BizJournal 💲📰

BJC Healthcare and SSM Health both announced Wednesday they are restricting visitors as COVID cases continue to surge in the St. Louis area. Starting Monday, Jan. 3 patients at BJC will be allowed to have one designated visitor in inpatient units. Two visitors will be allowed for pediatric, obstetrics and end-of-life patients. "The decision to reduce visitors was not made lightly, and reflects the serious challenge we face in mitigating the virus spread and maintaining safety throughout this…

In total for the year, I had 247 assignments which produced 55,325 images that ended up in my archive. Here are a look at some of my favorites from 2021.

“The Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer will help the City of St. Louis bring all communities to the table to address the collective problems our city faces,” Mayor Tishaura Jones said in a written statement. “I am excited Dr. Mitchell is bringing his knowledge and expertise to help ensure St. Louis government is more equitable across racial lines.”

The owner of the fitness club chain said the company is already in talks for future additional locations in the region.

Ex-St. Louis Blues star Alex Pietrangelo has returned to town — for real estate.

The craft beer retailer, located in Southampton, opened its doors there more than three years ago. It has an additional location in Clayton.

In February 2020, the percentage of retirees was 18.3% of the total U.S. population. After that, the share increased at a much faster rate and was 19.3% last August.

“The year of validation.” That's how one investor has summed up 2021 for St. Louis’ entrepreneurial economy thanks to a year marked with several significant exits, including two of the region's most prominent startups becoming public companies.

"What I like is that this is the highest and best opportunity for me to use a skillset and my God-given talent and apply it in a way that mutually influences and benefits both countries to which I owe a debt of gratitude," said Sonette Magnus, Canada's honorary consul for the St. Louis area and partner at Thompson Coburn.

A Los Angeles video game maker with an office in Clayton has agreed to pay $100 million to settle female workers' claims of gender discrimination.

An investor says St. Louis is undervalued as an industrial real estate market, a segment that's trending up and with favorable capitalization rates.

"It wasn't from lack of business," he told the magazine. "It was just getting so much harder to run the business. I had been thinking about doing this for a few months now."

The firm's revenue has grown 225% since 2015, including a 43% jump in 2021, with a business that involves creating new titles for well-known brands including Roller Coaster Tycoon, Bratz and My Little Pony.

St. Louis-based startup Intramotev is working to develop an autonomous, emissions-free railcar. It's technology that its founders say would improve the supply chain process and help the U.S. take better advantage of the massive freight rail system.

St. Louisans are fiercely proud of their vibrant food scene. When any of our local restaurants, breweries or wineries make national headlines, it’s big news around here. This year, as the restaurant industry continued to pivot amid the ongoing pandemic, recognitions tasted extra sweet. And there were a lot of them. NOTABLE HONORS Restaurants America can’t lose: Think back to January. Covid-19 cases were on the rise again and the restaurant industry was working through its first cold winter…

Winston Calvert has served in Page’s administration since the St. Louis County executive took over the position in April 2019.

The East Alton restaurant’s last day of business will be Friday, Dec. 31, according to a social media post. It will be replaced by a pizza restaurant that will open in March.

The buyer, an Atlanta-based private equity firm, said the deal will expand its holdings in the distribution industry.

The Feds say the trolley's operators must come up with a plan by Feb. 1 that includes resuming at least four days of service per week.

In addition to naming more new partners than a year ago, the firm's selections include attorneys in seven states — up from just two a year ago. Here's a look at the five new partners from the firm's Clayton office.