Posts in Entrepreneurship
The Midas Touch

Jim Slattery has had his own restoration, furniture design and fabrication business called Gilders Tip for almost 40 years. He is a master gilder, sign writer, and expert at the art of gold leafing. He creates impossibly beautiful precious metal into frames, signage, tabletops and liturgical furnishings. Learn more about his craft and his story here.

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A Pasta Assassin

Brandon Benack, Truffles Restaurant’s long time executive chef, a master of hand-rolled pasta, is now making house calls. He shows up to your house looking like he's about to commit a crime. He’s got a gun case slung over his shoulder and a massive cutting board tucked under his arm. Fear not. That case holds his collection of antique pasta-making tools. That cutting board becomes the stage for the resurrection of centuries-old Italian pasta traditions that most people have never seen. He is the “pasta assassin.”

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Soon We Will Be Singing Auld Lang Syne to 2025. New Issue Heralds End-of-Year

Soon we will be singing Auld Lang Syne as we say farewell to 2025. Throughout 2025, we’ve shared with you the good life, both near and far. We are the region’s leading luxury lifestyle omnichannel publication. From print, to digital, to social media, we make sure that you have your finger on the pulse. Let’s take a look back at 2025 through the lens of our issues of the last 10 months, and say hello to our newly-minted November/December issue, which will be available soon.

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Strings Attached: A Family Legacy and the Reinvention of Magnatone

Magnatone may not be a household name today, but for connoisseurs of rock, blues and vintage tone, the brand is steeped in near-mythical status. First founded in Los Angeles around 1937, Magnatone was once a thriving American manufacturer. The company became known for its stylish, high-fidelity amps. In 2013, Magnatone CEO Ted Kornblum began building new amplifiers in a dedicated St. Louis facility and resurrected the brand. Magnatone’s artist roster has quietly expanded to include Slash, Neil Young, Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top, Jeff Beck, and Brandi Carlile. Learn more about how he made high fidelity music again play in the industry.

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Artemas Quibble Collection Showcased at Home of Susan & David Sherman for Fashion Fund

Recently, Susan and David Sherman opened their home to showcase an exquisite collection of Artemas Quibble handcrafted leather belts. Guests got to see up close how each piece is a testament to meticulous craftsmanship and timeless design. Their pieces have been worn by who’s who of A-list celebrities, including Brad Pitt, Kylie Jenner, Gisele Bündchen, Chris Hemsworth, and Kate Moss, to name a few. Now, through October 18th, Artemas Quibble founders Jason Ross and Natasha Chekoudjian are donating 10% of all proceeds to the Saint Louis Fashion Fund for its support of fashion innovation in our city.

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Getting the Royal Treatment

There are 68 million dog owners in the U.S. and 560,000 of them live in the St. Louis metro area. One in four people own a dog, followed closely by cats. We love our dogs and cats. We treat them as we would want to be treated –- we try to give them the best. Jessica Cooke, owner of Yuppy Puppy, has elevated that care to a whole new level. They are fast becoming the gold standard in pet care –- overtaking other luxury pet care establishments in St. Louis. Learn here how she came up with the name and gives pet parents the confidence that their precious pooches and felines get the royal treatment.

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Sweet Dreams are Made of This

It’s hard to imagine St. Louis without the beloved Crown Candy Kitchen. Since 1913 when a man called Harry Karandzieff bought the 1880 building at the corner of St. Louis Avenue and 14th Street in the Old North neighborhood, the business has grown into and local institution. The soda fountain is the city’s oldest and without question the place to come for a malt … and a not-so-humble BLT. Come with us to the place where sweet dreams become reality.

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Suddenly September

Fall is in the air. Can’t you feel it? Yes, the calendar still says August, but Mother Nature says otherwise. In true St. Louis fashion, she flipped the script on us again and the weather went from a hot and humid 97 one week to 72 degrees the next, with not a humid in sight. And the nights. Once the moon makes his nightly debut during this faux fall, the temps dip into the 50’s. Sugar plum sparks dance above bonfires. Hoodies and sweaters are donned. Suddenly, it feels like fall is here. And not a moment too soon. Because Sophisticated Living’s September/October issue is here.

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Inspiring Conversations with Craig Kaminer of Sophisticated Living St. Louis

Recently, VoyageSTL sat down with our publisher Craig Kaminer for a candid conversation on his career and how he has had the privilege of collaborating with visionary individuals and brands, helping them shape their narratives while building a network of changemakers. He has always believed in the power of reinvention, and that belief has guided my path—whether mentoring startups, creating award platforms like the SOPHIs, or crafting luxury lifestyle content that reflects the best of who we are. More here.

