Donnybrook Next Up: May 25, 2023

>>> WELCOME TO DONNYBROOK NEXT UP AS WE BEGIN THIS HOLIDAY WEEKEND.

I'M WENDY WIESE, RAY HARTMANN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.

AND OUR GUEST TONIGHT NEEDS NO INTRODUCTIONS.

HE'S JOE EDWARDS.

A BUSINESS MAN, OF COURSE, AND THE DEVELOPER AND GENIUS BEHIND THE DELMAR LOOP.

WELCOME.

>> I'M PLEASED TO BE HERE.

>> WE'RE HAPPY TO HAVE YOU.

BEFORE WE GET STARTED WITH THE LOSS OF TINA TURNER, YOU HAVE BEEN INTERVIEWED BY EVERYONE, BECAUSE YOU WERE ONE OF THE FEW WHO REALLY WERE ABLE TO SEE HER VERY EARLY IN HER CAREER HERE.

>> IT WAS SPECTACULAR.

WHEN I WAS A TEENAGER, WE WOULD GO OUT WAY SOUTH ON LIND BERG BOULEVARD.

THEY WERE REHEARSING THEIR ACT.

FOR 50 CENTS, WE COULD GO THERE EVERY SATURDAY NIGHT AND WATCH THIS INCREDIBLE DUO AND THE INCREDIBLE BAND, CRAFT EVERYTHING WHICH BECAME AN INTERNATIONAL PHENOMENON.

IT WAS MAGICAL.

>> COULD YOU TELL?

THAT YOU WERE WATCHING SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE VERY SPECIAL?

>> I COULD TELL THAT THEY WERE SPECIAL BEYOND BELIEF, YOU NEVER KNOW, YOU CAN'T PREDICT THAT THEY'LL BE FAMOUS.

THERE'S A LOT OF GREAT PEOPLE WHO NEVER BECAME FAMOUS.

AND IKE WOULD STAND THERE, AND TINA -- IT WAS PHENOMENAL.

THEY REVVED US UP EVERY TIME WE SAW THEM.

AND I REALLY MET HER AT THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME INDUCTION CEREMONIAL.

IN NEW YORK CITY WHEN SHE WAS INDUCTED IN THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME.

THE PICTURE I HAVE, OF TINA AND ME ON THE WALL WAS TAKEN AT THAT CEREMONY.

JAMES BROWN WAS THE HARDEST WORKING MAN IN SHOW BUSINESS, AND TINA TURNER WAS THE HARDEST WORKING WOMAN IN SHOW BUSINESS.

>> YOU MET A COUPLE OF PEOPLE, YOU HAVE MEMORABILIA OR TWO.

WHAT IS IT ABOUT ST. LOUIS , THE MUSICAL HERITAGES?

WE HAVE THIS PRETTY OUTSTANDING HERITAGE.

>> IT'S AS GOOD AS ANY CITY IN THE COUNTRY.

THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE COME OUT OF ST. LOUIS WHO HAVE AFFECTED OUR CULTURE ON A NATIONAL LEVEL IS UNPARALLEL.

MY THOUGHT IS THAT NOT ONLY WAS THERE THE EAST TO WEST MIGRATION BUT THE SOUTH TO NORTH.

WHERE PEOPLE OF ALL BACKGROUNDS AND CULTURES WERE MIXING IT UP.

AND THE RESULT WAS AN EXPLOSION OF CREATIVITY.

THAT CONTINUES TO THIS DAY.

UNBELIEVABLE.

WE DON'T HAVE THE CATCH PHRASE LIKE MEMPHIS SOUL, NEW ORLEANS JAZZ, CHICAGO BLUES BUT ST. LOUIS HAS ALL OF THOSE.

DO A BETTER PR JOB.

>> YOU HAVE BEEN IN THE HEADLINES REALLY SINCE YOU HAD THIS VISION FOR THE DELMAR LOOP RECENTLY.

JUST RECENTLY WITH YOUR -- THE SALE OF BUILDINGS TO WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY.

CAN YOU SHARE A BIT ABOUT THAT WITH US, AND THE FACT THAT YOU AND WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY ARE COMMITTED TO THE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS IN THE LOOP RIGHT NOW?

>> DEFINITIVELY.

IT'S A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WE'VE HAD FOR YEAR.

THE LOOP WOULDN'T BE HERE IF THEY PHYSICALLY DIDN'T HAVE THE CAMPUS WHERE IT WAS.

THE DECLINE WAS HAPPENING SO RAPIDLY IN THE 1960S AND THE 70S.

