The Arch City Report

St. Louis Business Journal
  • 5.0 (14)
  • Business News
  • Updated Weekly

A weekly news podcast covering the biggest stories from the St. Louis Business Journal.

  1. 2h ago

    The St. Louis school district that lifted itself from the bottom

    Twenty-five years ago, the Maplewood-Richmond Heights School District was one point away from losing its state accreditation. Today, it posts the highest performance score of any district in Missouri — and home values in Maplewood have surged nearly 80% (adjusted for inflation) over that same period. This week, host Erik Siemers is joined by St. Louis Business Journal reporter Kate Marijolovic to unpack how a district once written off as failing became the region's top performer. The turnaround wasn't a single dramatic move — it was years of methodical change driven by Superintendent Dr. Linda Henke, from rewriting curriculum and raising teaching standards to rebuilding community pride through sports, arts, and civic engagement. But the story doesn't end at the classroom door. Realtors say the school district is now the single biggest draw for young families moving to Maplewood, where homes routinely sell in under a week. Erik and Kate explore what this means for St. Louis Public Schools, which enrolls nearly 10 times as many students and is navigating its own facilities crisis through the "Future Ready SLPS" plan. Could a Maplewood-style cultural shift take root in a large urban district — and would it be enough to reverse the region's demographic decline? Read more: Find Kate Marijolovic's reporting at bizjournals.com/stlouis, or tap the links in the show notes. This episode is supported by Maryville University and Cass Commercial Bank.

  2. Oct 1

    Unemployable: How Katie Lee Scaled From St. Louis to Target Shelves Nationwide

    Katie Lee is the owner of Katie's Pizza & Pasta — a St. Louis food empire spanning four restaurants, a frozen pizza manufacturing facility, and an e-commerce business employing around 500 people. Now she's also a published author. Her new memoir, *Unemployable: The Katie Lee Story*, traces a turbulent childhood, battles with addiction and sobriety, and the unlikely rise of one of St. Louis's most relentless entrepreneurs. The title comes from a phrase her father, Tom Lee, used to describe them both — and Katie flipped it into a badge of honor. In this episode, Katie sits down with host Venita Rizvic, special sections editor at the St. Louis Business Journal, to discuss: - Why she wrote the book as a way to mourn her father and her close friend Rolando - The tough-love lessons from her father that shaped her entrepreneurial grit - Writing and self-publishing the memoir in 30 days to meet a Target deadline - The Target partnership that grew her CPG line from 500 to 7,500 doors in one year - Balancing single motherhood with a rapidly expanding business - What's next: a new 50,000-square-foot manufacturing facility, a documentary, and more *Unemployable* is available now at Target stores nationwide, on Amazon, and at katies.com. Independent bookstore distribution begins November 1st. The Arch City Report is presented by the St. Louis Business Journal, with supporting sponsors Maryville University and Cass Commercial Bank.

  3. Sep 24

    After Mark Twain, the next target for downtown cleanup

    After 1,700 police calls over a decade, the Mark Twain Hotel is finally closed. The settlement reached by Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway with the hotel's owner marked a major early win for Downtown Forward, a nonprofit launched this spring to tackle problem properties and improve quality of life in downtown St. Louis. Erik sits down with attorney Jerry Schlichter — co-founder of Schlichter Bogard and co-founder of Downtown Forward — to discuss how the Mark Twain closure came together, the relocation of 168 residents through partnerships with the city and Peter & Paul Community Services, and the problem properties and street-level drug activity still facing the area around the Old Post Office and Schnucks Culinaria. Schlichter also shares his decades-long commitment to the urban core, his role in championing the state historic tax credit, and why his firm has never left downtown. This episode of the Arch City Report is brought to you by Maryville University and Cass Commercial Bank. SHOW LINKS: Mark Twain Hotel owner agrees to settlement over hazardous conditions, criminal activity Missouri attorney general targets Mark Twain Hotel over alleged drug trafficking Nonprofits highlight efforts to rehouse Mark Twain Hotel residents

