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The Sauce - A St. Louis Restaurant Show
For over 25 years, Sauce Magazine has been the go-to guide for St. Louis’ best culinary experiences. Now, The Sauce podcast is back with a new host and a renewed mission: to take listeners behind the scenes with the incredible people shaping the local hospitality industry – from chefs and restaurateurs to brewers, bartenders, bakers and beyond.
Hosted by Sauce Magazine’s executive editor Lauren Healey, who has spent her career honing her writing, editing and photography skills at various media outlets in the Midwest, the show blends insider stories with inspiration on where to eat and drink right now. Since joining Sauce in 2018, Lauren’s passion for St. Louis’ culinary scene has only deepened, fueling her pride in calling the city home and her drive to help you discover your next great meal.
The Sauce - A St. Louis Restaurant Show
Doug Auer – Delmar Maker District & Third Degree Glass
On this week’s episode of The Sauce, host Lauren Healey sits down with Doug Auer, co-founder of Third Degree Glass Factory and the developer behind the Delmar Maker District — one of St. Louis’ most creative, collaborative, and fast-growing corridors.
Doug shares how Third Degree Glass began 23 years ago with a simple goal (a place to blow glass and teach workshops) and how it grew into the anchor of an entire makerspace ecosystem. He also talks through the evolution of the Maker District, the restaurant boom, and the community resilience that has shaped the neighborhood through floods, tornado damage, and rapid redevelopment.
In this episode:
- The early days of Third Degree Glass and building a sustainable studio model
- How MADE STL and MADE for Kids came to life
- Partnerships with Craft Alliance, The Magic House, and local makers
- The district’s restaurant expansion — Esca, Florentin, Nixta, The Fountain on Delmar, and more
- Behind the scenes of the tornado recovery and neighborhood cleanup
- What’s next for the district: retail, commercial, and long-term residential hopes
- Doug’s background in design and the glassblowing journey that started it all
- Why Third Fridays remain the district’s biggest community draw
Special thanks to this week’s episode sponsor — LHM, featuring holiday pop-ups at 360 Rooftop Bar, 360 Westport, and festive experiences at Union Station, including the St. Louis Polar Express Train Ride and the Sleigh Shed inside The Train Shed.
🎧 Watch on YouTube or listen on Spotify and all major platforms.
📅 New episodes drop every Tuesday.