#253: The second Ameren cake

Not many people knew that Ameren had a second cake all along. Story goes like this: since Ameren was one of the most generous sponsors for the stl250 organization, they requested a second cake for just the employees of Ameren. I don't know when they got it, but it was supposedly decorated by the Ameren staff and workers. It was only accessible to the employees and their guests, who were on restricted property. Ameren, by the way, is heavily guarded all around their headquarters. You may already know from experience if you got their official cake outside.

Come early October 2014 and the cake makes a special appearance alongside their 'other' cake. This was believed to be part of the occasion for a get-together (or company picnic, or some such thing) which is usually held this time of the year for Ameren workers. Several, I mean several, scores of obsessed cake-hunters (myself included) hurried the first October weekend to get that cake! It was believed that it was originally going to disappear again. On October 6, it was announced that Ameren will keep their second cake open to the public for the rest of the year. So, it gave people less reason to worry and to add another cake to lists.

This is not an official 'STL250' cake, but I am including it since it is was made on the typical fiberglass cake model used by all the others. Plus, it is so unique in its own way, like all the other cakes. It will probably not be mentioned on the stl250 website cake list. But, while its there, my advice to any caker is to go out there (again) and get a snapshot of it!

Here are the sides of the unique cake, which provide a pictoral history:

Top of the cake

Left side of the cake

Back side of the cake

And lastly, the two cakes side by side:

NOW: Both Ameren cakes are no longer on public display.

1901 Chouteau Ave., ST. LOUIS, MO, 63103
Cake artist: Rudy Zapf  (she decorated the other Ameren cake too)

#251: Express Scripts

One of the few lastly-placed cakes was put at Express Scripts, one of St. Louis' most successful corporations who proudly makes their home here. The headquarters is located directly across from UMSL.

• As of 2013, it is a Fortune 100 company, ranking 20th as the biggest revenue generator. 
• It is the largest pharmacy benefit management company in the U.S.
• The company was founded in St. Louis (1986) as part of a joint venture between Medicare Glaser (79 stores) and Sanus Corp. Health Systems.
• The company became a public trader in 1992.
• It services include home-delivery pharmacy services, drug-utilization review, and network-pharmacy claims processing, among many others.
• Also specializes in workers compensation prescription insurance as well as reinsurance.

The sign

One of three of its buildings (this was taken right next to the UMSL cake on top of the hill)

Pics of the cake:

Back side of the cake

Left side of the cake

Right side of the cake

Top of the cake

Two cakes in one picture? Yeahhh, why not?

Express Scripts on Twitter
Wikipedia link
Official website

NOW: Still there

8455 University Place Dr., ST. LOUIS, MO, 63121
Cake artist: Mark Swain

#231: Maritz

It seems difficult to analyze what Maritz LLC specializes in. So I may just go a little into the history...

• Started in 1894 by Edward Maritz as the E. Maritz Jewelry Manufacturing Company, which would be the first to sell wristwatches. 
• It also specialized in selling engraved and imported jewelry from around the world.
• After the company's near-failure resulting from the 1929 stock market crash, the group re-vamped itself by focusing on employee reward programs for companies, in addition to their jewelry.
• In the coming decades, the company expanded greatly by adding travel programs and marketing research companies.
• Today, Maritz claims to be the world's largest source of performance improvement, travel and market research services.
• The world corporate headquarters consists of 174 acres, which spreads across both sides of I-44.

The cake, which is one of four cakes with the Route 66 theme (one of two painted by Rich Brooks). Maritz is located off of old Route 66 (or I-44). Get your kicks!!!

Right side of the cake

Back side of the cake

Left side of the cake

Top of the cake

According to the stl250 website, Maritz is a generous sponsor of stl250.

