Last week I was honored to be named to the Leadership Council of the
@NSBAAdvocate
. In this position, I will work with Congress to protect and promote the interests of small businesses across the country. I'm SO excited for the potential to support entrepreneurs nationwide.
I truly ❤️🫶🏼❤️ St. Louis.
I also truly dislike Missouri.
It’s hard to actively and intentionally build up a city in a state that actively hates your family.
Trump has promised that, if reelected, his administration will rescind federal policies that prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, and will assert that federal civil rights laws don’t cover anti-LGBTQ discrimination. In addition to
I am thrilled to share that I'm partnering with my good friend
@steveewing
to reopen
@steveshotdogstl
. Doors open Wednesday at 4:00 pm. Call it an ENCORE - but we're here to stay! Can NOT wait to share all we have in store!
Tired of living in a red state? There are currently 0
#MoDem
candidates in these districts. We need to fill these seats before the filing deadline passes and rally around them to help move them forward.
Who can help me identify potential candidates?
#MoLeg
Lt Governor
State
I have a kiddo now living life as their authentic self who a year ago was self harming… and who now, when it was shared, seen and supported, said the following TODAY throughout the day as we spent a mama/kiddo day together:
“I’ve never been this happy.”
“I think I’m extra
PRIDE was emotional this year. My first PRIDE parade was 30 minutes long and some of us were scared to be there for fear of someone seeing us there. This one was 2.5 hours long and EVERYONE was there. How lucky this generation is to be able to let down their guard, to love and be
Some angel just hopped on the
@steveshotdogs
website and donated $980.00 worth of meals for frontline medical workers and left a generous tip for our crew too. Man... 2020 has been a year of unexpected blessings, and opportunities to pay them forward. Sincerely touched.
New Year, New Kiddo.
Today my kiddo changed names at school and the High School immediately respected pronouns and took out the deadname and were incredibly helpful. So thankful we found our way to this school. Eagerly awaiting the school bus to hear how the day went.
I don't usually talk about this, because I'm married to the best dude and because no one cares - but it's come up a lot lately in conversations & I have a kiddo in my life that needs to know it's OK to live your truth, so...
I'm queer.
Just for the record.
The longest drive of my life. Got the call that
@steveshotdogs
may be on fire this morning. Unfortunately our neighbors had a small fire that thankfully was isolated to their space by the quick work of the
@STLFireDept
. Keep the Padrinos team in your thoughts this morning. We are
It is Wednesday & I have just spoken w/my 3rd restaurant on the brink of closure. Winter is only just starting. This year has been harder than COVID was. Plzbuy ALL the gift cards you can from the restaurants you want to see in spring. Starting a chain. Add your
#STL
faves:
We’ve seen too many
#STL
restaurants go away recently. I’m toying with the idea of a summit for restauranteurs where they can talk about turning social buzz into IRL business and where they can collaborate in a bigger way. Who wants to help me? Who would want to participate/host?
Okay,
#STL
… who wants to bring an arcade, an axe throwing place or something experiential to
@SouthGrandSTL
? (Or give me your $$ and I’ll do it)? Let’s go. 💀 Serious.
We're thrilled to finally share this exciting news. Marcus & I will be stepping in to fill some pretty big shoes at The Fountain on Locust (
@Fountain_Locust
). It's hard to explain the gratitude we're feeling in this moment to Joy & Ron, who chose us to step in as Joy steps away.
Our visionary founder and artist extraordinaire Joy Grdnic is ready to retire! Today, we announce the passing of the art deco torch as
#STL
restauranteurs Danni & Marcus Eickenhorst (
@STLDanni
) step in. (1/2)
A little levity for your day:
A woman escaped her nursing home today and left a note "You can find me at The Fountain."
Sure enough... she's here in Booth 6 living her best life. We're sending her home after lunch with free hot fudge for later. 😉
Such an adventurous lady! This
Sorry, guys. I think my feed is going to be 100% Sami pics for a while. I’ve never had a puppy before... but I’ve had newborns. This is VERY similar. 😍
You guys. We got a 10 bed villa with private pool in Crete FREE for 3 days. This is the best day. It was originally built in 1675 and rehabbed. It sits on the edge of an olive grove and vineyard. Our host Foivos brought us fresh vegetables from his garden for dinner. 😍
To my son (a history buff) as we drive near Nashville, “hey bud. Do you want me to drive by Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage?”
