I've noticed that Johnny Gitto's has a for sale sign on it and nobody has been parked in the lot for weeks. I would assume he went out of business or is selling, but that would seem odd that he closed after adding a nice outdoor seating area. I noticed the last time I was there, the place seemed rather dead. It looked that way when I drove by, since they opened the new patio. Anyone know what happened to this place?

I was last there in December, we stopped by for a couple of drinks after a bowling party at Shrewsbury Lanes. I thought the place looked much nicer than it had previously. They were no longer having karaoke/dance music in the dining room late at night and it was completely non-smoking (another plus).

It was kind of dead for a Saturday when we first got there, but seemed to pick up a bit before we left around midnight. The bartender said the restaurant did decent business and they still got decent crowds after the 1:30 bars closed. Not as crazy busy as it had been before but a better caliber of clientele. Who knows. Maybe the dregs who didn't feel at home there anymore made the difference

I live about a block away, and it has definitely closed down.

Coincidentally, I know someone that is looking the lease the space and open another establishment there. Word is, ownership of Gitto's was ready to get out of the biz, had nothing to do with going out of biz. Just getting up there in age, not feeling it any longer. I can understand that, but you'd think he'd pass the biz on the his kids, unless they didn't want to take over or couldn't pull it off. Who knows. . .

DogtownBnR wrote:Coincidentally, I know someone that is looking the lease the space and open another establishment there. Word is, ownership of Gitto's was ready to get out of the biz, had nothing to do with going out of biz. Just getting up there in age, not feeling it any longer. I can understand that, but you'd think he'd pass the biz on the his kids, unless they didn't want to take over or couldn't pull it off. Who knows. . .

As I understand it, his son was the one running the place. I find it hard to believe they put so much money into building the new patio and other improvements then closed down because the father was getting too old. It's been dead for months, and the 1:30 crowd isn't what you are looking for when you build a huge patio like they did.

Taste is in the eye of the beholder, but if you ask me, the iron "cage" they put up separating patio diners from Chippewa traffic is hideous. Hideous! What is it about this part of St. Louis? Good design seems to be the last thing considered.

Digging a bit deeper, the owner's age and not wanting to deal with the bar any longer, is only part of the story. That along with a lawsuit that derived from a bar-room brawl and lesser security after discontinuing the use of local off duty police officers, both contributed to the demise of JG's.

Once your establishment loses it's core customer base (in this case 21-35 yr. old revelers) it's over. Trying to reinvent his place as a fine dining establishment, never worked. I think it was a mistake to change what worked for the better part of 15 years. Maybe another proprietor can come in and reestablish the vibe that Johnny had in the past. They need to go back to karaoke, cover bands, sports, bar food and good drinks. That is what works in South City.

I know very little about the place other than driving by it, but I did wonder if Johnny and Charlie Gitto's had anything to do with each other?

jstriebel wrote:I know very little about the place other than driving by it, but I did wonder if Johnny and Charlie Gitto's had anything to do with each other?

I think they are brothers. IIRC, my mom grew up across the street from them.

Anyone know what is going on with the old Gitto's building? I noticed all of the 'for sale' signs are gone. I've seen workers going in and out, all of the patio furniture moved and clean-up of weeds, debris, etc. I would assume somebody bought it.

River (des Peres)' Edge Social. Nice.

Pretty sure Board of Adjustment approved something called "Gorillazzzz bar and grill" for this location last year....guess it didnt pan out.