AND WE HAVE THE COLLEGE STREET HERE, YALE HAS SOMETHING, THEY'RE STRONG SUPPORTERS OF ST. LOUIS AND SCIENCE AND MEDICAL SCIENCE AND THE DELMAR LOOP.

I'M THRILLED THAT TO HAVE TRANSFERRED SOME PROPERTIES TO THAT.

AND THEY'LL CARRY IT ON.

THAT HELPS TO ATTRACT FACULTY, SCIENTISTS AND STUDENTS.

I RESPECT THEM A WHOLE LOT OF WHAT THEY DO.

THEY'LL BE HERE FOR A LONG TIME.

>> IS THIS A SIGN, YOU HAVEN'T BEEN DOING THIS THAT LONG, GOES BACK TO 72.

YOU PAVED THE WAY THERE.

BUT -- IS THIS AN INDICATION THAT YOU'RE STARTING TO THINK ABOUT, AN EXIT STRATEGY?

OR STILL INVOLVED AND PUMPED UP WHATEVER -- YOU HAVE THE PAGEANT AND THE -- ON AND ON, THE HOTEL.

BLUE BERRY HILL, ARE YOU SLOWING DOWN?

>> I PROBABLY SHOULD.

BUT I'M NOT.

I THINK I'M STILL DOING THE ST. LOUIS WALK OF FAME.

WE JUST INDUCTED ANDY COHEN.

THE GREATEST INMOTION -- HE HAS ALL SORTS OF STATUES AROUND THE COUNTRY, HE'S INDUCTED IN JUNE AND THE SPHINX BROTHERS.

TWO INCREDIBLE BROTHERS WHO WERE GIANTS IN THE BOXING FIELD.

>> HEAVY WORLD CHAMPION.

>> FIRST BROTHERS TO WIN GOLD IN BOXING AND THE FIRST HEAVY WEIGHT CHAMPS.

THAT'S SO COOL.

LEON HAS PASSED, BUT MICHAEL IS FLYING IN.

IT'LL BE COOL IN JUNE.

>> WHAT DAY?

>> ONE IS ON JUNE 21, THE OTHER JUNE 26 I THINK.

THE PANDEMIC SLOWED THE INDUCTION CEREMONIES A BIT.

BUT NOW WE'RE BACK OPEN.

>> YOU HAVE BEEN MR. GOOD VIBRATIONS FOR A LONG TIME IN ST. LOUIS , AND WE HAVE TO GET INTO THE TROLLEY.

YOUR VISION TO CONNECT THE DELMAR LOOP TO THE HISTORY MUSEUM DIDN'T GO AS PLANNED.

MY QUESTION TO YOU, WE HAVE ALL READ, OCEANS OF INK HAVE BEEN SPILLED ON THE TROLLEY.

WHAT'S IT MEANT TO YOU, THE STRUGGLE AND ALL OF THE PRESS?

WHAT'S IT MEANT TO YOU PERSONALLY?

WHAT'S -- HAS IT CHANGED YOU OR CHANGED YOUR VERB AND LOVE AND DESIRE AND COMMITMENT TO CONTINUE TO THINK OF NEW THINGS OUT OF THE BOX?

>> IT HASN'T.

WE AT ST. LOUIS NEED TO BE MORE POSITIVE THAN A HANDFUL OF PEOPLE CAN TRY TO LEAD US THE WRONG DIRECTION.

I LOVE ST. LOUIS AND THE DELMAR LOOP.

AND I LOVE THE TROLLEY PROJECT.

IMMENSELY.

IT'S ONE THING, WHEN IT FIRST STARTED EVERYONE WAS IN FAVOR OF IT.

THE COMPANY IN A DIFFERENT STATE, THEY FIXED UP THE TROLLEY CARS BEAUTIFULLY.

HERE'S A REPLICA.

PEOPLE LOVE RIDING ON THE STREETCARS.

YOU GO TO NEW ORLEANS OR SAN FRANCISCO, OR KANSAS CITY, THEY'RE EXPANDING THEIRS ALREADY, THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE LIKE.

THEY LOVE IT.

AND IF THE COMPANY IN THIS OTHER STATE WHO FIX UP THE TROLLEYS PHYSICALLY, BEAUTIFULLY, PEOPLE THEY SEE THE WOODEN SEATS AND THE PAINT JOBS, LOVE IT.

BUT MECHANICALLY, THEY FAILED US.