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The Next Generation of Cool is Hot

Founded in 1945 by Robert J. Trulaske Sr., along with his father, Francis Robert Trulaske Jr., and brother, Arthur Trulaske, the company began as a modest enterprise, True Manufacturing has flourished into a global leader in commercial refrigeration. The entrepreneurial spirit of the Trulaske family continued with Robert's sons, Robert J. Trulaske Jr. and Steven Lee Trulaske Sr. Today, the legacy of innovation continues with the fourth generation of Trulaskes, particularly Steven Trulaske Jr. and Kay Trulaske. Learn more about the legacy which keeps True climbing to new industry heights.

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Leaping Off Cliffs

When Jerry Schlichter founded the law firm Schlichter, Bogard and Denton (now Schlichter Bogard) in 1989, the intent was to represent the individual, not the corporate entity. Since then, he has gone on to make that pursuit not just words, but reality. He has gone on to tackle the world of 401(k)s and brought a landmark case to reduce fees on behalf of employees and retirees. His Arch Grants program has companies who have generated $1.2 billion in revenues and created jobs. Learn how he has spent decades making a difference.

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The Revolutionary Ice Cream Company

For Tamara Keefe, the founder, CEO and self-described “Flavor Temptress” behind Clementine’s Naughty & Nice Ice Cream, ice cream is something far more profound than a simple sweet indulgence. To her, it is a vehicle for connection, a channel for transformation and an art form that has redefined what it means to follow your passion. Read here how she traded the corporate rat race for going back to her childhood roots — ice cream as a way of bringing people together.

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May and June Brings the Good Life Home -- Read All About It In Our Latest Issue

Get ready to take a scoop of goodness from all that life has to offer as the calendar turns and presents yet another May, and then another June to us. Leaf through the pages of our May/June issue, either here digitally, or physically, once it arrives on your doorstep. See life through the prism of opulence with which many of us are blessed. No matter how much bad news you hear, always remember that like the mouthwatering treat you see on the current cover of our magazine, we live in the land of milk and honey with the world’s largest economy and all that comes from it. Life is good. Following are samplings that await in the pages of our new issue.

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Inspired by Real Kids Lion + Owl Makes Clothes So Children Can Be Their Real Selves

Lion + Owl is a pioneering kids’ apparel company based in St. Louis, MO, that designs and manufactures innovative clothes kids feel good wearing. Kids want the freedom to play, explore, and express themselves comfortably. L+O designs are thoughtfully created to make getting dressed a fun and a confidence-boosting experience. From playful colors to cozy, sensory-friendly textures, their pieces are made to fit kids’ lives — not the other way around. Learn more about how they are redefining kids’ apparel for the nation right in your backyard.

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National Model for Creating Secure Digital Environments for Kids Makes Its Debut in St. Louis

Parents can now feel safer each time their child or teen picks up a mouse, types on a keyboard, or commands a game controller or joystick. Once they enter the world of online video gaming, they are exposed to possible threats. Youth engaging in esports in the St. Louis region and beyond can now have the unparalleled protection of Kidas' AI-powered ProtectMe technology at Contender Esports.

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Restauranteurs and Chefs with Shops

Industry projections show the gourmet and specialty markets industry will top $12.4 billion in the coming year. Local chefs and restaurateurs are cashing in. Many of the area’s high-end grocers and specialty markets aren’t new, but rather solo extensions of existing St. Louis restaurants, providing customers with specialty items and menu favorites. There are some new players on the scene. Read about them, their shops, and their wares.

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314 Day Defines the Kaleidoscope that is St. Louis

St. Louis is the city of the 3 1 4.  And 314 Day, March 14th, is the special day that we celebrate all things St. Louis. 314 Day was created by Terrell “Young Dip” Evans and Tatum Polk in 2006 with the goal to bolster St. Louis spirit and support. 19 years later, the regional holiday is more robust than ever, with metro area business, restaurants, cultural institutions, and more offering their own twists on the festivities. Other than an Arch tram ride, chatting with the gathered South City crowd on Chippewa with a cup of Ted Drewes, going to The Hill for some toasted ravioli, ordering some Imo’s for delivery, or watching the Cards on TV during a spring training game, here are some ways to celebrate the holiday…

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Millennium Hotel Site To Be Transformed into Vibrant Downtown Destination by Cordish and Gateway Arch Foundation

A once vibrant part of the St. Louis skyline will soon be resurrected from a long decay. Downtown St. Louis-based nonprofit Gateway Arch Park Foundation recently announced that it has selected The Cordish Companies to redevelop the Millennium Hotel property, located at 200 S. 4th St. adjacent to the iconic St. Louis Gateway Arch. This milestone marks a major step toward revitalizing a key downtown site that has stood vacant since 2014. Details on the major redevelopment project here.

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Imagine Knowing What You Always Wanted to Do

Keith Alper’s life reads like the ultimate entrepreneurial success story, shaped by relentless ambition, creativity and an unwavering commitment to his community. As his first company, CPG Agency, prepares to celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2025, his influence on the marketing community keeps growing. Since 2009, his Nitrous Effect Company has made an indelible imprint on the Fortune 500 firms in St. Louis and beyond. Take a journey with us on his storied career.

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