Maritz on FB
Wikipedia link
Official website

1400 South Highway Drive, FENTON, MO, 63099
Cake artist: Rich Brooks

#181: CIC@CET-Cortex

So what is CIC@CET-Cortex? Let's start with the Cortex Corporation, which is located on Forest Park, a bit outside the downtown area. According to its website, the Cortex Innovation Community is home to a 200-acre innovation hub and technology district integrated between Forest Park and Central West End. Basically, the company is all about creating technology jobs and making sure St. Louis is on top of everything.

is home to a vibrant 200-acre innovation hub and technology district integrated into St. Louis’ historic Central West End and Forest Park Southeast residential neighborhoods, - See more at: http://www.cortexstl.com/who-we-are/#sthash.rdmTHHbD.dpuf

Created in 2002, this was a start-up of connecting entrepreneurs, investors and the city's resources. The company is also involved in biomedical research and has partnered with universities including UMSL and SLU, as well as healthcare centers like BJC. They call themselves the 'premier hub' of St. Louis.

As of this writing, I'm not sure what the CIC@CET is all about.

Is this our future, like they planned? We shall see.

is home to a vibrant 200-acre innovation hub and technology district integrated into St. Louis’ historic Central West End and Forest Park Southeast residential neighborhoods, - See more at: http://www.cortexstl.com/who-we-are/#sthash.rdmTHHbD.dpuf

Official website

4041 Forest Park Avenue, ST. LOUIS, MO, 63110
Cake artist: Megan Rieke

UPDATE (8/24/2016): The cake is still there.

#77: Edward Jones South Campus

The southern branch of Edward Jones Investments company is headquartered in Des Peres. It is one of the biggest corporations held in the St. Louis area. Its northern branch is located at the corner of Dorsett Road and I-270 in North County.

• Company was founded in St. Louis by Edward D. Jones (1893-1982) in 1922. While born in St. Louis, he originally grew up in Bellefontaine, Ohio.
• Jones' son, Edward (or 'Ted'), took over the company in 1968, where he helped expand it.
• Has branched into 11,000 locations all over the United States and Canada, with over 7 million clients.
• Mostly focuses on individual investments, retirement, IRAs and small businesses.
• Company has received numerous accolades over the years, including Fortune's Best Places to Work

Edward Jones south campus (notice the cool looking architecture building on the left?)

The cake sides:

Right side of the cake

Back side of the cake

Left side of the cake

Top of the cake

Edward Jones Investments Wikipedia link
Official website

12555 Manchester Road, ST. LOUIS, MO, 63131
Cake artist: Andy Cross

#70: Ameren

• Created in 1997 as a merger between the Union Electric Company and the Central Illinois Public Service Company.
• The holding company of: Ameren Missouri, Ameren Illinois and Ameren Transmission Company
• Serves 2.4 million electric and over 900k natural gas customers across 64,000 square miles
• Union Electric was founded in 1902, and in 1904 it powered the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis.
• Union Electric was located on Ashley Street in downtown.

The cake:

A 'second Ameren cake' was first made to the public in October 2014. Read all about it here!

Ameren on FB
Wikipedia link
Official website

1901 Chouteau Ave., ST. LOUIS, MO, 63103
Cake artist: Rudy Zaph  (she also decorated the second Ameren one too!)

#3: Famous Footwear/Brown Shoe Company

• Famous Footwear, founded in 1960 in Madison, WI, is a division of Brown Shoe Company.
• Brown Shoe Co. was originally named Bryan, Brown & Company before being changed to Brown Shoe Company in 1893. 
• Founded by George Warren Brown and Alvin Bryan
• The company also distributes Dr. Scholl's products as well as celebrity lines for Fergie and Carlos Santana. 
• Corporate headquarters located in Clayton.  

Back side of the cake (displayed at Corvid's Cafe)

Top of the cake (notice the Happy Birthday St. Louis)

The cake was sold in a private auction in May 2015 where the employees could bid on it first. A caker got this and now proudly displays it! (As of 5/27/2015 it is on display at Corvid's Cafe in South St. Louis).


Wikipedia link
Brown Shoe Company on Facebook
Official website

8300 Maryland Avenue, CLAYTON, MO, 63105
Cake artist: Jennifer Hayes  (she also decorated the Piasa Bird cake)

UPDATE (9/4/2016): The cake was auctioned to Famous Footwear employees in early 2015. The winner let us (the Cakelovers) display the cake at various places during 2015 and 2016. It is now on private property.