BizJournal 💲📰

The past year has been one where finding bright spots in the daily headlines has been a difficult task. However, there is something amazing happening right now, which can serve as a reminder to never underestimate the grit of the American working class. Recent data shows a remarkable spike in new business formation unlike anything we’ve seen before. Even though self-isolating was a true challenge of the past year, it gave many people the time to focus on passion projects or spot new opportunities.…

With construction underway on the $189.4 million University City project, developers Larry Chapman and Bob Clark have taken over ownership of the future retail center at Interstate 170 and Olive Boulevard.

A growing, St. Louis-based network of ophthalmology and optometry practices has agreed to acquire a Florida eyecare network and hired a new C-suite executive.

The St. Louis startup had made key hires in Kansas City and Chicago, two markets it is targeting for growth.

In writing a guide for foreign-born people seeking jobs in the U.S., the St. Louis-based Mosaic Project's executive director wants to not only help job seekers land a position, but help the economy by getting people into the right jobs and not wasting talent.

I Fratellini and Bar Les Freres will maintain their current brands, and I Fratellini will be the first concept to reopen in early 2022, with Bar Les Freres opening later in the year. A new concept will take over the Billie Jean space and will open later in 2022.

Midas Hospitality and its affiliate Midas Capital have partnered with a developer to open a new hotel north of Dallas. Midas Hospitality will manage the $22 million Element by Westin hotel, located at 2205 N. Glenville Drive in Richardson, Texas. The hotel is part of a 5.2-acre, mixed-use development and joint venture with 3D Development, an Augusta, Georgia-based real estate developer that also has offices in Texas and Tennessee. Midas, 3D and other limited partners have investments in the project,…

Scrapping the current plan for a developer's more expensive proposal would be devastating to the region, and threatens revenue supporting the jobs of thousands of St. Louisans, writes the board of Explore St. Louis.

Grocery store Fresh Thyme Market will open its new concept store Wednesday at City Foundry STL, giving the company a new flagship location and bringing a grocery store to Midtown.

The gap between supply and demand is affecting St. Louis renters with annual income no higher than $22,400 who make up about 27% of all renters, according to a new study that gives the city and county an "F" grade in affordable housing for Black households, renters and people with the lowest income.

The state of California has taken back some of the tax breaks it offered to Centene Corp. as an incentive to build its western hub in Sacramento, after the health insurance company missed its hiring promises for the project.

The industrial giant has strengthened its corporate venture capital arm, with plans to invest $100 million in startups over the next five years.

Two years after a golf ball he designed hit store shelves through a deal with Callaway Golf Co., 88-year-old St. Louis serial entrepreneur Ray Barrett is taking another swing at a new golf technology. Here's how his newest innovation could improve your golf game.

A St. Louis-based professional services firm targeting the architecture, engineering and construction sector for acquisitions has made its first buy and is adding staff after an influx of cash from a New York-based private investment firm.

Lawmakers in Washington passed a $1.2 trillion infrastructure package this past Friday. It will deliver $550 billion in new federal investment in America's infrastructure over five years, if President Joe Biden signs this into law. It should touch everything from bridges to roadways, airports, and water systems. Billions of dollars are expected to come in impacting both sides of the river. Missouri will receive around $8 billion and Illinois around $17 billion. MISSOURI INFRASTRUCTURE: A big…

Panera Bread Co., the bakery-cafe operator known locally as Saint Louis Bread Co., plans to go public again by partnering with restaurateur and St. Louis native Danny Meyer's special purpose acquisition company (SPAC). Panera Brands, a privately held company that includes the Panera Bread, Caribou Coffee and Einstein Bros. Bagels brands, said Tuesday it plans to file for an initial public offering with federal regulators. The company hasn't yet determined a price range, number of shares or effective…

The nonprofit St. Louis-area affiliate of the Public Broadcasting Service looked in house for its new top finance executive.

The program, launched in January, caters to the financial needs of families able to invest at least $50 million. “We had a lot of pent-up demand," said Nikki Newton, president of private wealth management at UMB.

The partnership will focus on buying companies and assets to build a market-leading pest control business.

Media organizations have been sounding the alarm about persistent labor shortages and the negative effects those shortages are having on business. A recent report from Yale University economists said the COVID-19 pandemic has created several factors that are limiting workforce participation. These include an inability to secure child care, early retirements from workers in the Baby Boom generation, fears about COVID-19 in the workplace and a general reappraisal of what workers want to do with their…