IT'S REALLY SAD, THAT STARTED THE DOWNWARD MOMENTUM OF, OH, THAT'S NOT GOING TO WORK.

IT PREVENTED US FROM DOING COOPERATIVE THINGS WITH THE PLACES IN FOREST PARK, THE GREAT ATTRACTION IN FOREST PARK, THE ZOO OR THE SCIENCE CENTER, THE ART MUSEUM.

WITHOUT OPERATING AT NORMAL TIMES, YOU COULDN'T GUARANTEE PEOPLE TO DO IT.

NOW IT'S RUNNING FRAE AND YOU CAN -- FREE AND YOU CAN CONNECT WITH FOREST PARK AND SEE ANY OF THE GREAT ATTRACTIONS.

THERE'S NOW 15 MILLION PEOPLE THAT GO.

IT'S TIME TO SAY, LET'S MAKE IT WORK.

FINE TUNE IT, AND NOW THAT BISTATE HAS TAKEN OVER THE OPERATIONS, THEY HAVE THE MECHANICAL ABILITY TO ACTUALLY RUN AND OPERATE.

>> YOU'RE NOT SOMEONE WHO LOOKS BACK, MUCH, EVER.

THAT'S A GOOD THING, BUT YOU THINK OF IF IT HAD GONE TO THE WEST END?

AND THERE'S A FAIR AMOUNT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE CRITICAL.

TRUST ME, THE DEFENDER OF THE PROJECT, I HAVE THE SCARS TO SHOW FOR IT.

AND I REMIND PEOPLE, IT WAS A COMPETITION THAT ST. LOUIS WON.

65 CITIES TO GET IT.

IT'S NOT JUST A FEW PEOPLE.

IT NEED TO GO TO THE CITY.

TO INVOLVE THE COUNTY, THE STATE LINE.

>> TO START THE ROUTE.

>> I GAVE UP A TON OF ABATEMENT SAYS, IN ORDER TO GET THIS FEDERAL GRANT TO BUILD THIS PROJECT, I PAID ON THAT YEAR AFTER YEAR.

ALL THAT TIME.

WE'RE NOT TAKING ADVANTAGE OF ANYONE, WE'RE JUST PUTTING INTO IT.

THE GOAL IS TO HAVE IT EXPAND.

CITIES THAT HAVE GOOD TRANSIT, IT HELPS THEIR POPULATIONS SUCCEED.

AND PEOPLE WHO LIVE, IT'S NOT JUST OLDER ADULTS THAT CAN LIVE TWO OR THREE BLOCKS AWAY AND NOT HAVE THE COST OF A CAR, THE CAR INSURANCE, YOUNG PEOPLE LOVE CLEAN ELECTRIC TRANSIT AND WILLING TO LIVE THREE OR FOUR BLOCKS ON EACH SIDE.

TO HELP DEVELOP DELMAR, THIS WAS A MAJOR FACTOR.

ONE OF THE REASONS SHE INVESTED IN IT, THE NONPROFITS COULD GET TO THE METRO LINK AND COME IN AND OUT OF ST. LOUIS.

WE CAN EXPAND IT FROM HERE.

THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING.

>> WHEN IRRITATED COMES TO THE FEDERAL MATCHING GRANTS OR FUNDS, AREN'T WE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT?

PEOPLE HAVE MADE THAT POINT TIME AND TIME AGAIN.

THIS IS STILL ULTIMATELY FUNDED BY TAXPAYERS.

>> THAT TAXPAYER FUNDED MONEY COULD HAVE GONE TO ANY NUMBER OF OTHER STATES OR ST. LOUIS.

AND USUALLY, WHEN KANSAS CITY GOT THEIR STUFF, THEIR OWN LOCAL PEOPLE PUT TONS IN IT, THEY'RE EXPANDING TWO DIFFERENT ROUTES ALREADY.

NEW ORLEANS, HOW GREAT THAT ROUTE MOST OF US HAVE BEEN ON.

THAT'S BEEN THERE OVER A 100 YEARS, THE NEIGHBORHOOD NEVER WENT UP OR DOWN ON EACH SIDE.

TRANSIT IS KEY.

THAT'S PART OF THE GOAL OF THIS TO ANCHOR ST. LOUIS 'S CAR DOR AND -- CORRIDOR AND TO EXPAND IT.

>> LET'S TALK -- I DON'T WANT TO GET OFF THE SUBTRACTED, KIND OF DO -- SUBJECT, KIND OF DO, BUT RETAIL IS REALLY CHALLENGED RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF THE INTERNET.

