ST. LOUIS—Three St. Louis businesses are the first recipients of the Downtown Retail Incentive grant.

“We believe in Downtown St. Louis and are excited to be part of the retail momentum here,” said Ashley Morgan, owner of Whip It Goods Skincare.

The incentive program is a partnership between Greater St. Louis, Inc. and St. Louis Development Corporation focused on attracting new businesses to downtown and increasing street-level vibrancy, according to the groups. 

The grant recipients are: 

  • Whip It Good Skincare: Local skincare company will open a pop-up on Washington Ave and will introduce a first-of-its-kind retail concept to St. Louis, combining traditional retail with skincare workshops

  • Pour Decision: a mobile cocktail provider which will be using the grant for its first brick-and-mortar location.

  • Levels Nigerian Cuisine: which will use the money to transform their outdoor storefront into a move inviting and functional area. 

The incentive packages fell into four categories: downtown pop-ups, inside-out sidewalk cafe program, tenant improvements and rent guarantees.

“Downtown St. Louis is the cultural hub of our region, and locally owned businesses are the heart of that hub,” said Mayor Tishaura Jones in a press release. “Through this public-private partnership, we are investing in Downtown to make it safe, vibrant, and beautiful for all who live, work, or visit our wonderful city!”

Kurt Weigle, Chief Downtown Officer for Greater St. Louis, Inc., says there has been a very positive response to the program so far. 

“These new establishments and the additional businesses we hope to announce soon are the next step in our efforts to strengthen Downtown as the vibrant, dynamic, walkable neighborhood at the heart of the St. Louis metro,” said Weigle. 

Morgan is excited that not only will her products be sold in the what she says is the “heart of Downtown”, but that she can introduce skincare workshops where people can make their custom skincare products.  

The program is offering $350,000 for the incentives. You can learn more about it here.