Tracyi Brooks
This time we sat down with the owner of The Original Soupman, Tracyi Brooks. Tracyi has been running her franchise of the restaurant made famous by the Seinfeld episode “The Soup Nazi” in downtown St. Louis for about two and a half years.
Our first question: “Where do you live?” ”I am living in Kirkwood right now, but I am trying to sell my house, to be able to move downtown.” ”So how did you end up owning a “The Original SoupMan” franchise?” was our next question. ”I was in New York, visiting my best friend, when we had lunch at the original restaurant of Al Yeganeh. I met him and I told him I loved the place.” Tracyi tells us: “Before I knew it, he told me I should become a franchisee of The Original Soupman. About six months later I signed the contract.”
“Besides your own restaurant, what other places would you recommend downtown?”, we asked her. ”My favorites are The Washington Ave Post and Espresso Mod for lunch and coffee and I love the collection of Lee J.’s at the Merchandise Mart.”
“Have you ever felt unsafe downtown?” is one of our mandatory questions. “I walk everywhere, everyday, and I have never experienced any trouble.” We ask Tracyi where she meets friends downtown. ”Everywhere. As a business owner, I know most of the other owners downtown. It’s still a small community with a great neighborhood feel. We all support each other.”
Another of our favorite questions: “What would you like to see downtown?” Tracyi doesn’t have to think long: “A movie theater, but one along the lines of the Chase Park Plaza theater; smaller, but with the better movies. I would also love to see more shopping opportunities.”
We ask her what she likes about downtown. “I just love the convenience. I can walk everywhere; to the library, the bookstore, the bank, or to get a cup of coffee. No driving required. I am originally from Webster Groves, which is a great town, but it’s nothing like downtown St. Louis.”
“Do you have any hobbies?” we ask our downtown aficionado. ”My number 1 hobby is my business.” Tracyi quickly adds: “I am also a huge internet addict, and then there is my dog, Fury.”
She now continues about the needs of downtown: ” We need more people walking the streets to experience the great and unique atmosphere that is downtown.”
“So, Tracyi” we ask: “What would you say to people that are thinking of moving to downtown St. Louis?” ”Now is the time” she answers: “With the real estate prices at a low and a lot of great rental apartments available, this is a great opportunity to get in cheaply. This will definitely change in the coming years.”
“It’s time to wrap it up. Some famous last words?” we ask her.
She answers resolutely: “We’ve got the soup that made Seinfeld famous.”
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