continue, including at the Tower Grove Farmers Market and U City Farmers Market.

"We plan to work on improving our online presence for catering and for online sales of our coffee offerings by the bag," the restaurant said.

Ugh so we are losing both the restaurant and the coffee shop.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Debaliviere91 wrote: ↑

Oct 29, 2024

TRUESONJB wrote:

Mexican restaurant drops plan for Laclede's Landing location

A Mexican restaurant that planned to open on Laclede's Landing says it's walking away from the project.

Dilip Vishwanat

By Nathan Rubbelke – Reporter, St. Louis Business Journal
Oct 29, 2024

Mexican restaurant Brew Tulum is dropping its plans for a restaurant on Laclede's Landing, saying its timeline for opening the location has been delayed, prompting it to scrap the project.
Brew Tulum said Monday in a social media post that its new restaurant at 700 N. Second St. has been "delayed by factors out of our control." The specialty coffeehouse and Mexican eatery, which did not provide specifics on the cause of the delay, had been targeting a fall 2024 or early 2025 opening at its new location.

Brew Tulum closed a previous location in November 2023 at 5090 Delmar Blvd. in the Delmar Maker District, in the Central West End, after a lead contamination dispute with its landlord there. Owners and husband-and-wife duo Laura McNamara and Alberto “AJ” Juarez opened Brew Tulum in fall 2022.


"To date, we simply have not been able to get the new project at Laclede's Landing off the ground. Given the challenges and hardship we were already rebounding from, we had to make the extremely tough decision to walk away," the restaurant said in a social media post. "Unfortunately, we found ourselves strained to the point of near fracture as we attempted to sustain the significant and unexpected delay in the timeline for this new vision."
Brew Tulum's new restaurant was to be located in Hoffman Lofts, a redevelopment project completed last year by Advantes Group. Hoffman Lofts includes 21 apartments and 15,000-square-feet of retail and office space. It is one of six buildings owned by Advantes, which has redeveloped buildings on the Landing with a focus on adding residents there, transitioning the Landing away from its nightlife-oriented past.
Ryan Koppy, a broker for the Hoffman Lofts, said Monday in an email that Advantes is still under a lease agreement with Brew Tulum. Brew Tulum in a statement to the Business Journal said it's "still navigating the details of our exit." Gretchen Minges, who owns Advantes Group alongside her husband, Brian Minges, didn't respond to a request for comment.
Brew Tulum has been serving coffee in Laclede's Landing at The Cobblestone STL, a market, deli and café that opened this summer at 701 N. 1st Street. Brew Tulum said Monday in its social media post it will no longer have a "daily presence" inside the Cobblestone, effective immediately. It said it plans to host future pop-up events at the Cobblestone and elsewhere. Brew Tulum has operated at farmers' markets and said that will continue, including at the Tower Grove Farmers Market and U City Farmers Market.

"We plan to work on improving our online presence for catering and for online sales of our coffee offerings by the bag," the restaurant said.

Ugh so we are losing both the restaurant and the coffee shop.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I’ve been trying to encourage people to go since I go often and it is always empty. The owner seems like a genuinely good guy. Their coffee flavors are very good. I’m sure their food would’ve been well done. Like all the spaces on the landing, the interior is beautiful and would’ve made a good restaurant space. They have had bad luck it getting off the ground it seems. I hope they eventually land somewhere

Please go to Cobblestone. It’s a market with regular and unique foodstuff, beer, sandwich counter, and a small bar. Also seemingly genuine good owners. We have some people trying to do things on the landing and downtown- we need to do everything to support them. The landing still has so much potential. Such an amazing area that is still quite empty when I walk over there.

Go to Cobblestone, Jovick Brothers, Burger 809, Levels, Rated Test Kitchen, as well as all the places that have held on through the attack on downtown. Downtown will be what we make of it

The coffee pop up was always a pop up.   The restaurant issue is a 120+ year old building and trying to put in a kitchen hood.  It can be done but it’s a lot of money.  They tried to find work around and couldn’t

From Sept when I reached out to someone about this

“Yes, I’m trying to help them navigate some issues with the build-out, including the hood. Their building has presented some interesting challenges since it was built for a much different purpose, but I’m still very hopeful that everything will be resolved and move forward to allow them to open early next year”

stlurbanist wrote: ↑

Oct 26, 2024

Telecommunications giant AT&T said Friday it is relocating jobs from St. Louis to other U.S. offices in a move that will impact hundreds of employees locally.
AT&T said in a statement it's consolidating “some work functions” in St. Louis to other cities where it operates. The Dallas-based firm said “several hundred positions in St. Louis are part of this change.” It did not provide a specific figure for how many jobs are leaving St. Louis. AT&T also did not disclose the type of roles impacted nor where they would be relocated. AT&T did not say if the consolidation process is already underway, only that it's expected to be completed by mid-2025.

