ST. LOUIS, MO – October 26, 2026 (StLouisRestaurantReview) City Foundry STL is continuing to establish itself as a major commercial and entertainment destination in Midtown St. Louis, with new restaurants, family attractions, plans for additional office development, and a proposal that could influence the future of the historic Armory building across Interstate 64.

The mixed-use development at 3730 Foundry Way has become an important example of industrial redevelopment in St. Louis. Built within the former Century Electric industrial complex, City Foundry combines dining, retail, entertainment, and office space while preserving elements of the property’s manufacturing history.

Recent developments include the addition of BEAST Craft BBQ, SweetArt Too and Urban Fort Play, along with continued planning for a proposed office building known as Two Foundry Way.

Meanwhile, City Foundry developer Steve Smith has suggested an alternative to plans to convert the nearby Armory into corporate offices for a proposed data center development.

The proposal could help shape future investment in Midtown, although no final agreement approving the alternative has been established.

City Foundry Developer Proposes Alternative Armory Plan

One of the most significant developments involves the historic Armory building, located across Interstate 64 from City Foundry.

The Armory previously operated as a large entertainment destination but has been closed since 2024.

In September 2026, Steve Smith, CEO of New + Found, proposed preserving the Armory as an entertainment venue instead of converting it into corporate office space.

First Alert 4 reported the proposal on September 14, saying Smith wanted to move the planned office component of a nearby technology development to City Foundry.

The proposal involves TerraWatt, which is pursuing a data center at the former Famous-Barr warehouse property adjacent to the Armory.

Under the existing development concept, the former warehouse would accommodate the data center, while the approximately 250,000-square-foot Armory would be converted into office space.

Smith’s alternative would potentially allow the data center to proceed while relocating the office component across the highway.

During his interview with First Alert 4, Smith argued that the Armory’s architecture makes it better suited for entertainment than conventional offices.

The building features expansive interior spaces, limited windows, and a high vaulted ceiling.

Those characteristics could challenge traditional office development but may offer opportunities for entertainment businesses that can use the property’s unusual layout.

Smith also said City Foundry’s approximately 100,000 square feet of existing upper-level office space was fully occupied.

He suggested that additional office development at City Foundry could accommodate commercial tenants while allowing the Armory to retain its entertainment identity.

The proposal remains an alternative under discussion, not an approved redevelopment agreement.

Any changes would require negotiations involving TerraWatt, city officials, and other stakeholders.

Armory’s Future Could Affect Midtown Entertainment

The Armory’s future matters because it occupies a prominent position in Midtown and has previously drawn visitors for entertainment and social activities.

Preserving the building for entertainment could complement City Foundry’s existing attractions, potentially creating two destinations that encourage visitors to spend more time in the neighborhood.

City Foundry already combines restaurants, a movie theater, interactive entertainment, and retail businesses.

An entertainment-oriented Armory could offer additional activities while attracting customers to nearby establishments.

However, the economic benefits of such an arrangement would depend on the type of business that eventually occupies the building, the investment required, and the level of visitor demand.

Smith’s proposal also raises questions about how the existing employment commitments associated with TerraWatt’s development would be satisfied if the office component were relocated.

The developer and city would need to address those obligations before any alternative arrangement could proceed.

For now, the Armory’s proposed office conversion remains part of the broader technology development concept, while Smith’s entertainment proposal remains a separate possibility.

Proposed Office Building Would Expand City Foundry

New + Found has also been pursuing additional commercial office development within City Foundry.

The proposed building, known as Two Foundry Way, would provide about 83,000 square feet of office space across five floors.

The project features mass timber construction, which uses engineered wood structural components.

Mass timber can provide an alternative to conventional construction methods while creating a distinctive interior environment.

The proposed design includes exposed timber elements and flexible office layouts intended to accommodate commercial tenants.

Located in the City Foundry district, the building would give employees convenient access to restaurants, retail stores, and entertainment attractions.

That proximity is a key part of the developer’s approach to mixed-use commercial development.

Rather than placing offices in an isolated business park, City Foundry offers employees opportunities to dine, shop, and participate in recreational activities near their workplaces.

Additional office space could increase weekday activity throughout the district and potentially create new customers for nearby businesses.

However, the proposed building should not be mistaken for a completed project.

The sources reviewed for this article have not established a confirmed groundbreaking or completion date.

