Pour one out for UCBC

Good morning STL and happy Thursday! Beer and tacos are the theme of the newsletter this week, and if you don’t have any weekend plans yet, it can also be the theme of your weekend. Our personal favorite taco patio currently is El Milagro Azteca. If you haven’t been yet, may we suggest the guac with chips instead of tostadas and the Aztec Fajitas— so good…

WEATHER AND SPORTS

AROUND TOWN
Urban Chestnut Brewery files for bankruptcy

The past few years haven’t been kind to craft breweries in STL— or across the US for that matter. The challenges facing STL breweries are not unique; it’s been a tough time lately for beer in general. Urban Chestnut, with locations in The Grove and Midtown, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy this week. But don’t panic just yet, there are actually two different kinds of bankruptcy, and this one is… the least bad one. Chapter 11 differs from Chapter 7 in that the business will still continue to operate, but it must come up with a plan to reorganize and pay off its debts. In fact, unless you read an article about the bankruptcy filing, you’d probably never know the difference as business will continue uninterrupted with no management change or job losses.

How did we get here?

The past few years have not been ideal for the beer industry. According to Beer Marketer’s Insights, beer consumption dropped to its lowest level since 1999. In fact, each generation seems to be drinking less than the one before it. While there are many theories as to why this is, it appears to be a combination of factors. Some of these factors that contribute to the younger generations drinking less are:

• They have less disposable income

• The prevalence of social media creates more opportunities for embarrassing behaviors while under the influence to be recorded and posted online

• They have a greater awareness of the potential physical and metal effects of excess consumption

• More socializing is being done remotely vs. in-person

• The availability of alternatives such as marijuana

Does this mean that that the beer and alcohol industry is dying a slow death? Maybe, maybe not. The same could be said about the soda industry not too long ago as consumers kicked the drinks for more healthy alternatives, but soda is alive and well, and the industry was able to pivot into low and no-cal drinks that taste almost identical to their full-cal predecessors. This same pivot can be seen in the beer industry as well with the explosive growth of Athletic Brewing Company and other brewing giants such as Anheuser-Busch’s investments into low-alc beers. In fact, Urban Chestnut appears to be making similar moves as they rolled out a light version of their popular Zwickel lager not too long ago.

UCBC needs a hero 🦸‍♂️ 

Enter Brian Travers: local investor and former CEO of an STL based company providing retail merchandising tech and analytics has agreed to partner with (aka invest unknown large sums of cash into) Urban Chestnut to help lead them out of bankruptcy and into growth. Brian has a long and extensive background advising retail companies, so if there was an ideal partner to have, Brian is close to it.

While UCBC’s future is uncertain at the moment, their Oktoberfest celebrations are still on. We’ll be there to support, Zwickle Light in hand.

Mission Taco changes its name

After being sued by Mission Foods, the popular tortilla and Mexican food maker last fall, local restaurant chain Mission Taco agreed to change their name to settle the trademark infringement case. Mission Taco will now be called, Session Taco.

Attorneys for Mission Foods (the tortilla maker) said the company first became aware of Mission Taco at a Tortilla Conference in Austin, TX.

Can we all take a second to appreciate that there is an entire conference dedicated to tortillas?

The lawsuit may seem frivolous at first glance. Are consumers really going to confuse a local taco joint for the food giant on every grocery store shelf? However, there is a little more to the story. It’s been reported that Mission Taco wanted to sell salsa and other items in local grocery stores as well. Now there is a little more meat to the lawsuit as there would be two “Mission” branded items sitting next to each other on the same shelf.

While Mission Taco agreed to change its name, STL is known for continuing to call things by their old names, so who really won this lawsuit? See you guys for some margs at Mission Taco after the concert at Riverport.

WEEKEND WONDERS
What to do this week

Thursday

🧑‍🌾 Fair on the Farm in Botanical Heights: This Thursday from 5:30pm to 7:30pm, head to the Botanical Heights Community Garden to help celebrate 40 years of cultivating communities. There will be live music, food, drinks, and state-fair themed games. It’s free to attend and all ages are welcomed.

🖼️ Twilight Thursday at the History Museum: September marks the start of concert nights at the MO History Museum in Forest Park. This week we’re jammin’ from 6-8pm with the Smokin Lion Band singing your favorites from Bob Marley. Bring your blankets and lawn chairs and pack a picnic basket to enjoy some music under the sunset.

Friday

👠 Sexxy Red at Enterprise: STL Ambassador Sexxy Red is coming home this weekend to put on a show for the Northside. From penning a diss track to an ex-bf to selling out Enterprise, Sexxy has cemented herself as the real hood princess. Can I get a “SkeeYee!”

⭐️ STRFKR at Atomic Pavilion: Atomic Pavilion in The Grove is officially open for business! Self-described as creating dance music you can actually listen to, and also dance to, STRFKR is playing at the (new) concert venue in The Grove starting at 8pm.

Saturday

🥕 STL Vegan Market at Forest Park: From 3pm to 7pm, join your fellow plant homies at Forest Park for the last monthly market of the year. There will be food, music, and goods— 100% vegan of course. STL Vegan Market is on a mission to build a thriving vegan community.

🧊 Disney on Ice at Chaifetz Arena: If you’re looking for something indoors to do with the kiddos this weekend, look no further than Mickey’s Search Party this weekend at Chaifetz. There are various show times Fri/Sat/Sun, and kids under 2 are free, but are you brave enough to bring a kid under 2?

Sunday

🍎 Applefest at Eckerts: It’s officially apple-picking season! Every Saturday and Sunday in September and October, head to Eckerts in Belleville to stock up on doctor repellent. There will be wagon rides, goat feeding, and pony rides. Don’t tell anyone but you can actually eat a free apple while you’re filling your bag in the fields.

🧑‍🌾 Oktoberfest at Grant’s Farm: Grant’s Farm is free to enter, (but you’ll need to pay to park if using their lot), and their Oktoberfest celebration is no exception. Celebrating the attraction’s German heritage, there will be commemorative steins available filled with locally brewed beer.

ARCHWAY ARCADE
Poll question of the week

Winner of last week’s poll question:

STL is big on taking Friday off to kick the weekend off early. 💯% of respondents said they’d use a vaca on Friday vs. taking it on Monday to extend the weekend or Wednesday to break the week up.

Did you know?

Delmar Ave. (originally known as Morgan Street until 1933) got its name when two early landowners in STL who lived on opposite sides of the road decided to combine the first three letters of their home-state. We’ll let you guess which two states.

Trivia

STL was founded by two men in 1764. One man was French fur trader, Pierre Laclede. What was the name of the second man (who was his 14 year old step son at the time)?

SHARING IS CARING
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Trivia Answer: Auguste Chouteau.