Mayor Slay, SLDC Honor Area Companies at 2013 City of St. Louis Business Celebration Luncheon

Mayor Slay, along with Otis Williams, executive director of SLDC, presented the awards in the following categories:

Businesses of the Year (Businesses of various sizes that made special commitments to, or investments in, the City. Factors for consideration include projects that brought new services to underserved areas, catalytic investment in pioneering areas, contributions to the diversity of the business community):

• Akstrakt Marketing Group
• Mechanical Solutions, Inc.
• FUSION Marketing 
• TD4 Electrical
• Grice Group Architects
• John Volpi & Company, Inc.
• Henkel Consumer Goods
• Wells Fargo Advisors 

Also under this category, 28 City businesses – one per City ward – were honored as Neighborhood Businesses of the Year:

1. Albert Arno, Inc.
2. Gregg’s Bar & Grill
3. Butch’s Lock & Key
4. Harry’s Barber Shop
5. La Mancha Coffeehouse
6. J. Justin Meehan Law Office
7. Edele & Mertz Hardware Co.
8. Botanicals Design Studio
9. El Torito Restaurant
10. Paperkeet
11. Loughborough Auto Body
12. Gravois Glass
13. Café Nova
14. Taft Street Restaurant & Bar
15. Gustine Market
16. The Green Goose
17. The Gramophone
18. Bowood Farms & Café Osage
19. Guarantee Interiors
20. Nebula Coworking
21. M-1 Food Market
22. Eye Fashion Factory
23. Mom’s Deli
24. St. Louis Strings Violin Shop
25. Schmidt Equipment & Supply
26. B&B Supermarket
27. The Kutt Factory Barber and Beauty Salon
28. Sub Zero Vodka Bar

Developers/Developments of the Year (Real estate developments that most dramatically convert a catalytic vision for the City into bricks and mortar): 

• Barnes-Jewish Hospital Center for Outpatient Health
• CORTEX/St. Louis Innovation Center Phase II
• Cupples 9
• Jefferson Commons Saint Louis University School of Law
• The MX 

Quality of Life Award (Individuals and organizations that improved the quality of life for City residents and businesses through their dedication and hard work): 

• KIPP Inspire Academy
• Sheldon Arts Foundation
• Saint Louis Art Museum
• St. Louis Public Safety Partnership 

Mayor’s Award (Individuals, companies and organizations that acted as special catalysts for economic development in the City):

• Lawrence Biondi, S.J., president emeritus, Saint Louis University 

The City of St. Louis Business Celebration Luncheon began in 2002 as a way to thank the business community for its commitment to the City and to growing the region. Approximately 1,000 guests attended the luncheon, which was held at the Renaissance Grand Hotel. 

Major sponsors of the 2013 City of St. Louis Business Celebration Luncheon were: Ameren Missouri, Edward Jones, First Bank, Hilliker Corporation, Laclede Gas, Lumiere Place Casino & Hotels, Peabody Energy, Thompson Coburn, and Wells Fargo Advisors. Other sponsors included BJC HealthCare, Gilmore & Bell, GreenStreet Real Estate Ventures, Husch Blackwell, Mallinckrodt, Nestle Purina, Procter & Gamble St. Louis, and the St. Louis Business Journal.