Today we’d like to introduce you to Matthew Meier.
Hi Matthew, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Rob and I are the owners of The Quarry, and our journey started with a shared vision of creating something truly special for the New Melle and greater St. Louis community. Over the few years, we’ve built a strong partnership rooted in complementary experience and a hands-on, boots-on-the-ground approach.
Rob brings deep expertise from the hospitality and beverage industries, having served as a Vice President with First Watch and Southern Glazer’s. His background gives us a strong operational foundation, from guest experience to large-scale food and beverage execution. I bring the business and financial side,securing financing, navigating grants, and ensuring the business remains compliant with policies, standards, and long-term growth planning.
Together, we have bootstrapped The Quarry from the ground up. Through that effort, we’ve already earned strong support from the City, including approvals from Planning and Zoning, the Board of Aldermen, and the Mayor. We are currently preparing for our next major phase of growth, which includes adding approximately 25,000 square feet of turf, food trucks, volleyball courts, a stage, and a hole-in-one golf experience. Construction plans are underway, with the goal of breaking ground in February and completing Phase 1 by mid-May.
The Quarry is uniquely positioned in the fastest-growing corridor in the entire St. Louis metro area, with more than 1,700 homes built or scheduled to be built since December 2023. This growth reinforces our belief that The Quarry will become a central gathering place for entertainment, recreation, and community connection.
Looking ahead, our long-term vision extends well beyond Phase 1. In October 2026, we plan to add a barndominium designed for weddings and private events, along with cabins and treehouses that will allow guests to experience The Quarry as a true destination,one they can enjoy for days at a time.
Even before full build-out, we’ve already demonstrated traction and community buy-in through successful pop-up bars, New Year’s Eve celebrations, Boots & Bourbon line dancing, and other events that actively engage the New Melle community. These early wins validate our concept and showcase what The Quarry can become: one of the premier entertainment venues in Missouri.
At its core, The Quarry is about more than development, it’s about creating a destination that brings people together, supports the surrounding community, and grows alongside one of the most exciting areas in the region.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Building The Quarry back from the ground up has come with its share of challenges. From the beginning, we’ve had to navigate zoning, planning, and regulatory hurdles that required patience, persistence, and constant communication with the City. Large-scale projects like this don’t move quickly, and learning how to balance long approval timelines while continuing to invest time and resources was a real test.
Financially, bootstrapping the project has been one of our biggest challenges. We’ve had to be strategic and disciplined, finding creative ways to fund growth, pursue grants, and phase development so we could continue moving forward without overextending ourselves. Every decision mattered, and there was little margin for error.
Another challenge was building momentum before the full vision was complete. We had to prove the concept early by hosting pop-up bars, themed events, and community-driven experiences, often with limited infrastructure. That meant long hours, hands-on problem-solving, and wearing multiple hats to ensure every event was successful and safe.
Perhaps the biggest challenge was staying focused on the long-term vision while managing day-to-day realities. There were moments when progress felt slow or uncertain, but those challenges ultimately sharpened our approach, strengthened our partnership, and reinforced why we believe so strongly in what we’re building.
Each obstacle pushed us to be more intentional, resilient, and community-focused, and those struggles are a big part of what makes The Quarry what it is today.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
At our core, we are builders of businesses, experiences, and community. Rob and I each bring distinct strengths to The Quarry, and it’s the combination of those skill sets that truly defines our work and sets us apart.
Rob specializes in hospitality operations and guest experience. With executive leadership experience at First Watch and Southern Glazer’s, he has a deep understanding of food and beverage operations, staffing, vendor relationships, and what it takes to consistently deliver high-quality experiences at scale. He’s known for operational excellence, efficiency, and creating environments where both guests and teams feel taken care of.
My background is rooted in business strategy, finance, and execution. I specialize in securing financing and grants, structuring deals, navigating compliance and policy requirements, and building sustainable systems that allow a business to grow responsibly. I’m known for being highly organized, forward-thinking, and detail-driven—making sure the vision is not only exciting, but achievable and protected long term.
What we’re most proud of is that we’ve built The Quarry from the ground up without shortcuts. We’ve earned trust from the City, local leadership, and the community by doing things the right way, securing proper approvals, listening to feedback, and creating events that bring people together even before the full build-out is complete.
What truly sets us apart is our long-term, community-first approach. We’re not chasing a quick win, we’re creating a destination. The Quarry is designed to evolve with the area, offering entertainment, recreation, and hospitality experiences that serve families, friends, and visitors alike. Our willingness to be hands-on, adaptable, and deeply invested in the success of the surrounding community is what makes our work different, and why we believe The Quarry will become one of the premier entertainment venues in Missouri.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
The most important lesson we’ve learned is that building something meaningful takes patience, persistence, and people you trust.
Big visions don’t happen quickly, and progress isn’t always linear. There were times when approvals took longer than expected, no matter how fast we pushed. Plans had to be reworked, or momentum felt slower than we wanted, but staying committed to the long-term vision and doing things the right way has mattered more than moving fast.
We’ve also learned the value of surrounding yourself with the right partners, whether that’s each other, the City, contractors, or the community. Open communication, transparency, and follow-through build trust, and that trust has been essential to getting The Quarry to where it is today.
Above all, we’ve learned that community support is everything. When you listen, stay engaged, and build something with the community instead of just for it, people show up for you. That belief has guided every decision we’ve made—and it’s what continues to drive our journey forward.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thequarrystl.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thequarrystl/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thequarrystl
