Above the Fold

Hosts Andy and Tom are joined by politics reporter Chris Wetterich to talk the midterm election's results and local impact. Also on the podcast, UC is building a $200 million gateway building as an entrance to a completely revamped section of Uptown, the first act has been booked for the Farmer Family Music Center, formerly known as Riverbend 2.0, two modular homes have debuted in Evanston as a proof of concept that housing can be built off-site and assembled and a local brewery is pivoting away from beer with its newest offering. Interview starts at (24:21). Joe and John Lanni are founders of the Thunderdome Restaurant Group, which is behind eateries like the Eagle, Pepp & Dolores and Currito. They just opened a new Eagle in the District at Deerfield development and their second Pepp & Dolores will soon follow. They talk about how they do business in the suburbs, growing boutique brands like Pepp & Dolores and how third-party delivery services like Uber Eats are taking a bite out of sales.

Hosts Andy and Tom talk about troubles facing the journalism industry as local titan E.W. Scripps lays off hundreds of workers, meaning nearly 10% of its workforce has been cut this year. Also on the podcast, 3CDC plans to revitalize an OTR park that's become a hotbed for crime, dark money funnels into the CPS tax levy fight, an East Side athletic club triples its renovation budget and Rhinegeist debuts its newest taproom food offering. Interview starts at (22:09). Andy Aiello is CEO of Metro, taking over after voters approved a massive capital injection which has allowed the transit organization to take its biggest-ever swing. He's now spearheading Metro’s largest project in recent memory, building out bus-rapid transit, or what’s also called rail on rubber, which is supposed to bring the speed of rail transit, but on rubber tires.

Hosts Andy and Tom talk about the conclusion of a $200 million project that continues to transform Clermont County east of Cincinnati, McNicholas High School receives its largest-ever gift from a Cincinnati business leader, Christ Hospital receives its largest gift to the tune of $50 million, Covington looks to build high at a key site and a suburban retailer turned a pandemic hobby into a $3 million business. Interview starts at (15:58). Bobby Maly is CEO of The Model Group, one of Cincinnati's most prolific real estate developers. Model Group has completely transformed the area around Findlay Market and reinvigorated Walnut Hills business district, but most of its work is downtown. Maly talks about why working in the urban core is vital, how his company looks at projects and why downtown Cincinnati is beating its peers.

Hosts Andy and Tom talk about one of the biggest corporate layoffs in recent years, which comes as downtown sees activity levels rise to pre-pandemic rates. They also discuss Cincinnati's newest Costco, business groups weighing in on tax increases and a restaurant boom in Madisonville. Interview starts at (20:54). Jeanette Altenau is founder and campaign chair of Men Wear Pink Cincinnati, which is not even her day job. She leads a group of impressive men who have made it their goal to improve outcomes for those with breast cancer. Cincinnati Business Courier Publisher and Market President Jamie Smith joins Tom to discuss how the effort was launched, how it has grown and why Cincinnati is able to perform the way it has.

Host Andy Brownfield returns from paternity leave. He and Tom discuss a flood of new housing inventory not seen since pre-pandemic times, 80 Acres CEO giving insight on the unicorn startup's implosion, a youth soccer tournament that's predicted to have a $30 million impact, a $60 million suburban medical office and plans to build a park with a zipline down to Over-the-Rhine.Interview starts at (18:59). Historically, for a brewery to grow, it needed to make more beer. That model had served the local craft industry for more than a decade. But as the industry shifts, producing more liquid isn't the catalyst to growth it once was. MadTree is turning that model on its head. Instead of producing more beer, it is opening new brick-and-mortar locations. CEO Rhiannon Hoeweler says it's growing into a hospitality company that makes its own beverages, rather than a brewery that invites the public in.

Hosts Tom and Steve reminisce about the Radisson Hotel and its revolving restaurant, as the Covington building is expected to be converted into a Reverb by Hard Rock Hotel, Walmart planning to invest $300 million into a project between Cincinnati and Dayton, the latest rankings for the region’s top private schools, a luxury home remodeler launching a home building division and how the Cincinnati Reds fared in terms of attendance this season.Interview starts at (25:54). This year marks the 10th anniversary of StartupCincy Week. J.B. Kropp, CEO of Cintrifuse, will bring together investors, startups, community builders and others from the ecosystem at Union Hall for events, programs, panels, keynote speaking and happy hours. He provides a preview, plus shares his take on where Cincinnati stands in terms of its overall startup ecosystem and what it still needs.

Hosts Tom and Liz discuss the uptick in notable Cincinnati companies choosing to become employee owned, a downtown project that converted office space to apartments is essentially completely full, OKI is studying ways to improve transportation access to Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, the latest rankings of local universities on the U.S. News & World Report 2027 Best Colleges list, and a new restaurant coming to downtown Mason.Interview starts at (17:25). Initially planned as a one-time offering, Blink has become one of the most recognizable celebrations of light and art in the nation. Leslie Mooney, executive director of Blink, and Andrew Salzbrun, co-founder of Blink, join Tom and Special Projects Editor Nikki Kingery to talk about what’s new for this year’s edition of Blink, what it takes to make the four-day celebration happen and the impact it’s had not just locally, but around the world.

DescHosts Tom and Brian discuss the iconic chili chain naming its next CEO, who has a decade of P&G experience, Cincinnati Children’s retaining its top rankings in the latest U.S. News & World report, a Kansas City developer switching gears on its plans for a historic downtown Cincinnati building, Givaudan acquiring land to start construction on a $215 million project and the nation’s largest bookstore chain acquiring Joseph-Beth Booksellers.Interview starts at (19:42). As the region’s top economic development organization, REDI Cincinnati is the point of the spear when it comes to helping attract and retain businesses. And the team is very busy as of late. President and CEO Kimm Lauterbach said the organization’s pipeline for projects is at its highest level in years. She joins Tom Demeropolis and reporter and columnist Chris Wetterich to discuss recent wins, the overall economy and what’s in the works.

Hosts Tom and Nikki discuss Baker Construction’s plans to move its headquarters out of Monroe, GE Aerospace’s acquisition of a key supplier for nearly $12 billion, a planned hotel in Corryville receives some pushback from the community, our local universities are in an arms race when it comes to college athletics and a fast-growing family-owned Mexican restaurant group plans to open its seventh location in a $640 million mixed-use development.Interview starts at (18:49). Xavier University has a lot going on. The private, Jesuit university saw enrollment rebound this fall, it’s wrapping up construction on the nation's first and only Jesuit college of osteopathic medicine and Xavier has raised more than 80% of its half a billion-dollar fundraising campaign. President Colleen Hanycz sits down with Tom Demeropolis to discuss this items, as well as the rivalry between Musketeers and Bearcats.

Hosts Tom and Chris discuss where former Hamilton County residents have moved, as well as Waymo starting its process of mapping the city for robotaxis, the Cincinnati Bengals franchise valuation continues to soar, a hotel near downtown was purchased for $10 million with plans to convert it into senior housing and Costco announced plans to build a 166,739-square-foot store in the Eastgate area of Clermont County.Interview starts at (22:16). Covington, the largest city in Northern Kentucky, is having a moment. Redevelopment activity is visible all over the city. Large employers are moving into Covington’s core. And Mayor Ron Washington is working to make sure the city continues its renaissance without losing its quirks. He talks about big development opportunities, such as the former Duro Bag site and the second phase of the Covington Central Riverfront.