On this week’s episode of The Sauce, host Lauren Healey sits down with Doug Auer, co-founder of Third Degree Glass Factory and the developer behind the Delmar Maker District — one of St. Louis’ most creative, collaborative, and fast-growing corridors.

Doug shares how Third Degree Glass began 23 years ago with a simple goal (a place to blow glass and teach workshops) and how it grew into the anchor of an entire makerspace ecosystem. He also talks through the evolution of the Maker District, the restaurant boom, and the community resilience that has shaped the neighborhood through floods, tornado damage, and rapid redevelopment.

In this episode:

• The early days of Third Degree Glass and building a sustainable studio model
• How MADE STL and MADE for Kids came to life
• Partnerships with Craft Alliance, The Magic House, and local makers
• The district’s restaurant expansion — Esca, Florentin, Nixta, The Fountain on Delmar, and more
• Behind the scenes of the tornado recovery and neighborhood cleanup
• What’s next for the district: retail, commercial, and long-term residential hopes
• Doug’s background in design and the glassblowing journey that started it all
• Why Third Fridays remain the district’s biggest community draw

Special thanks to this week’s episode sponsor — LHM, featuring holiday pop-ups at 360 Rooftop Bar, 360 Westport, and festive experiences at Union Station, including the St. Louis Polar Express Train Ride and the Sleigh Shed inside The Train Shed.

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