Westport Plaza

Westport Plaza is a mixed-use commercial development, resort, and entertainment center in Maryland Heights, Missouri, within the St. Louis metropolitan area. The property occupies approximately 42 acres and has grown into a large destination combining offices, restaurants, nightlife, hotels, live entertainment, and community events. Rather than operating as a conventional enclosed shopping mall, Westport Plaza functions as a district-style venue in which business, hospitality, dining, and cultural programming are organized around a recognizable place brand. The development was created by St. Louis-area real-estate developer Thomas J. White and opened in 1973. Its original development model centered on combining commercial offices and hospitality with entertainment offerings, a format that allowed the site to serve both local residents and visitors. Over time, the property expanded to more than 700,000 square feet of office buildings, restaurants, entertainment venues, and hotels. Its tenant and occupant mix has included corporate offices, hotel properties, restaurants, comedy and music venues, and other visitor-oriented businesses. Ownership changed several times during the modern history of the property. Golub & Co. and Boston-based Intercontinental Real Estate Corporation acquired Westport Plaza jointly in 2007. Lodging Hospitality Management purchased the complex in 2012 and became its owner. The change placed the property under a company with experience in hotels and hospitality, consistent with Westport Plaza’s combination of lodging, dining, events, and entertainment. Westport Plaza’s public identity is strongly associated with scheduled programming. Its recurring or periodic events have included the St. Louis Beer and Brat Festival, lunchtime concerts, Parties at the Plaza gatherings, jazz performances, and science-fiction and fantasy programming such as Archon 34. These activities complement the permanent entertainment businesses located on the property and help position the site as an experience-oriented destination rather than simply an office or restaurant complex. The entertainment offering has included Westport Playhouse, a 240-seat theater presenting Broadway and off-Broadway productions, concerts, speakers, local showcases, one-person shows, dance performances, and private events. The venue has also included a café, snack bar, and gift shop. Its historical stage roster has included touring and popular music acts such as Steppenwolf, Toto, New Kids on the Block, Donny Osmond, David Allan Coe, Cheap Trick, and Joan Jett. The Playhouse later entered a reopening process after a two-year hiatus under the operation of Lotown Media LLC. Dining and nightlife have remained central to the property’s offer. Named venues associated with Westport Plaza include 360 Westport, a rooftop restaurant and bar; Soda Fountain Express, a retro-diner-inspired fast-casual concept; Basso on the Plaza, a modern Italian bistro; Backstreet Jazz & Blues; Drunken Fish, a sushi and karaoke venue; Funny Bone, a comedy club; Kobe Steakhouse; Trainwreck Saloon; and Westport Social, which combines bar service with a gaming lounge. The complex has also hosted national fast-food and coffee brands, including McDonald’s and Starbucks. A major renovation was undertaken in 2023 and 2024. The work included an open green space and a large television, while Rawlings developed The Rawlings Experience at the site. That attraction combines a baseball museum, retail, memorabilia, and customization experiences, adding a sports-focused visitor destination to the complex. Westport Plaza also contains the Sheraton Westport Plaza and Sheraton Lakeside Chalet Resort, as well as office locations associated with companies including PARIC, World Wide Technology, Aclara, and Rawlings. The property is accessible from Westport Plaza Drive and connections near Page Avenue and Interstate 270, with Metro bus service in the surrounding area.

Westport Plaza was developed by Thomas J. White, a prominent St. Louis real-estate developer, and opened in 1973 in what is now Maryland Heights, Missouri. From its beginning, the project was conceived as more than a conventional office property. It combined commercial buildings with hotels, restaurants, entertainment venues, and public-facing activities, creating a destination capable of serving workers, hotel guests, local residents, and visitors. The complex expanded over subsequent decades and eventually exceeded 700,000 square feet of office, hospitality, restaurant, and entertainment space. Its development pattern gave Westport Plaza a hybrid identity: it operated as a commercial real-estate asset while also functioning as a resort and entertainment district. The property’s programming became an important part of its identity, with concerts, festivals, nightlife, theater, and special events supplementing the permanent tenant base. A significant ownership transition occurred in 2007, when Golub & Co. and Intercontinental Real Estate Corporation acquired the property jointly. The partnership brought institutional real-estate ownership to the complex. In 2012, Lodging Hospitality Management purchased Westport Plaza. That transaction aligned the property with an owner whose business background includes lodging and hospitality, sectors that are central to Westport Plaza’s operating model. The entertainment component has included the Westport Playhouse, a 240-seat venue that has hosted theatrical productions, concerts, speakers, local showcases, dance programs, one-person performances, and private events. The venue’s past performers have included well-known rock, pop, country, and comedy-related acts. In a later phase, the Playhouse was described as being in the process of reopening after a two-year closure or hiatus, with Lotown Media LLC serving as operator. Westport Plaza has also developed a broad food-and-beverage portfolio. Its named venues have included rooftop dining at 360 Westport, the retro-themed Soda Fountain Express, Italian dining at Basso on the Plaza, Backstreet Jazz & Blues, Drunken Fish, Funny Bone, Kobe Steakhouse, Trainwreck Saloon, and Westport Social. National brands such as Starbucks and McDonald’s have also operated at the property. This combination supports activity throughout the day, from office and lunch traffic to evening dining, comedy, live music, dancing, and nightlife. Event programming has helped maintain Westport Plaza’s destination character. Activities associated with the complex include the St. Louis Beer and Brat Festival, lunchtime concerts, Parties at the Plaza gatherings, jazz concerts, and Archon 34. These programs broaden the property’s appeal beyond its tenants and provide reasons for repeat visits. The property entered another major redevelopment phase in 2023–2024. Renovation work included the creation of an open green space and installation of a large television. At the same time, Rawlings developed The Rawlings Experience, a baseball-focused museum and retail attraction featuring memorabilia and customization services. The project added a branded visitor attraction and a sports-oriented use to an already diverse entertainment and hospitality mix. Westport Plaza also accommodates hotels and office users. Its hotel properties include Sheraton Westport Plaza and Sheraton Lakeside Chalet Resort. Companies identified with office space or operations at the complex have included PARIC, World Wide Technology, Aclara, and Rawlings. The site is located on Westport Plaza Drive near Page Avenue and the Interstate 270 interchange, and the area is served by Metro bus routes. Proposed long-term regional transit planning has included a potential MetroLink extension and a station serving the Westport area, although that proposal is not an operating feature of the complex.

