With over 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Steve Savage considers Cottle Village his legacy project alongside his wife, Emily. Steve began his career at the iconic Harpo’s in Columbia, a high-volume bar and restaurant where he spent nearly eight years — and where he met Emily. 

After leaving Columbia, Steve returned to St. Louis, where he opened and operated four of the city’s most popular high-volume restaurants and bars from 2013 through 2025. During this time, he and Emily began their family and, in 2021, moved to Cottleville — Emily’s hometown. Cottle Village has since become Steve’s primary focus and passion. Throughout his career, Steve has built hospitality venues not just based on market demand but also driven by personal passion, and Cottle Village embodies that vision. 

The idea for Cottle Village first took root in 2020 after many trips to Kentucky for whiskey barrel selections. In early 2022, Steve discovered the property at 6470 Highway N and was immediately captivated by its beauty and potential. By April 2023, Steve, Emily, and their distilling partner, Demetrius Cain, officially launched the Cottle Village project. 

“Restoring the historic Kurtz Nursery and Farm into Cottle Village has been one of the most rewarding aspects of this journey,” Steve shares. “A farmstead traditionally consists of a collection of buildings, and we were fortunate to preserve all of them. We expanded the original 2,000-square-foot farmhouse into an 8,000-square-foot space, creating a 270-seat restaurant, bar, and cocktail lounge, complete with a 60-person patio and a private event space for another 60 guests. We built Farmstead Distillery where the barn once stood and repurposed the oldest building on the property — a 115-year-old implement shed — into The Tiny Tavern. We also preserved the Kurtz family’s ornamental grasses, keeping them in ‘The Field’ or transplanting them throughout the property. We look forward to welcoming guests to explore our 4.5-acre property all year round.”