Him: “No thanks. He was a genocidal freak. Do you want to go visit Hitler’s summer villa?”
😆 His quick wit always takes me by surprise.
Pretty sure I saw my restaurant get cased for a smash and grab last night. Putting this out into the universe:
Just like you got nothing at
@steveshotdogs
, you’ll get *nothing* at
@Fountain_Locust
. Police have been notified. We have you on camera like 18 different ways. Go away.
Is there ANYWHERE in Illinois that feels remotely like Webster Groves? I love our life here, but think
#MoLeg
is forcing us back home. Can’t say how sad I am today.
Your Hastily-Assembled & Definitely Incomplete Guide to
#InLieuFest
. A guide to your stops on a progressive
#Loufest
. Where to catch local bands, vendors + food. Add others you know about in the comments below. Share away!
#STL
Today, someone came into Steve's and ordered a Chicago Dog with everything separate so he could build it special for someone. His mom is dying at nearby hospital and asked for a Steve's Chicago Dog for her last meal. 😭😭😭
We've had a few of these very meaningful meals for
@MeganEllyia
@saintlouismayor
The reach of this tweet has generated a LOT of unexpected hate. You’re muted. I won’t be reading. For those that say this isn’t true, read this thread.
It’s true. Swallow that. Feel it.
I wish it wasn’t.
If a restaurant's prices are too high right now, don't come at them with a 1 star review... They're literally charging what it costs to keep the doors open - and it's 100% out of their control.
Damn, you guys.
@stlcitysc
is so insanely inspiring! A team with a handful of key players who didn't play at their highest potential elsewhere, but who, when put in a strong culture with people who believed in them, began to believe in themselves... and WOW. I am...
#AllForCITY
!
No matter how old I get or how big my title gets, dinner at the The Ritz-Carlton Hotel is always a treat. Tonight, I was welcomed into a class of 10 “new” CEOs of St. Louis companies as part of the
@stlouisbiz
Journal Executive Network program. Sitting side by side with CEOs of
Saturday night, the manager at my restaurant went out to take out trash & caught 4 men stealing vans next door. They pointed guns at him, told him to get inside & forget what he saw. We called
@SLMPD
and no one ever showed up, followed up... nothing.
This is where we found ourselves tonight at sunset… celebrating our next chapter. BOTH
@Fountain_Locust
and
@steveshotdogs
will be joining
@AlphaBrewingCo
and Third Degree Glass Factory on Delmar this fall! Thanks
@stlmag
for breaking the news!
Grateful to spend time with
@BigElad
, our candidate for Attorney General and with
@RavBogard
tonight. Having an AG in place willing to protect the citizens of Missouri, to stop the nonsense and to uphold the law will be critical in the next election.
#ImWithElad
I hope you are
I got all excited because I saw a table full of people downstairs in the dining room... until I realized it was my employees filling salt & pepper shakers. We are in the SLOOOOOWWWWWWW season. If you put off visiting
@fountain_locust
because it's always too busy, now's your time!
My Dad is developing COVID symptoms. Woke up in the night very congested and feeling ill. Please lift him in prayer. He is in his 60s and has emphysema.
Hi. I'm tired of being patient for business to return. It's always slow this time of year, but it's time for you all to get back to dining out... Pretty please. :) Stop in to a local restaurant & grab a meal today. (I know two good ones...)
#STL
Happy Pride Month! We are ready to kick it off here at
@fountain_locust
and at
@steveshotdogs
! Last year was my first year where I could be honest about who I am - that I'm a straight-appearing queer woman. I'd gotten so used to hiding it back when I was younger, that once I
SOME GOOD NEWS... A landlord reached out to us this week and asked us to help them set up a program where all 130 of their tenants (lower income) can get a free dinner from
@steveshotdogs
- they'll pay. Just set them up today. LOVE LOVE LOVE this idea.
On Tuesday, I have a car full of folks headed down to
#MoLeg
to advocate on behalf of voting rights, the Initiative Petition process, and the Abortion Rights Amendment. We need to show up in force as the Freedom Caucus will be there to shout us down. If **anyone** wants to
Hey
@saintlouismayor
I spent hours today in meetings about the situation on South Grand. Tonight we had a family movie nigh & mid-movie night a pedestrian was struck and killed in our view. All because someone ran another red light and drove erratically.
