R.J. Hartbeck
Photographer
R.J. Hartbeck is a commercial photographer based in St. Louis. His brand of storytelling is informed by his love for street photography and the belief that photos should be used as a way to connect with one another. His work has been featured both online and in print for various brands around the country. A passionate advocate for entrepreneurship, he enjoys helping people bring their new projects and ideas to life. Favorite neighborhood: Tower Grove East. Learn more at rjhartbeck.com.
rjhartbeck
Contributions
Expansion on The Hill brings new restaurants, retail, and real estate to the neighborhood
The historic neighborhood continues to honor tradition, adds new offerings, and makes St. Louis “a little more special.”
From food and shopping to bars and bocce, explore The Hill neighborhood in St. Louis
From pizza, pasta, and sandwiches to retail shops and recreation, The Hill offers delicious meals and memorable experiences for the whole family.
From bocce to red sauce, dig into
the enduring legacy of St. Louis’
Little Italy
How The Hill, a beloved St. Louis neighborhood shaped by Italian immigrants, uses its past to build a culture still centered around faith, food, and family.
Backing the Bold
Arch Grants is a driving force behind St. Louis’ thriving startup ecosystem — and 10 years in, it’s just getting started.
Leading the Pack
For more than 50 years, the Endangered Wolf Center in Eureka has been a national leader in saving Mexican gray wolves and American red wolves from extinction by…
60+ Valentine’s Day Gifts, Treats, and Date Ideas in St. Louis
Shop local for Valentine’s Day gifts and plan the ultimate St. Louis dates for your friends or someone special.
15+ Ways to Get Moving in St. Louis
Explore St. Louis area hiking trails, cycling paths, indoor dance studios, inclusive playgrounds and programs, and more ways to get moving across the metro.
2025 Year In Review: 40+ Inspiring
St. Louis Stories
From nationally beloved arts institutions and culinary stars to community leaders helping to rebuild after the tornado, take a look back at this year’s STLMade stories.
75+ St. Louis Spots to Shop for Holiday Gifts
This holiday season, shop local while supporting shops and makers in the St. Louis community.
20+ Must-Try Sweets and Treats in St. Louis
From cookies, cakes, and pastries to donuts, ice cream, and confections, these St. Louis bakeries, coffee shops, and restaurants serve up the sweets.
Recover. Rebuild. Renew.
In the week after the May 16, 2025 tornado that devastated St. Louis, photographers R.J. Hartbeck, Tyler Small, and Michael Thomas documented the communities hit the hardest.
Put Down Roots
Michael and Tara Gallina’s Take Root Hospitality serves seasonally inspired and regionally sourced eats at three lauded spots in the St. Louis area, including Vicia.
4 Must-Try Restaurants and Bars in Downtown St. Louis
Explore tasty eats, drinks, and treats at four locally owned spots Downtown.
Fill Your Cup
With a focus on ethical sourcing and high-quality beans, Goshen Coffee Roasters in Edwardsville, Illinois, helmed by the Beard and Hughey families, serves up delicious coffee here and…
Success in the Making
Through its St. Louis Internship Program, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis, along with partner companies and institutions, are investing in students and the future…
Authenticity in the City
At Amaizing Arepa Bar in Downtown St. Louis, Mayra and Maria Pacheco share delicious Venezuelan cuisine, with hopes to expand across the metro.
Rising to the Occasion
At its North American headquarters in St. Louis, AB Mauri drives innovative baking and fermentation solutions for bakeries across the country.
Style Icons
For 15 years, Randy and Jeff Vines at STL Stylehouse have promoted St. Louis and played a vital role in the city’s community fabric — including Cherokee Street’s…
Opening Doors
We Hear You makes spaces more accessible for people with disabilities — and with its Hero device, it’s literally opening doors across St. Louis and the U.S.
Connecting Care
With Rezilient Health, founders Danish Nagda and Jeff Gamble are hoping to improve health care experiences and outcomes for patients in the St. Louis metro and across the…
Sweet Spot
With a passion for showstopping painted cakes and from-scratch baked goods, Lia Holter of Made. by Lia is ushering in a new generation of investment in her native…
Bridging a Divide
In the growing Delmar Maker District and beyond, restaurants, maker and retail spaces, and nonprofits are thriving, ushering in a new era for the neighborhood.
2024 Year In Review: 40+ Inspiring St. Louis Stories
From world-class artists and innovative entrepreneurs to culinary creatives and community trailblazers, take a look back at this year’s STLMade stories.
