You won't believe this St. Louis ice cream story
Look—you think you know St. Louis. You think we're all about baseball and Provel cheese and maybe the Arch. And yeah, we are. But then something comes along that reminds you just how much talent and grit we got percolating right here in the Lou. I'm talking about Tamara Keefe, the powerhouse behind Clementine's Ice Cream, getting named to Inc. Magazine's Female Founders 500. This ain't just some local pat on the back; this is national recognition for a St. Louis original.
I'm gonna be real with you, when Clementine's first popped up, I was like, "Okay, another ice cream place." We got Ted Drewes, right? That's our institution. But Tamara, she built something different. She started with a shop up in Lafayette Square, then moved to the Grove, and now you see her spots all over, from South City near Tower Grove Park to the Delmar Loop. Her "naughty" ice creams, those boozy ones, really put her on the map. But it's not just the gimmick; it's the quality. You can taste the difference. This isn't just a sweet treat; it's a St. Louis success story built with hard work and a clear vision.
### Why This Matters for the Lou
* **Puts St. Louis on the Map (Again):** We're not just about crime stats and population loss, as much as the national media loves to focus on that. We got innovators, entrepreneurs, people building things. * **A Win for Women in Business:** In a city that's always trying to figure out how to keep young talent and attract new businesses, seeing a woman-led company get this kind of shine is huge. It shows what's possible right here. * **It's Just Damn Good Ice Cream:** Seriously, if you haven't had the "Maple Bourbon with Candied Pecans," you're missing out. It's a taste of St. Louis ambition, right there in a cup.
This kind of story, it reminds you what makes St. Louis special. It's that stubborn refusal to quit, that desire to create something unique, and that underlying belief that we can do anything right here. That's the Lou — we're still here and we're not leaving.
My man Marcus on the morning show is gonna have some thoughts on this too – catch him live at mornings.live.