))
St. Louis is a place full of incredible food, interesting businesses, some of the nation's best breweries and some of the country's most creative people. Meet St. Louis is the podcast taking you behind the scenes with the brewers, chefs, entrepreneurs, and artists who make St. Louis more than just the Arch.
…
continue reading
"Meet me at Musial" is a trademark of St. Louis, where the Musial statue is a rallying point. Every week, two far-flung fans virtually "meet at Musial" to go over the latest in Cardinal news and discussion. Daniel Shoptaw (@C70, from Arkansas) and Allen Medlock (@amedlock1, Oklahoma) prove that great Cardinal talk can come anywhere in Cardinal Nation when you meet up to discuss your favorite team.
…
continue reading
This week we are taking you to the heart of the holidays in our area – Main Street St. Charles. This year marks 50 seasons of holiday festivities where you can step into the history of Christmas. From characters to carolers, chestnuts and Santa, there’s a little bit of everything. But for the small businesses on Main Street it also makes the holida…
…
continue reading
Most days of the week you will find Diane and Mike Wood inside their bake shop, Trolley Stop Bakery in Chesterfield. Located in a strip mall, you hear the old-fashioned ding of the bell when you walk in, and you're greeted by the delicious smell of cookies. Mike greets customers while Diane takes charge in the kitchen. The couple could be living th…
…
continue reading
Tis the season to shop local, a motto more important than ever this holiday season. Many small businesses make up the bulk of their sales over the next few months, and Aaron Park, the owner of Arch Apparel, joined us to talk about building a business and growing it over the last decade. The streetwear inspired clothing brand started in 2016, one of…
…
continue reading
Located in Union, Missouri, Nobletons Distillery may only officially be nine years old. But the tradition of distilling goes back generations for Demetrius Cain and his family. They can trace the beginnings to 1575 with the start of distilling in 1824. If it wasn’t for prohibition, they never would have stopped. Demetrius shares his deep family his…
…
continue reading
Like so many, Matt Longueville started his business as a passion project. STL Barkeep started small but has turned into one of the premier cocktail businesses in town. Crafting cocktails for events around town and at their bar, The Vandy, in the Grove neighborhood. That’s where we sat down for a conversation about spirits, the changing hospitality …
…
continue reading
If you walk down Euclid in the restaurant-filled Central West End, you might miss one of the city’s most popular new restaurants. Mainlander is a bit hidden. Tucked away in an intimate space that transports you when you walk through the door. Chef Blake Askew and his partner Gordon Chen opened the restaurant in 2023, hoping to create an intimate di…
…
continue reading
For a milestone episode, we needed to take you to a landmark location. This week’s marks our 300th episode of the Meet St Louis Podcast. We are honored and grateful you join us each week to hear the stories behind the places that make the St. Louis region such a special place. There is no shortage of people to meet in our city, snd this week, we’re…
…
continue reading
The question seems simple: what do you want to do with your life? For Natalie Van Hee, it wasn't simple until she realized her love of candles could be the career path she was looking for. She opened Glow Candle Company a decade ago, and the hand-poured, small-batch candle company based in Webster Groves has a loyal following. In this week's episod…
…
continue reading
One decade ago, the Larson family opened a small little coffee shop in Maplewood. Living Room consisted of a kitchen, their roastery and a few tables. Quickly, it found its groove in the neighborhood, and now, 10 years later, they’ve expanded to 100 seats and a much larger roaster. Brother and sister Nate and Hannah Larson work together to bring an…
…
continue reading
A long-time music venue in The Grove neighborhood is back. Atomic Cowboy shuttered during the pandemic, but new life and new music is happening inside, thanks in part to Drew Jameson. Drew joined us on this week’s episode of the podcast to talk about his life in the music industry locally and across the country. His passion for music started young,…
…
continue reading
Imagine being a kid in a candy store. That was Dan Abel Jr’s real-life childhood. His father, Dan Abel, started Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate in 1981. The name was for his three children. Now those children are part of the 2nd generation running the business. A business that has grown in recent years after they purchased legendary chocolate company…