Brick by Brick
The legacy of St. Louis’ historic brick industry is alive and well in Laclede’s Landing, Main Street in St. Charles, and downtown Alton, Illinois.
One to Watch
Angel Recci has a vision to elevate Spanish-language television, music, and live entertainment in the St. Louis area — and piece by piece, he’s making it a reality.
Off the Charts
Ricardo Recci Gonzalez is making St. Louis a more welcoming place by growing the Hispanic music scene — one concert and broadcast at a time.
From the Ground Up
St. Louis startup HabiTerre uses cutting-edge geospatial technologies to pave the way for agricultural solutions to climate challenges.
Paths Forward
Great Rivers Greenway is working to connect the region, one project and pathway at a time.
Main Attraction
When father-and-son team Barry and Denny Foster opened Main & Mill Brewing Company, they also ushered in a new era for now-thriving Festus Main Street.
Chain Reaction
When Rick Shang moved to St. Louis in 2014 to pursue his PhD in Philosophy, Neuroscience, and Psychology at Washington University in St. Louis, he never imagined he’d…
Designed for Dialogue
Rooted in social responsibility found in Cuban-inspired posters, creative firm CARTEL uses design to drive conversations around inclusivity and urban development in St. Louis.
The Heart of Things
SentiAR's hands-free headset enables surgeons and physicians to see 3D, mixed-reality, real-time images of patients’ hearts.
A Visionary Idea
Saint Louis University scientist Jenna Gorlewicz’s team is building Inclusio, a groundbreaking digital tool to translate graphic information into accessible formats for people with blindness or low vision.
Empowering
Entrepreneurs
By supporting first-time entrepreneurs from underrepresented communities, Cortex’s Square One programs, led by Ben Molina and Gabriela Ramirez-Arellano, is bringing inclusive economic growth to the St. Louis metro.
A World of Possibilities
Founded at Vashon High School, Show Me the World Project provides transformative education in entrepreneurship, leadership, and STEM to students in under-resourced communities in St. Louis.
Edible Education
Serving seasonal eats, Fresh Gatherings Cafe + Farm is a unique culinary teaching lab on the Saint Louis University campus — and serves as a model for colleges…
Getting a Close Up
An upcoming movie about St. Louis native John O’Leary, a burn survivor turned motivational speaker and author, is the first to take advantage of a new state tax…
2023 Year In Review: 25+ Inspiring
St. Louis Stories
From community transformers and restaurateurs to inspiring artists and innovative startup founders, take a look back at this year’s STLMade stories.
Shared Language
Based in the Bevo neighborhood, Immigrant Home English Learning Program connects foreign-born residents with volunteer tutors to learn English — and often, to forge lifelong bonds.
Second Nature
From her studio in the Marine Villa neighborhood, acclaimed artist Lauren Marx draws inspiration from the native flora and fauna of North America.
Sunflower Power
At Edison Agrosciences, sunflowers could hold the key to producing the first sustainable natural rubber made in the U.S.
A New Leaf
From her home office in Wildwood, TeaVoila founder Souzan Gerami is revolutionizing an industry with plant-based, compostable to-go tea cups.
Microcinema
Magic
Arkadin Cinema & Bar opens up worlds in the Bevo neighborhood, where owners Sarah Baraba and Keith Watson share a love of film and add to a growing…
Feeding the Future
At St. Louis startup MARSfarm, co-founders Peter Webb and Drew Thomas create portable greenhouses to upgrade how classrooms study agriculture.
A Welcoming
Space
MaTovu celebrates five years of fellowship and inclusive programming for the Jewish community in the City of St. Louis.
Highly Rated
With Rated Test Kitchen, chef Juwan Rice is bringing a new kind of fine-dining restaurant to Downtown St. Louis.
A Healing Helpline
St. Louis Queer Support & Healing offers identity-affirming resources for the region’s LGBTQIA+ community.
A Coffee Culture
At Brew Tulum, Laura McNamara and Alberto Juarez bring a deep-dive into Mexican coffee culture to the Delmar Maker District.
A New View
As president and CEO of the Missouri Historical Society, Jody Sowell focuses on telling stories about St. Louis’ past that ignite civic passion for how the city can…
Outdoor
Enthusiast
With Ope Outdoors, Juno Musonda is spreading love for the Midwest’s parks and natural attractions through merchandise, park cleanups and hikes.
Trading Up
As part of the Missouri Works Initiative, the Building Union Diversity program is expanding access to careers in construction.
