We sat down with Mayor Tim Griffin in one of his favorite spots in Kirkwood – the top floor of the Kirkwood Performing Arts Center. While Mayor Griffin referred to himself as, “a private person who is in the public,” he is clearly passionate about this building and its potential to drive this city forward. It was an honor to sit down with the mayor to talk a little bit about history, hockey and what’s on the horizon for Kirkwood.
What do you remember about growing up in Kirkwood?
In the late '60s and early '70s, downtown Kirkwood was not a thriving district. Looking back, I think what saved downtown was the Target store. Target, and Casey’s Sports right next door, opened in 1977, and gradually downtown became a destination for people from all around the St. Louis area. It didn't happen overnight, but soon other anchor businesses like Casey Sports opened. Restaurants like Mike Duffy's, Kirkwood Ice & Fuel, PJs, and other businesses followed later. When Target moved down the road to Kirkwood Commons in 2000, those businesses helped drive the economic growth of downtown.
What inspired you to get involved with the city?
I wasn't involved in city government before I ran for city council. But as I noticed the city leaders making small changes that helped Kirkwood grow and change, I remember thinking that I wanted to be a part of that growth and the city's direction.
In the summer of 1991, I decided that it was time for me to get involved. I ran and lost to someone who is now one of my best friends. The following year there was a special election to fill Mike Gibbon's city council seat. I ran again and won. I was on the city council 19 years before being elected mayor.
How did playing hockey help you prepare for a leadership role?
After playing in high school, I started officiating games. Twenty years of calling games taught me how to be objective. I learned to clear out the noise and focus on the objective reality. When it comes to leadership, whether it's in city government or business, one of the things I try to do is provide perspective. You must create an environment that allows everyone to express their opinion or idea. But then you must bring everything back to what is pertinent.
What do you think is unique about living in Kirkwood?
People are choosing to live here because they want to be part of the Kirkwood vibe. It's not about the houses. Families aren't moving here because they want a big new house. They can buy that same house somewhere else for much less money. Families want to live here because of the people, the neighborhoods, and what Kirkwood offers. The fact that families choose to buy new homes here means that they want to be active and engaged in our community. And that's exactly what we want.
How can people get involved in the community?
I try to encourage people of all backgrounds and ages to contribute to the community, their school or church. Getting involved is the best way to connect with people, make an impact, and even test out an entrepreneurial spirit. We encourage everyone to share their talents and their passions. Our staff continues to find ways to get younger residents involved with the city. Running for a city council seat may be daunting for some residents. However, the simple opportunity is to find a city council board or committee that aligns with that person's passion.
One of the things that you are passionate about is the Kirkwood Performing Arts Center. Have you always been an advocate for the Arts?
The Arts are, in and of themselves, fantastic for people. I became passionate about the Performing Arts Center when I realized how transformational it could be for our city. I've been told that a community-owned Performing Arts Center of this magnitude doesn't exist in many places around the country. It's amazing to consider all the ways that the Arts will change our community and drive our economic development.
What's on the horizon for Kirkwood?
At some point, there is going to be significant new development around the Performing Arts Center. We want downtown to remain vibrant with more residents and more businesses. My goal is to keep the train rolling forward toward the future. Kirkwood has continued to evolve over the years. And we are not at the point where it's time to stop.
Recently, I read a New York Times business article about Rolling Stone Magazine's new Editor-In-Chief. He was talking about the differences between Rolling Stone Magazine of old and the way it is today. He said, "I appreciate the legacy of Rolling Stone as much as anyone. But legacy is not the future." That's the mindset that I have as mayor. The best way to know where you are going is to know where you've been. I appreciate our tradition, our history, but I look to the future. I want to keep Kirkwood at the top of the list of municipalities in the area where people want to live.