Old Gas Station Makes Way for New Insurance Agency in Brentwood

The owners watched the demolition from Starbucks.

The Thornton family had front row seats to a big event in their lives Tuesday morning. The old gas station at South Brentwood Boulevard and White Avenue was about to be demolished, and Pam and Chris Thornton and their three kids had window seats in Starbucks Coffee across the street. The Thorntons bought the property over a year ago to build a new office for Pam Thornton's State Farm Insurance agency. Her office has been on Litzsinger Road. Underground tanks had to be removed, overseen by the state Department of Natural Resources, before the demolition could take place. Chris Thornton said they still need final approval from two state agencies to begin construction, but hope to start in Jan. or Feb. They're hoping to move into the new …

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Philip Scherry

8:26 am on Wednesday, December 12, 2012

It will be sad to see her move out of Rock Hill. But I'm glad to see that old gas station go.   more ›

Starbucks Expanding: Do We Need More of The Coffee Shops?

The coffee company reportedly plans to add at least 1,500 cafes in the U.S. over the next five years.

The Associated Press is reporting Wednesday that the world’s largest coffee company plans to add at least 1,500 cafes in the U.S. over the next five years. The report indicates that Starbucks would have more than 20,000 cafes by 2014, up from its current count of about 18,000. The AP is also reporting the Seattle-based company also plans to move from its current Tazo tea and begin serving Teavana, which it announced it would acquire last month. There are currently two Starbucks locations in Brentwood, on Brentwood Boulevard and in Target. Maplewood has none. What do you think? Do you welcome more Starbucks? Are you happy to see the company grow, or are there enough Starbucks already?

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Brentwood Parks Cleanup Draws 60 Volunteers

REI and Brentwood Parks and Recreation sponsored a park cleanup, and families, Girl Scouts and students came out to help.

More than 60 people from Maplewood Richmond Heights Girl Scout Daisies, Lions Clubs, Brentwood High School National Honor Society and handfuls of families showed up Saturday morning at Brentwood's Memorial Park to pick up trash. Brentwood Starbucks and Whole Foods provided breakfast treats for the volunteers, who also were bused to Hanley Park, Oak Tree Park and Brentwood Park for cleanup. REI employee Maria Erb said they spread the word by email and she was very happy with the turnout. This is the cleanup's fifth year. Volunteers got a Missouri Stream Team t-shirt.

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