Editor’s note: The Sauce Magazine team is excited to begin a new chapter with STL Bucket List, a move that will help ensure the longevity and growth of our beloved St. Louis brand. Traditional media has faced many challenges in recent years, and we believe the talented team of young professionals at STL Bucket List will help propel Sauce into the future while preserving the essence that has made it a community favorite for more than 25 years.
STL Bucket List has acquired Sauce Magazine with plans to preserve its monthly print edition, relaunch the podcast, and expand its digital reach. This ensures Sauce Magazine remains an independent, locally owned voice for St. Louis’ food and hospitality scene.
For more than 25 years, Sauce has been a trusted voice in St. Louis. It’s the magazine people pick up to find their next favorite restaurant, to read about the chefs and owners behind the scenes, and to stay connected to the culture of food and hospitality in our city. It’s always been more than a publication. It’s been part of the heartbeat of St. Louis.
This means a lot to us. STL Bucket List started as a passion project in 2019. No investors. No budget. Just a social media account, community, and a deep love for the people and places that make this city special. Over the past 6 years, it became one of the most connected platforms in St. Louis. And now, we’re taking that same energy and care into continuing the legacy of Sauce.
“This acquisition is incredibly special to me,” said Lucas Farrell, founder of STL Bucket List. “When we created STL Bucket List in 2019, Sauce was one of our biggest inspirations. It’s an honor to carry forward a brand that helped shape how I see St. Louis. I’m excited to keep telling these stories and to make sure the voices behind our city’s hospitality scene continue to be heard.”
We’re not just preserving the print magazine. We’re investing in it. We’re keeping current staff and adding new creative roles to help grow the brand in new directions. The monthly print issue will continue and we’re bringing back “The Sauce,” a weekly podcast to bring deeper stories to life. We’re expanding our digital reach and building new ways for local businesses to connect with their audiences in meaningful ways.
“We are truly blessed to have the opportunity to continue the legacy of Sauce,” said Lucas Farrell. “This is a brand that has meant so much to the St. Louis food community for over two decades, and we don’t take that responsibility lightly. We’re here to honor what’s been built and pour everything we have into where it goes next.”
We believe in independent local media. We believe in staying rooted in community. And we believe that storytelling is still one of the most powerful ways to build connection. This isn’t a business move, it’s a commitment to the city we love.
By bringing Sauce Magazine and STL Bucket List together, we’re honoring the past while building something new for the future. We’re creating opportunities for local creatives. We’re supporting small businesses. And we’re continuing to spotlight what makes St. Louis one of the most vibrant cities in the country.
Sauce will remain 100% independent, no outside partners or investors, just a small team with a big mission. The Sauce staff will relocate to the STL Bucket List & Bucket List Creative Headquarters in Maplewood. The team purchased a commercial space in the spring and has rehabbed the entire building while also adding Bucket List Podcast Studio, where all of the media companies in-house shows will be produced.
The next chapter starts now and our first issue is planned for August. We’re just getting started!
This article appears in July 2025.