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Saving St. Louis Institutions with Kevin McKernan

Saving St. Louis Institutions with Kevin McKernan

The 314 Podcast
• 37 min
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<p>In this episode of&nbsp;<em><a href="https://www.stlmag.com/podcasts/314-podcast/" rel="nofollow">The 314 Podcast</a></em>, host&nbsp;<a href="https://www.stlmag.com/author/sarah-fenske/" rel="nofollow">Sarah Fenske</a>&nbsp;talks with Kevin McKernan, who went from teaching high school to founding The Improv Shop to owning a portfolio of only-in-St. Louis originals: Epiphany Lanes, Donut Drive-In, Blackthorn Pub, and Cafe Manhattan. Kevin explains how growing up in South City helped inspire his appreciation for these neighborhood businesses—and how he’s been able to innovate even while preserving what made them special. Then, Sarah chats with&nbsp;<em>SLM</em>&nbsp;staff writer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.stlmag.com/author/ryan-krull/" rel="nofollow">Ryan Krull</a>&nbsp;about the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.stlmag.com/news/central-downtown-garage-adam-layne/" rel="nofollow">mystery</a>&nbsp;of a downtown parking garage that’s become something of a graveyard for abandoned vehicles. &nbsp;Watch on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwYnyrcREHGme7iXhvDnXB6ZTWV-1RtWf" rel="nofollow">YouTube</a>&nbsp;and listen on&nbsp;<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-314-podcast/id1793192207" rel="nofollow">Apple Podcasts</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0mJtCTOoiTpN2Jjc2VW0eE" rel="nofollow">Spotify</a>, or wherever podcasts are available. Love the show? Be sure to follow or subscribe.</p> <blockquote></blockquote> <p>See related stories and resources from this episode: https://www.stlmag.com/podcasts/314-podcast/episode-36</p> <p>Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwYnyrcREHGme7iXhvDnXB6ZTWV-1RtWf&nbsp;</p> <p>Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0mJtCTOoiTpN2Jjc2VW0eE&nbsp;</p> <p>Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-314-podcast/id1793192207&nbsp;</p> <p>This episode is sponsored by Royal Banks of Missouri. Are you ready to begin your home purchase journey this summer? The Royal Banks of Missouri mortgage team is ready to guide you every step of the way. Their local lenders offer competitive rates and personalized support so you can focus on creating the space of your dreams. Learn more about how Royal Banks of Missouri can partner with you to unlock the door to your new home in 2026 at http://royalbanksofmo.com/</p> <p>New to podcasts? Follow these instructions to start listening to our shows, and hear what you’ve been missing: https://www.stlmag.com/podcasts/how-to-listen/</p> <p>Have an idea for a future episode? Email podcasts@stlmag.com.&nbsp;</p> <p>Interested in being a podcast sponsor? Email advertisting@stlmag.com.</p> <p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener" rel="nofollow">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>