The project represents planned commercial expansion, and its eventual development will depend on the decisions and arrangements necessary to move construction forward.

City Foundry Reports More Than $60 Million in Taxable Sales

City Foundry’s reported commercial performance shows growing activity at the development.

In an official announcement published May 5, 2026, City Foundry reported $60,282,858 in taxable sales during 2025.

That compares with $56,226,971 in 2024.

The increase represents approximately 7.2% growth in annual taxable sales.

City Foundry also reported about 2.34 million visitors in 2025, up from 2.19 million in 2024.

According to the developer, annual visitation increased 6.9%.

The reported growth continued into the first quarter of 2026.

City Foundry recorded about 559,800 visitors in the first three months of the year, up from 539,500 in the same period in 2025.

That represented an increase of approximately 3.7%.

City Foundry released the figures, which represent developer-reported operating information.

Taxable sales should not be confused with business profits or tax revenue collected by government agencies.

Likewise, visitor counts may include repeat visits rather than representing only unique individuals.

Nevertheless, the figures illustrate the scale of commercial activity taking place within the development.

They also provide context for New + Found’s continued interest in attracting tenants and expanding the property’s commercial offerings.

New Restaurants Expand City Foundry’s Food Hall

Food remains a major component of City Foundry’s identity.

The development’s Food Hall brings together independent restaurant concepts in a shared dining environment, allowing customers to choose from multiple cuisines during a single visit.

In 2026, BEAST Craft BBQ joined the Food Hall, expanding the property’s barbecue offerings.

City Foundry confirmed the restaurant’s presence in an official September 11 announcement.

The business adds another established St. Louis-area food concept to the development’s restaurant lineup.

City Foundry also announced SweetArt Too, a plant-based dining concept associated with the established St. Louis business SweetArt.

The addition expands the Food Hall’s offerings for customers interested in plant-based meals.

Both businesses reflect City Foundry’s emphasis on providing different dining experiences within one destination.

The Food Hall format can appeal to families, coworkers, and groups with different food preferences.

Customers can purchase meals from individual vendors while sharing common seating areas.

The arrangement also gives restaurant operators exposure to visitors who may have come to City Foundry for shopping, entertainment, or other activities.

For Midtown, continued restaurant activity contributes to the area’s commercial diversity and helps establish the development as a destination rather than a conventional shopping center.

Urban Fort Adds Family Entertainment

City Foundry has also expanded its offerings for families with young children.

On October 8, 2026, the development announced that Urban Fort Play was open at the property.

Urban Fort is an indoor play concept designed for children up to age six.

The business offers activities including drop-in play, memberships, parties, and workshops.

Its City Foundry location also includes an in-house Blueprint Coffee operation.

The addition gives families another reason to visit the development during the day.

City Foundry already offers entertainment destinations such as Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, Puttshack, and other interactive attractions.

Urban Fort broadens that selection by offering activities designed specifically for younger children.

Family-oriented businesses may also create additional opportunities for nearby restaurants and retailers as parents and caregivers combine entertainment with dining or shopping.

The development’s approach emphasizes a mix of activities that can attract different visitor groups throughout the week.

City Foundry Continues Attracting New Businesses

City Foundry’s May 2026 announcement identified several other businesses joining or preparing to join the district.

Those included Outlier STL, a piercing and fine jewelry studio, and Thorn Vintage, a streetwear and vintage clothing business.

The development also identified Mocha Point, a Yemeni coffee concept, as one of its planned additions.

Another announced concept was Brickline Brew House, described as a sports-bar-oriented business intended for a multilevel dining and event space.

These announcements illustrate the variety of businesses City Foundry has sought to attract.

Rather than focusing exclusively on restaurants, the property combines shopping, food, entertainment, and professional services.

That diversity may help encourage repeat visits by providing different reasons to return.

However, an announced tenant should not automatically be considered open. Businesses described as upcoming in the May announcement may have different opening schedules, and their current operating status requires separate confirmation.

This distinction matters when evaluating the development’s commercial growth.

Data Center Proposal Adds Another Dimension to Midtown Development

The nearby data center proposal has become another major issue affecting Midtown’s redevelopment.

On April 21, 2026, the St. Louis Board of Public Service approved a conditional use permit for the project at the former Famous-Barr warehouse.

