French Creperie delivers mixed culture dining
@stlouisamerican
@stlouisamerican
St. Louis American See page B1
The
Serving, empowering and advocating for equity in St. Louis since 1928
CAC Audited AUGUST 17 – 23, 2023
stlamerican.com
A food oasis suddenly dry as Pagedale grocer closes
By Sylvester Brown Jr. St. Louis American
In late March, Fields Foods opened its sixth location in Pagedale, MO at 6840 Page Avenue. It was the company’s only location in St. Louis County. Less than five months after opening with much hoopla and hope, Fields Foods abruptly shut down the Page Avenue location with no notice to customers or the surrounding community. Signs of trouble like dissipating stock on grocery shelves at the Page store and other locations were signals of brewing distress. Earlier this month, the St. Louis American reported that the company’s landlord at its DeBaliviere Avenue location filed a lawsuit for more than $44,000 in unpaid rent. Also, the landlord of the Fields’ Washington Avenue location had filed a lawsuit for nearly $293,000 in unpaid rent and $75,000 in unpaid taxes and maintenance expenses. On July 31, Fields Foods closed its EXPO location near Forest Park. Weeks later, the grocery chain announced it was “temporari-
See GROCER, A6
Vol. 95 No. 20 COMPLIMENTARY
Residents will help call plays on Rams settlement By Alvin A. Reid St. Louis American
Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American
Chris Krehmeyer, Beyond Housing CEO, Pagedale Mayor E.G. Shields, Fields Foods owner Chris Goodson, and St. Louis County Councilwoman Rita Days were jubilant when Fields Foods opened a location in the north county community in March. The store has closed, and the quest has begun to find a new owner and reopen a grocery store at the site.
St. Louis residents will help design the game plan for how the city spends its windfall from a settlement of a lawsuit filed against Los Angeles Rams owner and the National Football League. Megan Green, St. Louis Board of Aldermen president, has announced that the final score on settlement fund allocation will follow “a robust public engagement process.” Aldermen spelled out that community involvement was mandatory through a pair of resolutions (R 171 & R 48), and Green’s office has engaged the assistance of community engagement platform CitizenLab. It will “facilitate and track the ongoing conversation between residents and city government.” “These resolutions also commit elected leaders to invest the funds—$250 million plus accruing interest—in a way that creates generational change,” according
See RAMS, A7
Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American
Raven Whitener, director of The St. Louis American Foundation and Special Events with 2022 Young Leader recipient Ono OghreIkanone.
Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American
A better day
Members of The Sprit of Angela Dance Troupe perform at the Better Family Life Back to School Fair Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023.
Trump to be booked in Georgia without pretense The Washington Informer Sometime between now and noon Friday August 25, 2023 former president Donald Trump will be going to jail. He might not be there long, but he is indeed going to be held awhile. According to the Fulton County sheriff’s office, the four-times indicted and twice-impeached former president has received orders to turn himself in at the Fulton County jail. Trump and 18 co-defendants were indicted Monday in the Georgia 2020
n Trump faces 13 criminal counts, including racketeering. election subversion case. Trump faces 13 criminal counts, including racketeering. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has set a deadline for noon on Aug. 25 for Trump and the others to turn themselves in.
HEALTH
On path to improving healthcare for underserved
The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis and longtime partner SSM Health have a new ally in improving regional healthcare and creating career opportunities.
Page A12
“At this point, based on guidance received from the district attorney’s office and presiding judge, it is expected that all 19 defendants named in the indictment will be booked at the Rice Street Jail,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement. “Keep in mind, defendants can turn themselves in at any time. The jail is open 24/7,” the news release states. “Also, due to the unprecedented nature of this case, some circumstances may
See TRUMP, A6
2023 Young Leaders selected Chosen from record number of more than 300 nominations
By K. Michael Jones St. Louis American A diverse group of amazing AfricanAmerican professionals under age 40 has been selected as the 2023 class of Salute to Young Leader award recipients. More than 300 nominations came in for this class. Due to the record number of nominations and high caliber of these honorees, 30 awardees were selected this year. They have been chosen by their peers and will be profiled in the September 7 edition of The St. Louis American as well as on stlasmerican.com. They will be honored at the St. Louis American Foundation’s twelfth annual Salute to Young Leaders
See LEADERS, A7
SPORTS
It’s time for area football players to shine
The St. Louis area remains a recruiting hotbed for all levels of college football and another exciting season on the gridiron is about to kick off.
Page B3