Downtown Kirkwood Honors Pioneers at Annual Meeting

Kirkwood, Missouri—February 16, 2009: Downtown Kirkwood Special Business District has recognized seven downtown Kirkwood businesspeople for their many years of leadership, involvement and support of business improvement efforts in downtown Kirkwood.

Jack Bishop, owner of the former Medicine Shoppe: 54 years
Bill Friedrichs, former co-owner of PJ’s Tavern, 123 W. Jefferson: 13 years
Ron Lakey, former owner of The Music Center of Kirkwood, 113 W. Jefferson: 20 years
Phyllis Phelps, Vicki Short and Sue Swoboda, former owners of Down by the Station, 151 W. Argonne: 25 years
Linda Slane, owner of the former First Impressions Studio, 217 S. Kirkwood Road: 15 years

Downtown Kirkwood Business Pioneer Awards were presented at the Special Business District’s Annual Meeting of Members held February 12 at Mike Duffy’s Pub & Grill in Kirkwood. Downtown Kirkwood Advisory Commission Chairperson, Mike Gray of Grapevine Wines and Cheese, presented the awards. “Many of the business that were started by these pioneers are going to continue even through the owners have retired or decided to pursue other opportunities. This fact is a great tribute to these business people and to Downtown Kirkwood,” Gray commented.

In photo from left to right: Jack Bishop, The Medicine Shoppe; Vicki Short and Phyllis Phelps, Down By The Station; Ron Lakey, Music Center of Kirkwood; Linda Slane, First Impressions Studio; Bill Fredrichs, PJ’s Tavern. Not shown: Sue Swoboda, Down By The Station.