Our baby has polycystic kidney disease. It’s terminal. She’s 20 months old. She’s been doing okay until today. Keep her in your prayers, if you pray. Nothing we can do, but love her. Could be days or months. Poor baby.
Just testified in opposition to
#HJR86
,
#HJT76
and
#HJR119
. Not ONE single person is here in favor of the three measures that will limit our ability to get issues to ballot. Not one. If this passes, you can’t tell me
#MoLeg
is representative.
Our 16th wedding anniversary is this week and this photo really encapsulates where we’re at in the journey. Sure, life is big and things are hard sometimes, but we’re still having fun and he’s still the one. 📸 by RJ Hartbeck
Celebratory Bloodies! We just bought 3037-3039 Locust. The final step in our The Fountain on Locust purchase. So thankful to Ron & Joy for choosing us. We ❤️ our art deco palace and all the beautiful people that came with it.
Looking at pulling together a Mississippi Nights reunion night at the park near Steve's Hot Dogs. What local bands are still around that played there on the regular?
#STL
The
#STL
area is out of ICU beds. They're flying people to Hannibal & Quincy, which are filling up quickly. Medical pros are counting on a certain number of deaths each day to make room for new. 𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒌𝒔𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈?
Our first National hot dog day:
Lines down the block. Socially distanced insanity. 90 minute wait times. I worked 4 am to 1 am. No place to sit. No staff.
Our second hot dog day:
Down to 50 minutes, but sales were up 20%, finally had staff. Finally had space.
This year:
@CDV4Democracy
@rustilev
@GOP
Me? Run? I run two restaurants. I worked in politics here locally and it made me truly sick to see what I saw. I am happy to mobilize, support and donate tho. My son is already on a path to politics though.
We've been all around the world and back again - rescuing a concept, purchasing a legacy concept and now co-creating one with some of our best friends and the most talented people we know - Jeremy Robinson, Joseph Zeable & Steve Ewing. We are SO excited about this opportunity!
𝗕𝗜𝗚 𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦! Our virtual concept
@stevesmeltdown
, launched last year, has developed its own cult following. It's time to take it brick and mortar! We launch at
@cityfoundrystl
in early March - offering insanely elevated grilled cheeses, scratch made soups & amazing options
Well... It's officially official.
Today, I signed my paperwork and in 2021, I'll be a COO.
Accepting that I have the promise & talent that others see in me may be the greatest accomplishment in all of this. Not letting fear hold me back.
More to come.
Anything IS possible.
Took an employee to breakfast this morning... just to get to know her better, and man... that was time well spent. She turns 20 this year and she's already our Kitchen Manager at the Fountain. Girl is GOING PLACES. (and no you can't have her!) :)
A new bill in Missouri would put teachers on the sex offense registry if they "contribute to social transition" of a trans youth.
Including pronouns, haircuts, information, and more.
It would make a teacher "contributing to social transition" a class E felony.
2x a year, we invite all the restaurant owners to e know to come & connect. We help each other through problems. We celebrate each others’ successes. We collaborate and commiserate. It started out as 4 restaurants during COVID. Tonight, we have 22 +
@ChipKlose
. What a blessing.
This week’s special is Brisket Sliders - developed by my 20 year old kiddo Jax who hopes to be a Chef one day! He’s part of our kitchen team and I couldn’t be prouder. They’re outselling our top selling menu items. Stop into
@Fountain_Locust
this week to try them! 🔥
My following has demanded my story about 1,000 baby praying mantises. So, here we go. About fifteen years ago, I lived in Tampa Bay. If you've ever been, you know it's hot, humid, and grows bugs big enough to mug you for drug money. 1/
This morning, we finalized our purchase of
@Fountain_Locust
! It has been a complex journey of paperwork and elbow grease to get here. Thankful to
@Joyfountainloc1
for this opportunity, for the beautiful people we inherited in this process. Watch this space. Good things to come.
Having dinner with our uncle who is regaling us with the most amazing stories right now:
✨He turned down a date with Rock Hudson.
✨He was there when Harvey Milk was assassinated.
✨ He sued the MO Supreme Court for his dead husband’s death benefits and WON.
LEGEND. 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️