…
continue reading
It’s year two of St. Louis CITY SC and they continue to bring a fan experience beyond the game. We will let the sports folks dive into the wins, losses and ties.Instead, we’re focusing on the fan experience, food and more in this week’s episode. We sat down with Matt Sebek, the team’s Chief Experience Officer to dive into how year two differed from…
…
continue reading
We can’t all hop on a plane and head to Hawaii when the craving for authentic poke calls but you can make the drive to the Tower Grove East neighborhood of St. Louis City and find a pretty great alternative. That was the entire goal behind Buzz’s Hawaiian. Thomas Moore, better known to everyone as Buzz, started with a food truck after retiring from…
…
continue reading
The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra kicks off its 145th season this month, and this week on the podcast, we sat down with Music Director Stéphane Denève. This season is a bit unique as it’s a nomadic season, and historic Powell Hall is undergoing a major expansion and renovation. Stéphane shares his excitement for the upcoming season, which includes s…
…
continue reading
Located in West County, The Wolf is a neighborhood gathering spot serving up organic food with a heavy focus on sustainability. It's the kind of place owners Bob and Denise Birbin want to visit, which is why they created a restaurant they felt was missing in their community. The two met in the restaurant industry in 1978, and when they got the chan…
…
continue reading
With two locations, both in residential areas, Sasha’s Wine Bars are your quintessential neighborhood spot. A lengthy but approachable wine list is what makes it such a popular place. We sat down with owner Alexandra Richman, also known as Sasha, as well as the restaurant groups program coordinator Denise Mueller to talk all about wine and communit…
…
continue reading
If you’re a fan of breakfast all day, stick around because we have an interview for you. UKRAFT started as a food truck and has since evolved to restaurants in Chesterfield and Downtown St. Louis. Their newly expanded and much larger Downtown location is where we sat down with co-owner Matt Ratz to talk about the concept, their growth and the love …
…
continue reading
St. Louis is full of great breweries. We’ve taken you behind the scenes of most of them here on the Meet St Louis Podcast, sharing the brewing secrets, the collaborations and the camaraderie. This week we headed up to North St. Louis County to sit down with Robb Wiesen at Ferguson Brewing Company. Robb took over as owner a few years ago but has bee…
…
continue reading
This week we’re taking you inside one of our city’s greatest treasures: The St. Louis Zoo. Established in 1910 the zoo holds a special place in the hearts of locals and visitors. It started with the giant birdcage and has grown decade after decade, and the growth continues. With new animals, new exhibits and soon a new park in North St Louis County…
…
continue reading
Located in a historic mansion in Bellville, Grafted Wine Bar brings something unique to the Metro East town known for its German heritage. The wine bar brings a European feel with wines not found in many other spots in town. Magda Gilpin discovered her love of wine several years ago – learning to be a sommelier and then bringing that knowledge to B…
…
continue reading
This month marks six years of the Meet St Louis Podcast. With more than 280 episodes, it has been the biggest joy to share the stories of our city’s local businesses. To mark six years – we thought we’d chat with one of St Louis’ best – Loryn Nalic – the chef and owner of Balkan Treat Box and the recently opened Telva at the Ridge. We first sat dow…
…
continue reading
Comet Coffee is a coffee lover's dream located in St. Louis City, right next to the beautiful Forest Park. They don't have their own roastery but instead source beans from around the world, bringing some of the best coffee to St. Louis. Plus, they have a bakery program that rivals Paris, France. The cafe opened in 2012 and now is under new ownershi…
…
continue reading
St. Louis loves to wear it’s pride on it’s sleeve – or chest. Walk around a CITY SC game or a nice day in Forest Park, and you’ll see so many people rocking a St. Louis-inspired shirt or tee. For Ashley Blair, when they’re wearing one of her designs she finds that sense of validation that she made the right choice starting her apparel company back …
…
continue reading
Ono Ikanone always knew he wanted to bring a taste of his home county of Nigeria to his new home in St. Louis. As a teenager growing up in the Midwest, it was hard to find connection to West Africa but he learned to cook and that turned into a passion for sharing his recipes and culture with friends. In 2023 he finally opened a restaurant he says s…