  4. Sep 17

    Trump policy upends Metro East fuel plant

    When a new presidential administration takes office, policy shifts can ripple through the business world in unexpected ways. This week, reporter Jim Drew joins the show to share the story of Chrysalis Biosciences — a company that, at the start of 2024, was poised to transform a shuttered ethanol plant in Sauget, Illinois into a production facility for renewable jet fuel. With a landmark investment from a $200 million sustainable aviation fuel fund led by Airbus, the future looked bright. But after Donald Trump returned to the White House, the Biden-era support for sustainable fuels evaporated, investors lost interest, and Chrysalis was forced to pivot. Erik and Jim break down how changes to federal tax credits, carbon intensity scoring, and the Inflation Reduction Act reshaped the playing field — not just for Chrysalis, but for ethanol producers nationwide. Plus, we explore the company's next chapter: a two-part strategy to restart conventional ethanol production while building new fermentation technology to manufacture biopolymers and surfactants, potentially adding 100 jobs to the Metro East economy. Then, events director Dana Dhom stops by to preview the St. Louis Business Journal's upcoming events, including the Fast 50 Awards on September 24th at City Winery and the 40 Under 40 Awards on November 5th at FanDuel Sports Live in Ballpark Village — plus a look ahead at upcoming panel discussions on the city-county merger question and the future of downtown St. Louis. Read Jim Drew's full reporting on Chrysalis Biosciences at bizjournals.com/stlouis. See the full SBJ events calendar here

  5. Sep 10

    Urban Chestnut’s new owner makes a big bet on beer

    rban Chestnut Brewing was one of St. Louis's most beloved craft beer brands — until debt, the pandemic, and shifting consumer trends drove it into bankruptcy. Entrepreneur Brian Travers, who acquired the brewery in early 2025, joins host Erik Siemers to discuss how he's steering it toward stability. Topics covered: - How his years as an Urban Chestnut regular during COVID led him to acquire the company out of bankruptcy - Why he kept the original leadership team, including CEO Dave Wolf, largely intact - Acquiring O'Fallon Brewing and other regional beer brands to build a larger beverage platform - Urban Chestnut's expansion beyond German-style lagers with the new Squirrel Works hazy IPA line - Plans to grow into ready-to-drink cocktails and other beverage categories - Why brand strength and consolidation, not category growth, will define craft beer's next era - New locations, including the O'Fallon, Illinois food hall, and wholesale expansion into Tennessee and Chicago This episode is brought to you by Maryville University and Cass Commercial Bank. Read more about Urban Chestnut's growth strategy: Former MLB base factory reopens as food hall near Illinois youth sports complex

  6. Sep 3

    The secrets to putting a place on the map

    What does it take to transform a neighborhood and, ultimately, a city? In this special Arch City Report episode, we share highlights from a live panel featuring Build-A-Bear founder Maxine Clark, WashU executive Brian Phillips and East Loop CID leader Samantha Smugala. Hear the stories behind Delmar Divine, The Grove and the Delmar Loop, plus a candid discussion on whether St. Louis can follow Detroit’s comeback blueprint and what real placemaking success requires.

  7. Aug 27

    Is this the spark to rebuild north St. Louis?

    Habitat for Humanity St. Louis is breaking ground on a 40-home development in the Vandeventer neighborhood — one of the largest housing projects North St. Louis has seen in decades. Host Erik talks with CEO Kimberly McKinney about how the $17 million, tax-credit-backed project came together, how the May 2025 tornado accelerated the need, and what it takes to turn vacant city land into an affordable, thriving neighborhood. Supporting sponsors: Maryville University and Cass Commercial Bank. SHOW LINKS: St. Louis nonprofit breaks ground on affordable housing project backed by $17M in tax credits St. Louis development agency taps unique financing tool for 40-home development

  8. Aug 20

    The saga of a struggling Metro East hospital

    Gateway Regional Medical Center in Granite City has stood for over 120 years, but its 600+ employees recently missed a paycheck. Business Journal reporter Nathan Rubbelke joins Erik to unpack how the hospital's Los Angeles-based owner, American Healthcare Systems, fell behind on payroll, racked up over $2.6 million in delinquent property taxes, and lost hospital properties at a tax sale — all while its co-founders are locked in a bitter legal battle accusing each other of misappropriating funds, including a mysterious $4.5 million in state supplemental funding. The conversation traces Gateway's journey from a nun-run Catholic hospital to a bankruptcy sale to AHS ownership, and explores the broader financial squeeze facing safety-net hospitals serving low-income, Medicaid-dependent communities across the country. Show Links: Gateway Regional Medical Center faces tax sales and legal rift as owner provides $1M loan

See All (94)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
14 Ratings

About

A weekly news podcast covering the biggest stories from the St. Louis Business Journal.

Information

  • Creator
    St. Louis Business Journal
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    94
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Arch City Report
  • Show Website
    The Arch City Report

You Might Also Like