“We've streamlined our business to be simpler, more focused, and efficient, aiming to be the best provider of 5G and Fiber connectivity. As part of our ongoing review of operations and efforts to bring teams closer together, we are consolidating some work functions from St. Louis to other strategic hub locations,” an AT&T spokesperson said in a statement. “We will continue to maintain a presence in the St. Louis area including an employee base serving in various roles.”

Do you know roughly how many AT&T employs in STL and how many are being moved to other cities? 

Also, what kind of jobs are being moved? Of the several hundred jobs being moved, any guess on how many people may stay here in a different role or leave AT&T all together? I think many could be absorbed in other local companies if they want to stay. I would assume in your case, the move is a must or worth it, but I do not want to speculate on why your family chose to move. Good luck on you move!

Latest data from Cushman Wakefield on Downtown office vacancy:

St. Louis: 22.6%
Kansas City: 26.3%
Denver: 32.0%
Atlanta: 29.6%
Indy: 24.4%
Nashville: 20.7%
Cincinnati : 24.2%
Minneapolis 33.5%
St.paul 31.5%
Columbus 22.5%

dbInSouthCity wrote:Latest data from Cushman Wakefield on Downtown office vacancy:

St. Louis: 22.6%
Kansas City: 26.3%
Denver: 32.0%
Atlanta: 29.6%
Indy: 24.4%
Nashville: 20.7%
Cincinnati : 24.2%
Minneapolis 33.5%
St.paul 31.5%
Columbus 22.5%

This is encouraging. Though it doesn’t include office space not ready for immediate use, correct? I’d be curious how we compare to these cities with that included. I’d suspect we’d look worse.

^^  I would be curious if the metric was simply vacant space period  as I think the list is feel good for St. Louis but really does discount some big empty spaces as Debaliviere91 alluded too.   

On the positive side, the reality to me is in the new world of work from home and reduction/pressures on white collar work force due to consolidation & AI is that office vacancy has less meaning to vitality of an urban core that it has been in the past.    In that respect, I do think and believe most would agree that downtown St. Louis has some strong fundamentals to build upon from sports/entertainment presence, to landmarks/iconic Arch, to convention space to green space to adding more hotel rooms to increasing housing units.   Still need work in all areas but man if city keeps finding ways to improve everything from mobility/streetscape to improve/expand convention space to improving green space to keep adding residents (AHM tower, to BPV announcing a tower to getting Railway Ex on track would be huge if even 2 out of 3 break ground in next year). 

dredger wrote: ↑

Nov 01, 2024

^^  I would be curious if the metric was simply vacant space period  as I think the list is feel good for St. Louis but really does discount some big empty spaces as Debaliviere91 alluded too.   

This is correct. For all major firms, assets that are not available for occupancy (competitive product) are excluded from the data set. The referenced vacancy number would exclude Railway, AT&T, etc. For example in the case of AT&T/Railway they are either not available for an occupier or slated for multi-family conversion. 

I clock vacancy even higher in the CBD and Downtown (full disclosure, this is from my report).

The improvement of bike infrastructure in and out of Downtown is going to be momentous. Even just the protected bike lane on the Jefferson that goes to City Park has been a game changer for Downtown accessibility. Add in the protected bike lane on Tucker, improved lanes on Broadway/4th, the 20th street bike path, and of course the eventual connection to a greater Brickline Greenway and suddenly downtown is at the center of a great network instead of the island it largely was literally a year ago.

The Big Shark space is still available if anybody wants to take up the mantle of a bike shop downtown, the timing may never be better

Big things coming to Wash Ave. hopefully announced mid December but 2025 is going to be huge for Wash Ave.

I'm looking forward to the announcement!