…
continue reading
A new shop for a beloved bakery is now open in Maplewood. Prioritized Pastries made a name for itself, first at the Tower Groves Farmer’s Market and then with a storefront in South St. Louis City. The bakery has a huge following because they are 100 percent vegan and gluten-free. Nothing excites owner Alex McDonnell and assistant pastry chef Shane …
…
continue reading
Mike Evans didn’t start off with the dream of running a cookie empire, but that’s the goal he’s currently building on each and every day. He grew up surrounded by the food world but it wasn’t the path he took originally. But a desire for entrepreneurship and a discovery on the internet about the possibility of warm cookies straight from a vending m…
…
continue reading
A lot of times, we're taking you inside the best spots around town, but this week we're heading outside. At least in terms of the topic of the conversation.Have you heard of Great Rivers Greenway? If not, you’ve likely experienced and enjoyed their work without possibly knowing the story. Started in the year 2000 the public agency is working to con…
…
continue reading
Growing up in St. Louis, the taste of a Dad’s Original Scotch Oatmeal cookie is one of those classic flavors. The crispy, crunchy cookies have been around for more than a century but now the company based out of South St. Louis City is celebrating a new milestone. We sat down with Chad Huber, one of the three brothers who purchased the long-standin…
…
continue reading
Located in a storefront on Cherokee Street in South St. Louis City is a place where Reginald Quarles says all are welcome. Teatopia is a tea shop and café serving up nearly 100 varieties of tea. The business came out of tragedy, Reginald says he soon realized life is too short not to chase your dreams. So with the love of tea, and passion to create…
…
continue reading
When Steph Hampton started hiking with her kids, she never imagined she’d create an entire community of people who just want to get outside and explore. But that’s exactly what has happened. Her friends called her the park lady, now she inspires thousands to explore St. Louis and beyond. Her Instagram is Explore STL Parks, and she vividly remembers…
…
continue reading
Step inside Casa Don Alfonso at the Ritz Carlton in Clayton and your eyes are instantly drawn to the open kitchen. Inside, you’ll watch them craft and create fresh made pasta, on the walls are hand painted tiles. It’s all part of Mario Laccarino's mission to bring you to his homeland of Italy. To his family. The Italian restauranteur is in town fro…
…
continue reading
Chef Mike Risk heads up the kitchen at Clover and the Bee and O + O Pizza in Webster Groves. He’s part of the O + O Hospitality family that’s found huge success with some of the best restaurants in town. But Mike got his story early in life, starting off in his first kitchens as a teenager. It was the iconic Trattoria Marcella that changed his life…
…
continue reading
Soulard Farmer’s Market is one of the most treasured and historic spots in St. Louis. It’s been in operation since 1779, when farmers would gather in the area to sell their goods. Fast forward to now and there are 146 stands with a waitlist of dozens of people who want to sell at the market in the heart of the city. This week, we sat down with the …
…
continue reading
If you’ve driven down Manchester Road recently in The Grove neighborhood you might have noticed a new building with a big N-G on the outside. Inside is a unique greenhouse using hydroponic farming to grow the freshest lettuce around. Neon Green just opened, and owner Josh Smith hopes to make some big changes to the way we eat, think and grow our fo…
…
continue reading
Baseball is back, St. Louis. There’s nothing quite like Busch Stadium, and there’s no greater fans in baseball than Cardinals fans. And for 10 years, Ballpark Village has been the next-door neighbor to the one and only St Louis Cardinals. In celebration of the start of the season and to commemorate 10 years, we sat down with Mike Lamartina, the Chi…
…
continue reading
Sugarfire is a BBQ staple in St. Louis. From their brisket to their wild named specials, there’s a reason they’ve been winning awards for over a decade. Now we had owner Mike Johnson on the Meet St. Louis podcast way back in the beginning. All the way back on episode 50. So now, on Episode 271 we’re revisiting the beloved BBQ spot. But this time we…
…
continue reading
Jackie Price found a love of cooking when she was a young teen. And while she loved working in a restaurant, her true passion she found was teaching others. She saw a need in the St. Louis community for more hands-on cooking classes, and the Fennel Cooking Studio was born. Little did she know just how much of a demand there would be. Classes sell o…