• 2024

  Renovation period continues

  [1]Westport Plazaen.wikipedia.org

  The redevelopment program continued with the open green space, large screen, and Rawlings visitor experience forming part of the refreshed property.

• 2023

  Renovation and Rawlings attraction announced or initiated

  [1]Westport Plazaen.wikipedia.org

  The complex entered a major renovation period that included new public space and development of The Rawlings Experience.

• 2012

  Lodging Hospitality Management becomes owner

  [1]Westport Plazaen.wikipedia.org

  Lodging Hospitality Management acquired Westport Plaza from its previous ownership partnership.

• 2007

  Joint acquisition by Golub and Intercontinental Real Estate

  [1]Westport Plazaen.wikipedia.org

  Golub & Co. and Intercontinental Real Estate Corporation jointly purchased the property.

• 1973

  Westport Plaza opens

  [1]Westport Plazaen.wikipedia.org

  The development created by St. Louis developer Thomas J. White opened in Maryland Heights, Missouri.

A St. Louis-area mixed-use destination combining hospitality, offices, dining, nightlife, live entertainment, events, and visitor attractions.

• Theater and live entertainment

  Westport Playhouse

  A 240-seat theater presenting Broadway and off-Broadway productions, concerts, speaker programs, local showcases, one-person shows, dance performances, and private events. The venue has also included a café, snack bar, and gift shop. It has hosted touring and popular music performers and has been associated with the cultural identity of Westport Plaza since the property’s earlier decades.

• Sports museum and retail · 2023

  The Rawlings Experience

  A baseball-focused attraction developed by Rawlings at Westport Plaza. The experience combines museum-style displays, baseball memorabilia, retail, and product customization, giving the complex a dedicated sports and visitor-attraction component.

• Restaurants, bars, and entertainment

  Westport Plaza dining and nightlife venues

  The property’s food-and-beverage portfolio has included 360 Westport, Soda Fountain Express, Basso on the Plaza, Backstreet Jazz & Blues, Drunken Fish, Funny Bone, Kobe Steakhouse, Trainwreck Saloon, and Westport Social. Together, these concepts cover rooftop dining, Italian food, sushi, comedy, jazz, live music, dancing, gaming, and bar service.

• Hospitality

  Westport Plaza hotels

  The hospitality component has included Sheraton Westport Plaza and Sheraton Lakeside Chalet Resort. The hotels support the property’s broader resort and entertainment positioning by accommodating visitors attending events, dining, business activities, and area attractions.

• St. Louis Beer and Brat Festival

  St. Louis metropolitan area

  A recurring food-and-beverage festival associated with Westport Plaza’s public event calendar.

  Outcome. Served as a community-facing attraction supporting the property’s destination and festival positioning.

  Source
• Parties at the Plaza

  St. Louis metropolitan area

  A branded event series built around social gatherings, dining, and entertainment at the complex.

  Outcome. Extended Westport Plaza’s programming beyond permanent tenants and venues.

  Source
• Lunchtime concerts and jazz programming

  Maryland Heights · St. Louis metropolitan area

  Concert and jazz events have been used to activate the property for daytime workers, residents, and evening visitors.

  Outcome. Reinforced the complex’s identity as an entertainment-centered mixed-use destination.

  Source
• Archon 34

  St. Louis metropolitan area

  Westport Plaza hosted Archon 34, a science-fiction and fantasy convention event.

  Outcome. Demonstrated the property’s use as a venue for specialized conventions and cultural gatherings.

  Source

• 2023

  Undertake a major property renovationStrategy

  Background

  The aging mixed-use complex entered a redevelopment phase intended to refresh its public areas and visitor offer.

  Action taken

  The renovation added an open green space and a large television while supporting development of The Rawlings Experience.

  Aftermath

  The project broadened Westport Plaza’s destination appeal with improved public space and a baseball-focused attraction.

  Source

• 2012

  Transfer ownership to Lodging Hospitality ManagementM&A

  Background

  Westport Plaza was sold after its period under joint ownership by Golub & Co. and Intercontinental Real Estate Corporation.

  Action taken

  Lodging Hospitality Management purchased the complex.

  Aftermath

  Westport Plaza remained positioned around lodging, offices, restaurants, entertainment, and public events.

  Source

• 2007

  Accept joint acquisition by Golub & Co. and Intercontinental Real EstateM&A

  Background

  The property changed ownership through a joint purchase by two real-estate companies.

  Action taken

  Golub & Co. and Intercontinental Real Estate Corporation acquired Westport Plaza together.

  Aftermath

  The complex continued operating as a mixed-use commercial, hospitality, and entertainment property until its subsequent sale.

  Source

• Prepare Westport Playhouse for reopeningOther

  Background

  The theater was described as returning after a two-year hiatus.

  Action taken

  Lotown Media LLC assumed operating responsibility and began the process of reopening the venue.

  Aftermath

  The Playhouse was positioned to resume theater, concerts, speaker programs, and other live events, although a definitive reopening date is not established in the supplied material.

  Source

1. 1Westport Plazaen.wikipedia.org