Allyson Mace A Saucy Success
After working in the restaurant business for about 15 years, Allyson Mace, Sauce Magazine’s co-founder/publisher, noticed something was missing in the St. Louis community. There was no access for St. Louisans to read about the great offerings of the food industry throughout the city. In 1999 Mace launched the website saucemagazine.com with co-founder Catherine Neville to promote the restaurant world in St. Louis with a restaurant guide. As the followers of saucemagazine.com grew so did the resource. “We have a lot of great restaurants that I think people are surprised the quality is so high here,” Mace said. In October 2001 the first print issue of Sauce Magazine was released. But Mace released the issue in order to promote awareness of the website not expecting it to be so successful. Sauce Magazine was in full-force and on the road to expansion. A publication that started out at 15,000 a month has now grown to 80,000 and is available in over 950 locations within a 50 mile radius. Sauce Magazine is the largest distributed magazine in St. Louis and has held the top spot for many years. Mace’s intense desire to provide for the community and support from her team at Sauce Magazine allows her to take on many tasks of the business including finding new outlets to carry the brand. “My main goal as the publisher of the magazine is to make sure that the operation of the magazine continues to grow and is working efficiently. I wear many hats here,” Mace said while ironically wearing a black cap with “New York” spelled across the top. The New York native, who now calls St. Louis home, is looking to expand the business in 2010 and lives her life through the motto of Sauce Magazine, “Dine, drink and live well.” “I live my life by the quality of life, the quality of food, the quality of friends and having a good work life,” Mace said. Mace, along with her staff, has distinguished the important rules of running a successful business based on integrity, realizing the difference between editorializing and advertising, building strong relationships with clients and readers, and to always provide a product that is relevant to the community. “It’s very important that what we write is free of outside influence that way our readers know that it’s true. I’m really big on honesty.” Not only does Mace cater to the food lovers of St. Louis, but she has taken part in supporting many of the arts in the community. And as a member of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community herself, Mace has provided Sauce Magazine as a media partner for the NOH8 Project St. Louis. Although Mace has a passion for food, the arts and the LGBT community she also shares a love for her animals which can be found by her side at the office. Mace lives and breathes food day after day, but she never tires of it. She continues to dine throughout the city.