The approval followed public discussion about the potential benefits and impacts of large technology facilities.

Supporters have emphasized possible employment opportunities, private investment and economic activity.

Opponents have raised concerns involving energy consumption, water use, noise, environmental impacts and the relationship between industrial development and surrounding neighborhoods.

The city’s permit included conditions intended to address infrastructure and environmental considerations.

On September 15, city leaders approved a separate community benefits agreement associated with the development.

That agreement established additional commitments involving employment and community benefits.

The conditional use permit and community benefits agreement are distinct municipal actions.

Neither approves Smith’s alternative proposal to preserve the Armory as an entertainment destination.

The data center’s eventual development and the Armory’s future use remain related but separate questions.

St. Louis Adopts New Data Center Regulations

The debate over data center development also led St. Louis to establish new citywide zoning regulations.

On September 17, 2026, Ordinance 72181 took effect.

The ordinance originated as Board Bill 49 and amended the city’s zoning code to create a regulatory framework specifically addressing data centers.

The city’s Planning Commission and Board of Aldermen considered the legislation.

Its adoption established rules governing data center development within St. Louis.

The citywide ordinance is separate from the conditional use permit granted to TerraWatt’s Midtown project.

That distinction matters because zoning legislation establishes broader land-use rules, while a conditional use permit addresses a particular proposed development.

The new regulations represent an important development in the city’s approach to large technology facilities.

For Midtown, they form part of the broader policy environment in which future commercial and industrial development proposals will be evaluated.

Brickline Greenway Could Improve Midtown Connections

Another important element of the area’s future involves the planned Brickline Greenway.

The greenway initiative is intended to improve pedestrian and bicycle connections across St. Louis.

One proposed component would connect the City Foundry area with the Armory across Interstate 64.

The highway currently separates the two properties, making it harder to walk directly between them.

A bridge could provide a more convenient connection for residents, workers, and visitors.

The proposed link could become particularly valuable if the Armory eventually returns to entertainment use.

Visitors could then move between attractions on both sides of the highway without driving.

That could create opportunities for restaurants, retailers and entertainment businesses throughout the surrounding district.

During his September interview with First Alert 4, Smith discussed the importance of the proposed pedestrian connection.

However, the bridge remains a planned improvement, and this article does not establish that construction has begun.

Midtown’s Transformation Extends Beyond City Foundry

City Foundry is part of a broader pattern of investment in Midtown St. Louis.

The surrounding area includes Saint Louis University, residential developments, commercial offices and entertainment destinations.

City Foundry’s redevelopment shows how older industrial properties can adapt to contemporary uses while retaining elements of their original architecture.

Residential development has also contributed to the district’s growth.

One Foundry Way, the nearby apartment development, has added housing close to restaurants, offices and entertainment attractions.

The combination of housing, employment, dining and recreation is central to the mixed-use development approach.

Residents can support nearby businesses throughout the week, while office employees may generate additional lunchtime and weekday demand.

Visitors to entertainment attractions can also drive evening and weekend activity.

The district’s long-term success will depend on continued tenant demand, investment, and individual businesses’ ability to operate sustainably.

What Comes Next for City Foundry STL?

City Foundry enters the final months of 2026 with continued commercial activity and several important development proposals.

The addition of BEAST Craft BBQ, SweetArt Too, and Urban Fort has expanded the property’s dining and entertainment offerings.

The developer’s reported increases in taxable sales and visitor traffic also show the property has built a substantial regional audience.

The proposed Two Foundry Way office building could add commercial space and bring more employees to Midtown.

Meanwhile, Steve Smith’s alternative Armory proposal presents an opportunity to reconsider how the historic building could contribute to the neighborhood’s entertainment economy.

That proposal remains subject to further negotiations and approvals.

The nearby data center has received significant municipal approvals, but its development arrangements should not be confused with a final decision about the Armory’s use.

For Midtown residents, businesses and visitors, the outcome of these projects could influence employment, transportation connections, commercial investment and entertainment opportunities.

City Foundry has already transformed a former industrial complex into a destination that attracts millions of visitors each year.

Its next phase will depend on whether additional investment can build on that activity while supporting the broader Midtown community.

As St. Louis continues to redevelop former industrial properties, City Foundry STL remains an important example of how historic buildings can adapt to changing commercial needs.