Maplewood Resident and Business Owner Named New Chamber President

Mary Kausch calls herself a LocaVore for Maplewood—she lives, works and plays in this town. And she wants other businesses to join her.

Mary Kausch loves Maplewood. She lives here, she opened her business, HR Etc! here, and now she’s happy to become the president of the Maplewood Chamber of Commerce. Kausch’s business experience as a human resources and team building consultant helps her work with other businesses in the chamber. Her clients often hire her to provide leadership coaching, a skill she applies to the Maplewood Chamber. “I’m looking to nurture healthy, long lasting, economic partnerships,” she said. “I’m giving my professional advice to businesses in the chamber.” Her main focus is getting members more active in the chapter. She said business owners can’t expect to really benefit from the chamber by just mailing in their dues. “Everyone talks about networking…

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Marketing Agency is Welcomed by Maplewood Chamber

Evolve Digital Labs is a search marketing agency. Check out the photos shared by the Maplewood Chamber of Commerce.

11th Christmas Tree Walk Brings Holiday Crowds to Maplewood

A joint effort of Maplewood businesses, schools, and city government, plus warm weather spelled success.

The crowd at the Citizens National Bank Park heard Maplewood Richmond Heights choirs and saw Santa arrive in a Maplewood fire truck. Bill Berthold and Jerry Gibbs of the Maplewood Chamber of Commerce, then MRH Superintendent of Schools Karen Hall, then Mayor James White warmed up the audience for Santa, who lit the Christmas tree. See more photos at Maplewood-Brentwood Patch Facebook (Like it!) After that, the hundreds dispersed to ride the horse-drawn carriage, shop or just enjoy the music or treats offered at Maplewood merchants. Also on Patch:

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11th Annual Maplewood Christmas Tree Walk is Friday

Enjoy the tree lighting, carols and hot chocolate before a carriage ride or holiday shopping in Maplewood.

Maplewood Chamber Seeks Nominations for Business Person of the Year and Citizen of the Year

Each year, The Maplewood Chamber of Commerce acknowledges a Citizen of the Year, Business Person of the Year, and Educator of the Year at the Dinner Auction.

Did You Hear Boogaloo's Radio Spot Last Week?

The downtown Maplewood restaurant was featured in the "Maplewood Minute," a radio spot on a St. Louis station.

Morning commuters listening to 103.3 KLOU in St. Louis heard a one-minute spot featuring Boogaloo on Friday. It was part of a feature called "Maplewood Minute," which happens between 7-8 a.m. on Fridays each week. Members of the Maplewood Chamber of Commerce use the weekly ad to gain exposure to a wider St. Louis audience. The chamber has reserved spots through the end of December. Members pay $170 for the ad, notes the chamber's website. The chamber posted a video with the Boogaloo ad's audio on YouTube. Three previous ads in June and July spotlighted Let Them Eat Art. Read more recent Maplewood business news on Patch:

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QuikTrip Gains Preliminary Approval Amid Residential Opposition

Nearly 40 people attended Monday's planning and zoning commission meeting to witness whether QuikTrip would gain preliminary approval to move toward the intersection of Manchester Road and Big Bend Boulevard.

A plan that paves the way for QuikTrip's move to the intersection of Manchester Road and Big Bend Boulevard gained preliminary approval amid an outcry of opposition from Maplewood Richmond Heights parents on Monday evening. In a 3-2 vote, the Maplewood Planning and Zoning Commission offered its approval of rezoning the northwest corner of the intersection to allow QuikTrip's opening. A sixth member abstained. The move still requires final approval from city council. If approved, QuikTrip would move from its location at the intersection of Big Bend and Flora Avenue to the current Maplewood Scooter Company* located beside the high school building. (Keep up-to-date regarding Maplewood business developments by signing up for our morning …

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Double Ribbon-Cutting in Maplewood

Two auto-related businesses that share a building used the giant scissors on Friday.

Tint Tech and Touch of Class, car maintenance-related businesses that have shared the building at 2803 South Big Bend Avenue for the past year, held a Maplewood Chamber of Commerce sponsored ribbon-cutting on Friday. Tint Tech, owned by Dustin Pulley, specializes in window tinting for cars and homes, paint protection and auto customization. Two employees work at the shop, and others use the location to do their specialization work. He's been in the business since 2007. This is his third location. Pulley said it summer is normally the busy season but business has been good all winter, a fact he attributes to good local business and recommendations. Touch of Class is owned by Sam Harris. He said he's been detailing autos his whole life. He …

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No to Food Trucks In Maplewood, Says Planning and Zoning

The commission voted 6-0 against “itinerant” restaurants.

By unanimous vote, the Maplewood Planning and Zoning Commission decided to do nothing and close its discussion with regard to food trucks, essentially continuing the city’s ban on mobile food operations–that is, unless Mayor James White and City Council says otherwise. Seventeen residents attended the meeting at Maplewood City Hall Monday night. Seven spoke–all of them against the mobile operations–including Bill Berthold of the chamber of commerce, who delivered a petition with signatures of 31 business owners against food trucks. The commission’s vote was 6-0 with member Linda Siemers absent. Jimmy John’s Restaurant vs. one food truck Driving the commission’s decision to disallow meals-on-wheels businesses from operating in Maplewood was…

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Maplewood Chamber Changes Strategy, Still Opposes Food Trucks

Members met at Cousin Hugo's to sign a petition as they lunched and networked.

The Maplewood Chamber of Commerce changed its plan of attack on food trucks, but not the goal. The chamber board voted in early March to take a stance against food trucks. A petition was passed around tables at the chamber lunch at Cousin Hugo’s on Wednesday. The original plan was to go door-to-door. Chamber president Bill Berthold, of Frontenac Engineering, and Adrian Glass, an owner with The Post Sport Bar & Grill, will deliver the signatures, along with letters from The Post, Home Wine Kitchen and the Maplewood Chamber of Commerce to the April 2 meeting of the Maplewood Planning and Zoning Commission. Boogaloo has already sent an e-mail. “I’d much rather people support our restaurants, than food trucks,” said Beth White, a salesperson …

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