The Arch City Report

What to do with a downtown windfall

A major week for downtown St. Louis may signal a turning point. A $230 million Rams settlement plan, new state-backed incentives, and long-stalled redevelopment projects could finally gain momentum for revitalizing downtown. But how much impact will they have—and how soon? This week on the Arch City Report, Greater St. Louis Inc. Managing Partner Ron Kitchens breaks down the funding plans, the policy changes, and what it all means for the future of downtown. Plus, why data centers could be critical to the region’s long-term growth. Show Links: https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/2026/05/07/rams-settlement-riverfront-arch-mississippi-river.html [https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/2026/05/07/rams-settlement-riverfront-arch-mississippi-river.html] Mentioned in this episode: Cass Commercial Bank Cass Commercial Bank...member FDIC. https://www.cassbank.com/

The future at Laclede's Landing

St. Louis has long overlooked the Mississippi River—but that may be starting to change. A proposed $15 million investment from Rams settlement funds could jumpstart new life along the riverfront, with big implications for downtown and Laclede’s Landing. Gretchen Minges, co-owner of Laclede’s Landing developer Advantes Group, joins the conversation to discuss growing momentum behind redevelopment, current projects on the Landing, and the challenges still standing in the way. She also weighs in on whether ambitious long-term visions for the riverfront are still within reach as interest in reconnecting the city to the river builds. Show Links: https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/2026/05/07/rams-settlement-riverfront-arch-mississippi-river.html [https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/2026/05/07/rams-settlement-riverfront-arch-mississippi-river.html] Mentioned in this episode: Cass Commercial Bank Cass Commercial Bank...member FDIC. https://www.cassbank.com/

Who will guide St. Louis to its “North Star?

What is St. Louis’ “north star” — and who should define it? On this episode of the Arch City Report, Erik Siemers breaks down a wide-ranging Advance STL panel featuring leaders from Invest STL, The Opportunity Trust and Beyond Housing. Joined by St. Louis Business Journal reporter Jim Drew, the conversation explores leadership gaps, political realities, the limits of waiting for a single savior, and the role the business community must play in driving regional change. Show Links: https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/2026/04/30/nonprofit-leaders-critique-st-louis-political-as.html [https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/2026/04/30/nonprofit-leaders-critique-st-louis-political-as.html] Mentioned in this episode: Cass Commercial Bank Cass Commercial Bank...member FDIC. https://www.cassbank.com/

Bob Clark and the downtown promise

As St. Louis grapples with downtown challenges and questions about who should lead the city’s next chapter, one longtime business leader continues to call on the private sector to step up. In this episode of The Arch City Report, Clayco chairman Bob Clark joins editor Erik Siemers to discuss the role business leaders can—and should—play in shaping the region’s future. Clark, one of Mayor Cara Spencer’s most prominent supporters, addresses criticism surrounding a recent data center vote, his financial backing of the mayor’s campaign and his long-standing argument that St. Louis lacks an urgent, coordinated strategy. He also revisits his earlier suggestion that major employers could make a bold, collective commitment downtown—and whether that idea has gained traction. The conversation also explores leadership turnover across the region, the growing controversy around data center development, and Clark’s takeaways from being aboard the inaugural nonstop British Airways flight from St. Louis to London—an international moment of visibility for the city. Show Links: https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/2025/11/20/mayor-calls-regions-biggest-firms-downtown.html [https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/2025/11/20/mayor-calls-regions-biggest-firms-downtown.html] https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/2025/01/28/bob-clark-clayco-cara-spencer-tishaura-jones.html [https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/2025/01/28/bob-clark-clayco-cara-spencer-tishaura-jones.html] http://bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/2026/04/23/downtown-st-louis-tower-windows-shot-out-again.html [http://bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/2026/04/23/downtown-st-louis-tower-windows-shot-out-again.html] https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/2026/04/16/law-firm-moving-downtown-expand-clayton.html [https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/2026/04/16/law-firm-moving-downtown-expand-clayton.html] Mentioned in this episode: Cass Commercial Bank Cass Commercial Bank...member FDIC. https://www.cassbank.com/

How a 24-Seat Maplewood Restaurant Made the New York Times List

Robin, the James Beard-nominated restaurant that seemingly came out of nowhere, is the hottest table in St. Louis — and maybe in the country. Jacob Kirn sits down with Alec Schingel, Robin's owner and chef, to dig into the real story behind one of the most talked-about restaurant openings in recent memory. Alec traces his culinary journey from Urbana to the kitchens of Gerard Craft, to Belgium and back, and explains why a small 24-seat counter-service model in Maplewood turned out to be a masterclass in restaurant economics. He breaks down how a surprise visit from a New York Times critic led to Robin landing on the paper's list of America's best restaurants — and how that single moment essentially doubled the restaurant's revenue overnight. Alec also gets candid about the grind before the recognition: the slow Tuesdays with nine covers on the books, the challenge of paying staff when the buzz hadn't caught up to the quality, and the careful use of a publicist even when the ROI wasn't obvious. Plus, he shares his philosophy on James Beard nominations, why he refuses to let accolades wag the dog, and what it actually takes to build lasting demand in a city that's always hungry for the next new thing. Mentioned in this episode: Cass Commercial Bank Cass Commercial Bank...member FDIC. https://www.cassbank.com/