Business
Michael and Steven Roberts fighting for their empire, good name
Michael Roberts and Steven Roberts. PHOTO/Mark Gilliano
The shiny new tower rises high above Old Post Office Plaza. Twenty-five stories of glass and steel, designed for luxury living in a new downtown. But more than a year after construction, all 55 units sit empty. Shades drawn. Doors locked.
On the skyline, in bold letters, stands the name of the men who built it: Roberts Tower.
For nearly four decades, Michael and Steven Roberts have been big names in this city. They rose from the Penrose neighborhood of north St. Louis to become two of the nation’s wealthiest African-American businessmen, with a net worth typically described in nine digits. They have hobnobbed with Bill Clinton, counseled Cabinet members, and casually mention that they know Magic Johnson well.