Free Spirits
St. Louis’ Switchgrass Spirits is carving its own path with its grain-to-glass whiskey and brandy.
2022 Year In Review
Take a look back at this year's STLMade stories.
A Broad Canvas
At Onyx Dagger in Lafayette Square, Valencia Miller combines fine art with tattoo art, supporting local painters in St. Louis by displaying their work while blazing her own…
Sustaining Style
With May’s Place, Katie May highlights the merits of shopping vintage – both for you and for the planet.
Float On
From the Boathouse to the Mississippi, Big Muddy Adventures offers St. Louisans a chance to connect with the region's waterways.
Up, Up and Away
The Great Forest Park Balloon Race, one of the country’s longest-running balloon races, celebrates 50 years of making St. Louisans smile.
Raised on Glazed
Syeeda Aziz-Morris is carrying on the family tradition of donut-making at Pharaoh's Donuts in Downtown and the Central West End.
Nerds with Heart
In St. Peters, PokéNerds store owners Brian and Valeria Trull have built a community for Pokémon fans, who are in turn helping the Trulls support Ukrainians.
Freedom Through Food
Urban farmer Tyrean “Heru” Lewis brings fresh produce to underserved communities and advocates for more equitable growing practices across St. Louis and the nation.
Beyond the Bag
Through her luxury handbag line Lux & Nyx, Lisa Hu seeks to empower women through functional, sustainable bags that marry style and substance.
A Powerful Lift
As the executive director of Paralympic operations at Logan University, Kelley Humphries-Mascoll is advancing the Paralympic movement in St. Louis and beyond.
Wicked ‘Wiches
Sugarwitch’s Martha Bass and Sophie Mendelson craft wickedly good ice cream sandwiches and frozen treats in Botanical Heights and Carondelet.
Climbing High
With So iLL, the Chancellor family has created an aesthetically pleasing, environmentally conscious experience for the modern urban rock climber, all while cultivating the next generation of climbing…
Historical
Perspective
With unique bus and walking tours throughout the metro area, Amanda Clark helps people see St. Louis differently.
Snacking for Change
With Airly crackers, a team from Brentwood-based Post Holdings has created a tasty way for people to combat climate change.
Nothing Little About It
From rural China to Fox Park, Lona Luo has come a long way in her journey to become one of St. Louis’ most beloved and recognized chefs.
2021 Year In Review
Take a look back at this year's STLMade stories.
A Home for Art
In Gravois Park, St. Louis Art Place Initiative has completed the first of 20 units of single family housing at subsidized prices for artists, aiming to enrich the…
Tastes of St. Louis
Bringing together more than a dozen kitchens with varied cuisines, City Foundry STL’s Food Hall draws St. Louisans to Midtown.
Advocating for Inclusion
With the Starkloff Disability Institute, Colleen Starkloff works to make the world a place where people of all abilities feel empowered and valued.
Homegrown
Market
Local farmers and entrepreneurs build their businesses and a strong community through the support of St. Louisans at the Tower Grove Farmers Market.
Small Park, Big Impact
Through Pocketparks, Samantha Lee Smugala is bringing art, activation and opportunity to transform vacant lots into community gathering spaces.
Building Space to Grow
Jason Deem opened St. Louis’ first coworking space, Nebula, more than 10 years ago, and continues to restore and develop Gravois Park through South Side Spaces.
Be(er) Well
With WellBeing Brewing's craft nonalcoholic beers and waters, Jeff Stevens is helping reframe the stigma around sobriety.
Security Solution
Led by CEO Ron Indeck, Olivette-based Q-Net Security is protecting government organizations and businesses across the nation from online threats with its impenetrable hardware device.
Natural Wonders
St. Louisans find peace and purpose in parks and on trails throughout the region.
Organic Growth
In Wright City, Maria Marshall leads certified organic Marshall Family Farms in practicing regenerative agriculture, raising heritage poultry and producing heirloom crops.
Time for a Revolution
Saint Louis Story Stitchers brings young people together to express themselves through art and create social change.
Transforming Tea
Lisa Govro, through her company Big Heart Tea Co., is not only revolutionizing how tea tastes, but ensuring it’s ethically sourced every step of the way.
The Power of Plants
Mónica Carlsen, a Venezuelan immigrant and plant biologist with the Missouri Botanical Garden, is inspiring the next generation of budding scientists through internships and educational collaborations with local…
A Conscious Cup of Joe
Inspired by the coffee they grew up drinking in their native Honduras, Patrick and Spencer Clapp are elevating the St. Louis coffee scene with Coffeestamp's ethically sourced beans.