>> AND THE PANDEMIC.

>> THE PANDEMIC, BUT THAT'S THE DIGITAL AGE IS NOT OVER AND BEHIND US AT ALL.

WHAT'S YOUR VISION FOR THE LOOP, FIVE, TEN, 20 YEARS OUT IN TERMS OF WHAT YOU WANT TO SEE?

YOU SEE DEVELOP OR MORE OF THE SAME.

IT IS A BATTLE, EVERYWHERE.

NOT JUST IN ST. LOUIS TO MAKE THE OLD BRICKS AND MORTAR BUSINESSES WORK.

>> THEY CAN WORK IN A LIVABLE, WALKABLE COMMUNITY.

THAT'S WHAT THE DELMAR LOOP IS.

YOU CAN LIVE THERE AND ENJOY EVERY ASPECT OF IT.

THE FACT THAT WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY BUILT A NEW BUILDING WITH A GROCERY STORE WAS KEY.

THE FACT THERE'S A BIG PHARMACY AT THE CORNER, THAT'S KEY.

ALL OF THE AMENITIES A GOOD NEIGHBORHOOD NEED TO BE LIVABLE, WALKABLE, AND SUSTAINABLE, THE BIG THINGS ARE IN PLACE.

FILLING IN THE GAPS IN THE STREET ESCAPE, THE PEDESTRIAN GAPS.

THAT WAS A VACANT LOT.

THAT MADE IT SAFER, NOW THEY HAVE TO STAY ON DELMAR AND THEY'LL GET CAUGHT.

IT'S BECOME ONE OF THE NOT SO SAFE STREETS, TO BE ONE OF THE SAFEST IN THE MIDWEST.

IT'S AMAZING.

I ALMOST WENT OUT OF BUSINESS THREE TIMES.

MAINLY I BANNED TWO-THIRDS OF THE CUSTOMERS FOR LIFE.

I WAS NOT GOING TO PUT UP WITH THE RUDE PEOPLE, THE MEAN PEOPLE, THE DRUG DEALERS AND ALL THAT.

THEY WERE THE ONES EATING AND DRINKING THE MOST BUT IT SET A TONE.

BUT I THINK IF WE ALL BAND TOGETHER, WE'LL BE FINE.

>> YOUNG PEOPLE WOULDN'T REALIZE HOW SCARY ALL THE AREAS WERE BACK IN THE 60S AND 70S.

MY DAD WAS DOING GRADUATE WORK.

I REMEMBER COMING DOWN HERE WITH MY MOM, AND YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL.

CAN YOU SPEAK TO THE -- THE COMMITMENT ON THE PART OF THE MAYOR TO FIGHT CRIME, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW HOW DOES IT, HOW DOES IT STACK UP TO OTHER PERIODS OF HIGH CRIME THAT YOU RECALL AS SOMEONE WHO'S BEEN IN BUSINESS AND TRYING TO KEEP THE DOORS OPEN?

>> WELL, I THINK THE MAYOR AND OTHER PEOPLE AND -- CAN DO ALL THESE GOOD THINGS.

THAT'S REALLY CRITICAL.

IT ALWAYS DEPENDS ON THE CITIZENS AND THE BUSINESSES, TO STAND UP.

A CRIME HAPPENED, CALL AND IDENTIFY THAT PERSON.

THE POLICE COULD SOLVE SO MANY MORE CRIMES IF WE AS CITIZENS STAND UP AND ADDRESS THAT.

THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

THE OTHER THING IS BEING SENSIBLE OF NEIGHBORHOODS IN GENERAL.

SUPPORT THE SHOPS AND THE SMALL BUSINESSES THE ONES THAT SUCCEED, THEY'RE THERE FOR YEARS AND YEARS.

THE RESTAURANT IN THE DELMAR LOOP, HE CAME TO AMERICA WITH ALMOST ZERO MONEY.

AND I GAVE HIM A CHANCE, HE COULDN'T GET A CHANCE ANYWHERE ELSE.

HE'S VERY SUCCESSFUL.

EVERY MONTH HE WRITES THE RENT CHECK, HE WRITES, THANK YOU.

HOW GREAT IS THAT?

THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT AMERICA NEEDS TO SUPPORT AND WANTS.

>> I WAS BLESSED THAT YOU DIDN'T ASK FOR MY FINANCIAL STATEMENT IN 1995.

WE WERE VERY PROUD TO BE PART OF THE THEATER.

THERE WAS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF INCOME FOR ME, TO MAKE THE DECISION.

