Joe Edwards

Credited with almost single handedly revitalizing University City’s “Loop” into a thriving business and entertainment district, Joe Edwards was the individual 2006 Community Betterment Award recipient. In 1972, Edwards opened Blueberry Hill then in 1988 he founded the non-profit St. Louis Walk of Fame that now boasts ¬¬¬113 inductees. In the 1990s, Edwards restored the Tivoli Theatre to much acclaim. In the 21st century, Edwards broke the unspoken demarcation line and crossed east of the Skinker and Delmar Boulevards intersection to build the Pageant Concert Night Club & Pin-Up Bowl.

Still, Edwards’ commitment to The Loop and St. Louis continues to make an impact. Currently, he is dedicated to extending the Loop District past the traditional boundaries of the City/County line by renovating numerous buildings in the City portion of The Loop. A work in progress, Edwards aspires to establish a fixed track vintage trolley system that would connect The Loop to MetroLink and other transportation hubs. Some of the projects on his drawing board today are a new boutique hotel and a new two-story retail and office building across from the Pageant.

Jim Koman

Koman Properties earns the company Community Betterment distinction for making it a successful business practice to develop retail projects in the region’s older, urban core. Some of their developments are State Street Shopping Center, Phase I, II & III, which Phase I of this project became the first retail development in East St. Louis in 50 years; MLK Plaza – a $7 million development at Grand Avenue and Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in the City of St. Louis; and Nameoki Shopping Center - a $15 million dollar renovation in Granite City.

“Jim Koman goes places other retail developers don’t have the nerve to go,” said John Brancaglione with PGAV. “And after he completes these projects, he generally proves to be right.”

The Missouri Growth Association is pleased to recognize these individuals for their past and present achievements.