…
continue reading
If you've been to the Tower Grove Farmer's Market, you've likely seen the line wrap around one of the booths. At the booth, you'll find bread, donuts, and hand pies. That's what Madeline Hissong started with when she launched her business Damn Fine Hand Pies. Despite the popularity, she still recalls with clarity her first customer. Now, Madeline a…
…
continue reading
Ice – it’s water frozen into a solid state. Seems pretty basic. But Jordan Goodman, who’s spent much of his career behind a bar, will tell you it can make or break drink. We sat down with Jordan at his soon-to-open cocktail bar and restaurant Good Company in the Grove Neighborhood of St. Louis. But we start the conversation with a focus on Good Ice…
…
continue reading
The idea 'Stay Civil' is one we could all use a little more of in today’s day and age. That’s the motto at the South City brewery Civil Life. Founded in 2011 by Jake Hafner, Mike Bianco and Dylan Mosley, the brewery is known for their malt-driven beers. Their best seller and crowd favorite is the Civil Life Brown. It’s a beer head brewer Dylan neve…
…
continue reading
James Beard Award Winning Chef Kevin Nashan isn’t from St. Louis but after working at some of the best restaurants around the world, this is the city he chose to plant roots and open his restaurants. He took over Sidney Street Café in 2003 and incorporated his vision into the beloved Benton park restaurant. Now it’s synonymous with special occasion…
…
continue reading
Party Hop is sort of a one-stop shop for the big celebrations in your life. The owners – Ashely Detweiler and Ashley Roberts, started the company because they saw a need. They were moms planning tons of parties, and there wasn’t a super easy way to get all the fun products. So while their initial idea for Party Hop started with pre-made kits, it so…
…
continue reading
A desire for more is what launched Cathy Jenkins into a new career later in life. She was in the kitchen one day and decided she wanted to open a restaurant. It started right there, and now she’s about to open her second location of Cathy’s Kitchen. The first is a staple in the Historic downtown Ferguson area. It’s survived protests and shattered w…
…
continue reading
St Louis loves fried chicken. It’s a lesson John Perkins learned years ago when he held a pop-up for a Southern concept that would eventually inspire Juniper. Last year he closed Juniper, the acclaimed Central West end restaurant and transitioned it to Sunday Best. Walking inside the restaurant, the changes might be subtle, but it's meant to be a m…
…
continue reading
Stanley Brown and Frank Romano go way back. They’re long-time friends, former co-workers, and fellow Webster Groves restaurant owners. So it felt like a perfect fit when the corner at Gore and Lockwood, which housed CJ Muggs, became available. Stanley owns Robust Bistro and Wine Bar, and Frank owns The Parkmoor; both have worked in the hospitality …
…
continue reading
Hello Juice is a health-focused smoothing and juice bar with locations in The Grove and Kirkwood. Husband and wife duo Jen and Jon Maness took over the company in 2019. They’ll be the first to admit they jumped in without any real background in the health and wellness scene. Jon says he doesn’t really like fruits and vegetables. But the couple dove…
…
continue reading
Happy New Year from the Meet St Louis Podcast. We can’t wait to continue sharing the stories behind the places you love in our region. It’s a new year, and there’s so much to look forward to. Including the opening of new spots around town. This week we sat down with Steven O’Loughlin, the president of Lodging Hospitality Management. LHM is the team…
…
continue reading
From all of us at the Meet St Louis Podcast and First Alert 4, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy Holiday. We will be back in the new year with brand-new episodes. Thank you for listening!Meet St. Louis
…
continue reading
Driving down Kingshighway in South St. Louis City, you can’t miss the purple neon sign welcoming you to The Royale. The bar has been a St. Louis staple for almost two decades, but the building itself dates back to prohibition. It’s always been a place for people to gather, and that’s the vibe owner Steven Smith has fostered at his establishment. A …
…
continue reading
Nyshaun Harvey developed a love of coffee at a young age. Her entrepreneurial spirit led her to open up her first coffee shop in 2020, now just a few years later the 26 year old has three shops. The original Latte Lounge in Florissant just underwent a remodel and her other two locations, one in Downtown St. Louis and the other in Ferguson are bring…
…
continue reading