YOU REMOVE THE SIGNS, TAKE A DRIVE OUT TO DELMAR FROM WHEREVER IN THE CITY.

AND IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE A SIGN, TELL ME WHERE THE CITY ENDS AND THE COUNTY STARTED.

YOU CAN'T DO IT.

THOSE PEOPLE WOULD GO WAY PAST.

WHAT -- YOU'VE BEEN DOING THIS A LONG TIME, LIKE I HAVE.

DO YOU THINK THERE'S ANY HOPE TO GET OVER THE CITY COUNTY SPLIT?

AS CHEERFUL AS YOU ARE, THERE'S NO DENYING IT.

AND NO DENYING THE IMPACT OF ST. LOUIS 'S INFAMY ABOUT CRIME ON BUSINESSES LIKE YOURS.

WHAT CAN BE DONE WITH THAT?

WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THE CITY COUNTY SPLIT IN TERMS OF PEOPLE'S MINDS AND ALSO THE CRIME PROBLEM IMAGE THAT WE HAVE.

>> THE STATE OF MISSOURI NEEDS TO CHANGE THE STATUTES.

SO THINGS CAN CROSS COUNTY CITY BORDERS.

IT'S CRAZY THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE A SPECIAL BUSINESS DISTRICT IN THE CITY PART OF THE LOOP, FOR EXAMPLE, AND THE CID, AND NOT JUST HAVE THEM BE ONE.

EVERY PROJECT HAS TO GO THROUGH ALL OF THE SEQUENCE HEARINGS AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

I DID THE WALK OF FAME IN 1988, I STARTED IT.

AND I HAD TO GO BEFORE, VARIOUS COMMITTEES AND ALL THAT IS THE SAME WITH THE COUNTY AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY.

I EXPANDED IN THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS , SAME THING.

THREE HEARINGS ON EVERY LEVEL.

THAT JUST SLOWS THINGS UP.

THERE'S NO REASON, TO NOT HAVE SOME OF THE NONPROFITS OR THE SEMIPOLITICAL ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS COUNTY LINES.

THAT WOULD EASE A LOT OF IT AROUND THE STATE.

>> YOU'RE NOT TALKING A MERGER, JUST EASING -- >> JUST EASE THE STATUTE.

I DON'T KNOW WHY IT STARTED, REALLY.

BUT THAT'S THE REALITY OF IT.

AND WORKING TOGETHER, WE WORKED TOGETHER ON THE LOOP SO WELL IN GENERAL, THAT CROSSING THAT ARTIFICIAL CITY COUNTY BORDER THAT I THINK, SO FAR, WE'RE GETTING THERE.

>> WHY DID YOU SELL THE TIBBLY?

>> TWO TENANTS IN THE BUILDING WERE THERE FOR OVER TEN YEARS EACH.

THE TWO COMPANIES A CHURCH ON THE FIRST TWO FLOORS, AND THEY BOTH APPROACHED ME AND SAID, WE'D LOVE TO BUY THIS.

THE CHURCH CAN DO THEIR SERVICE LATER, AND SHOW MOVIES AND ALL, THE WEB COMPANY, GREAT PEOPLE, JUST THOUGHT WE COULD DRAW IN MORE PEOPLE.

THEY SOUGHT ME OUT.

I DIDN'T SEEK THEM OUT.

THAT'S HOW THAT HAPPENED IN A NUTSHELL.

>> YOU BROUGHT PROPS TONIGHT.

THE TROLLEY, AND THIS, I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU BROUGHT IT.

THIS IS FROM 1989?

AND WHAT'S RATHER NOVEL OF THIS COLLECTOR'S ISSUE OF -- IT FEATURES YOU AND BLUE BERRY HILL.

OUT HERE ON THE LEFT.

THERE'S YOU IN THE UPPER CORNER THAT'S SOMETHING YOU'RE PROUD OF.

TALK ABOUT HOW BLUE BERRY HILL, ANYONE WHO'S NOT HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING THERE, SEE A COUPLE OF TWO OR THREE COMIC BOOK ICONS, AND A HUNDRED OTHER THINGS.

EXCUSE ME, THOUSANDS OF OTHER ARTIFACTS.

TALK ABOUT THIS ONE AND WHAT IT MEANS AND THE STORY.

>> IT WAS FUN.

THE GRANDSON OF THE FOUNDER OF THE COMICS WAS IN ST. LOUIS BACK THEN IN 89, AND DOING A TOUR OF THE TV STATIONS.

DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE TOUR AND ALSO PROMOTING THE COMICS.