Solving Challenges
Biotech startup PercayAI and Washington University are collaborating to find treatments for COVID-19, through the work of people like computational biologist Allyson Mayer.
A Hearty Dish
Welcome Neighbor STL's drive-thru supper clubs are a lifeline for refugees.
Community Game Changer
Entrepreneur Julian Keaton aims to foster community engagement and move St. Louis forward through “Dimensions,” a new interactive geolocation mobile game.
Smooth Moves
Angela Zeng didn’t listen to critics who told her to start her line of superfood drinks, Karviva Beverages, elsewhere; after launching it from St. Louis four years ago,…
Bridging the Gap
The Foodshed.io app links small family farms to grocery stores so consumers can buy more local produce and farmers can do what they do best: grow food.
Brewing Community
St. Louis brewers find new ways to connect with beer lovers and continue their businesses during the pandemic.
St. Louis, Together
How #314Together transformed from a pandemic relief Facebook group to an inspiring movement supporting local small businesses.
Period Positive
Even during a pandemic, the St. Louis Alliance for Period Supplies is getting essential period products to people in need.
Power Drive
28 communities around the region joined together to donate nearly 15,000 pounds of food and personal care items to the St. Louis Area Foodbank.
Personal Growth
Home gardens flourish in quarantine, providing floral beauty, nutritious food and positive mental health benefits.
Growing Together
EarthDance Organic Farm School Hosts Pay-What-You-Can Drive-Thru Farm Stand in Ferguson.
Coffee for a Cause
How Sump Coffee is Fueling Health Care Providers on the Front Lines.
Superhero Delivery
Martin Casas of Apotheosis Comics is making sure that St. Louis residents have plenty of comic books and drinks to get them through quarantine.
Puppies in a Pandemic
What happens to unadopted pets during a crisis? St. Louis stepped up to foster them - including one family taking on eight puppies.
4 Hands For Hands
4 Hands Brewery adds a new product to its beer and spirit offerings – hand sanitizer.
Creating Through Crisis
Mee Jey, an immigrant artist from India, tells community stories through her art in St. Louis and abroad.
‘Round and ‘Round
For 50 years, Mathew and Niah Foggy have built community while circling the roller rink at Skate King.
Home(Town) Brew
Here in one of the nation's top beer cities, St. Louis brewers are shaping the industry's future.
That’s a Ringer
Home to the National Horseshoe Pitchers Hall of Fame, St. Charles County has become one of the country’s top regions for competitive horseshoe players.
Spilling the Beans
Estie Cruz-Curoe’s Cuban-style black beans at del Carmen Foods are filling a delicious niche in the St. Louis food scene.
Autumn Action
The St. Louis economy gets a yearly boost from an array of spectacular fall sights and cool-weather activities, including Oktoberfest.
Shifting Gears
Mike Weiss believes that St. Louis could become one of the hottest cycling destinations in the country -- and the world.
Fresh From the Vine
Tony White’s locally grown tomatoes are the not-so-secret ingredients in many St. Louis chefs’ acclaimed dishes.
Puppy Power
Fitness trainer Kim Gray built her wellness business for St. Louisans who love spending time with their pets.
Night Moves
Ranked No. 1 in nightlife, St. Louis is drawing attention for its fun, affordable ways to hit the town.
Career Center
New industries in St. Louis are helping to fuel Missouri’s rise in employment opportunities.
The Business of Basketball
Khalia Collier has transformed the St. Louis Surge into both a competitive team and an economic driver.
Making
Connections
Through Human Spaces, Lisa Rokusek is exploring how people can learn from each other with empathy and purpose.
Sweet Dreams
La Patisserie Chouquette co-owner and executive pastry chef Simone Faure has become the maven of macarons in St. Louis.
Masters of Light
Just as their great-great grandfather did, Aaron Frei and his siblings are coloring St. Louis with hand-crafted stained glass.
Midwest Millennials
Post-grads are learning that St. Louis’s low cost of living means more money for business and leisure.
Moving Forward
Historic St. Louis gems are earning new appreciation for marrying the past with the future.
Education for All
Through EdHub STL, Sherita Love helps educators shake up their classrooms and eliminate barriers for students.
Planting Seeds
Angi Taylor found meaningful work in St. Louis’s growing agriculture industry.
Game On
With dozens of studios, courses and events, St. Louis is becoming the nation’s next video game development hot spot.