AND AFTER THE FIRST TWO OR THREE AT THE TIME, OH, HAVE YOU BEEN TO BLUEBERRY HILL?

SO BETWEEN THE SECOND AND THIRD, HE CAME TO BLUEBERRY HILL, AND HE SAW A LUNCHBOX IN MY COLLECTION.

WE DON'T HAVE THAT IN NEW YORK.

WOULD YOU SELL IT, OR TRADE ME SOMETHING FOR IT?

NO, I REALLY DON'T BARTER.

HE WAS CRUSHED.

HE OFFERED ME ALL SORTS OF STUFF AND AFTER AN HOUR AND A HALF, I GAVE IT TO HIM.

HE WASN'T ASKING, HE DIDN'T THINK TO GET IT.

ANYONE WHO DESERVES SOMETHING OUT OF MY COLLECTION IT'S HIM.

AND I DID.

SEX MONTHS LATER I GET A THING IN THE MAIL TO SIGN A RELEASE FOR MY PICTURE TYPE OF THING AND BLUEBERRY HILL.

THEY DID A SIX PAGE STORY.

I GOT TO MEET ARCHIE AND -- >> YOU HAVE HAD SO MANY SEISMIC MOMENTS AT BLUEBERRY HILL.

IS THERE ONE THAT STANDS OUT THE IMMEDIATELY?

WHEN PEOPLE SAY, WAS THERE THAT MOMENT THAT TRANSCENDED ALL THE OTHER MOMENTS?

>> THERE'S SO MANY OF THE MOMENTS IT'S HARD TO PICK OUT ONE.

CHUCK BERRY PERFORMING 209 CONCERTS, THAT WAS MAGNIFICENT.

WHAT HE GAVE HIS FANS ON STAGE WAS AMAZING.

AND HAVING LUNCH WITH ROBERT DUVALL, ONE OF THE GREATEST ACTORS OF ALL TIME.

I SPENT FOUR HOURS WITH HIM.

THE CHIEF JUSTICE HAVING DINNER AT BLUEBERRY HILL.

IT'S NOT JUST MUSICIANS.

AND ALL THE PEOPLE UNANNOUNCED.

ALL I TRIED TO DO WAS TO CREATE PLACES WHERE PEOPLE CAN ENJOY THEMSELVES, PUT THEIR TROUBLES BEHIND HIM FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS.

AND I LOVE CREATING PLACES YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE GOOD AT THE SPORT TO ENJOY IT.

IT'S A GREAT SOCIAL SPORT.

SAME WAY WITH BOWLING.

GET GUTTER BALL, GUTTER BALL, I GOT FIVE PINS.

AND I'M CREATING THIS PLACE WITH 18 HOLES OF INDOOR MINIATURE GOLF, TWO LANES OF SHUFFLEBOARD FOR ALL AGES.

AND JUST ENJOY LIFE FOR A WHILE.

PUT THEIR TROUBLES BEHIND.

>> THE PEOPLE WHO WE SAID, FANS OF YOURS FOR A LONG TIME, THEY'RE CYNICAL OF THIS -- LOOK IN THE CAMERA AND TELL THEM, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE EXTENSION.

TALK TO THEM ABOUT IT.

SELL THEM ON IT.

>> WELL, IT MAKES SENSE DOWN THE ROAD.

WHERE THE FLUNGED COME FROM -- FUNDING WILL COME FROM THAT'S A DIFFERENT STORY.

THE GOOD NEWS, THE FOUNDING SUPPORT THE TROLLEY IS ALMOST THERE.

THE INCOME FROM THE SALES TAX IS APPROACHING PREPANDEMIC TIMES.

WITH THE NEW CONSTRUCTION, IT'LL BREAK EVEN, AND THEN, WE'LL HAVE THE ABILITY TO EXPAND, ST. LOUIS WILL HAVE THE ABILITY TO EXPAND IT.

>> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

WE'RE GETTING THE SIGN WE'RE OUT OF TIME, THAT'S A GOOD THING, I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU WHO BOUGHT JOHN ROBERT'S LUNCH.

BUT I DON'T DO THAT NOW.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE, AND IT IS THE BEGINNING OF THE SUMMER SEASON, AND REMEMBER WHAT THE MEMORIAL DAY HOLIDAY IS ALL ABOUT.

YOU THIS JOE, DEVELOPER OF THE DELMAR LOOP, THANK ALL OF YOU FOR WATCHING NINE PBS, HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND, GOOD NIGHT.