Very different IMO. Unless the move is really drastic but in this case, it doesn't seem like it is so far.aprice wrote: ↑Dec 02, 2019ummm is it just me or are "closing" and "moving" two different things?
- 337
But there's no landing spot mentioned, so...kipfilet wrote: ↑Dec 02, 2019Yeah, the title of this thread is a bit dramatic.
- 337
You'd be correct: https://www.riverfronttimes.com/foodblo ... -expansiontztag wrote: ↑Dec 02, 2019Heard that the chess club expanding as a partial reason.
My apologies to the pedants among us lol. I took the headline from the BJ and there is no new location or timeline for the reopening mentioned.
I went ahead and fixed it for you all.
I went ahead and fixed it for you all.
- 1
There seems to be a lot of "managing the message" by Brennans and a play for sympathy. Either they had a lease that expired or somehow got sideways with the landlord. Even king Rex cannot just decide to annex an adjoining space. The space is owned by MAC, a legit and well run company, so foul play on their part seems unlikely.
Could it be that they are the sore loser on increasing rents and property values in the CWE? Given the trouble that up/down had securing a liquor license in the CWE, I wish them luck with a new location that is suitable to them, and acceptable to residents and nearby businesses.
Could it be that they are the sore loser on increasing rents and property values in the CWE? Given the trouble that up/down had securing a liquor license in the CWE, I wish them luck with a new location that is suitable to them, and acceptable to residents and nearby businesses.
Would love to see what they could imagine with the old funeral home space on Mcpherson or one of the spots over on Olive and Taylor. I remember a long, long time ago there was a bar at the building next to the phillips 66 on Lindell. They even had a 3am license iirc. Anyone remember the name? Wonder if the building is 3am eligible.
The good ole days!RuskiSTL wrote: ↑Dec 03, 2019Would love to see what they could imagine with the old funeral home space on Mcpherson or one of the spots over on Olive and Taylor. I remember a long, long time ago there was a bar at the building next to the phillips 66 on Lindell. They even had a 3am license iirc. Anyone remember the name? Wonder if the building is 3am eligible.
https://www.riverfronttimes.com/stlouis ... id=2957146
- 3,762
^^ apparently that place became a seafood restaurant called Bait. is it out of business already? who wouldn't want to eat Midwestern seafood next to a gas station?
![]()
link to Post Dispatch article
the guy that owned The Grind–which i frequented when it was at 56 Maryland Plaza–moved the business into this place some time in the mid 2000s and added a bar/lounge element. i only went a couple of times after that because the space was awful. not sure if he owned it until it closed or if he sold it off, but i'm pretty sure he left St. Louis a while ago.

link to Post Dispatch article
the guy that owned The Grind–which i frequented when it was at 56 Maryland Plaza–moved the business into this place some time in the mid 2000s and added a bar/lounge element. i only went a couple of times after that because the space was awful. not sure if he owned it until it closed or if he sold it off, but i'm pretty sure he left St. Louis a while ago.
^ Bait was just named one of the best new restaurants by Sauce. Hopefully they aren't going anywhere.
Brennan's upstairs is such a unique hangout, especially when it was only accessed by an unmarked red door. Was just there Saturday and enjoy my time every visit.
That would be a good call. But there’s no way a bar gets a liquor license in that spot.
- 2,634
From what I've heard that building is a disasterIs the old Llywelyn's space on McPherson still empty?
- 474
Is the old Duff's/Tavern space @ 392 N. Euclid still open?
Culpeppers is closing. So the chess club must be making a big expansion.
^I'd guess Mac Properties is going to develop that huge parking lot behind them...
- 3,762
good god... the chess club is great and all but it kind-of sucks that they're slowly absorbing the whole intersection. we need more retail diversity, not less.
Mac Properties owns the parcels, but I can't see the relation between Culpepper's closing and new developmenturbanitas wrote: ↑Dec 05, 2019^Or maybe someone is finally going to develop that huge parking lot behind them...
Whatever they plan to build on that parking lot, it would be a major disruption to the commercial tenants in those buildings at the very least, so they would likely buy them out and/or release them from their leases. It's too much of a coincidence that two bars in the same property, that have been there for well over a decade, announce closings at the same time. Plus, as far as I can tell, Mac Properties doesn't really do large surface parking lots long term. IOW, if they own one, they probably have plans for it.
I also noticed in the property database that the Chess Club owns the two houses at 4635 and 4639 Maryland, directly east of the parking lot. I've never really noticed - are they using those houses for anything currently? Maybe they plan on relocating as well...
- 10K
Seems like it would be a great fit for Grand Center as opposed to the heart of the CWE.urban_dilettante wrote: ↑Dec 05, 2019good god... the chess club is great and all but it kind-of sucks that they're slowly absorbing the whole intersection. we need more retail diversity, not less.
- 3,762
agreed. too bad they've invested so much in the CWE already.debaliviere wrote: ↑Dec 05, 2019Seems like it would be a great fit for Grand Center as opposed to the heart of the CWE.urban_dilettante wrote: ↑Dec 05, 2019good god... the chess club is great and all but it kind-of sucks that they're slowly absorbing the whole intersection. we need more retail diversity, not less.
- 2,929
Confirmed...
STL Biz Journal: St. Louis Chess Club to expand in Central West End. Brennan's, Culpepper's, and the FroYo are all shuttering.
Brennan's is one of my favorite places in all STL; this pisses me off incredibly.
The Chess Club's taking the downstairs retail spots, but what about the second floor? What about the BHive? Or Maryland House? The gawddamn cigar lounge? Rex, I'm glad you're investing in chess in the City as much as you are, and doing all the other things that help STL, but you're really sticking it to Kevin and his business in the process. Whatever you're going to do here better be truly awesome, because it's coming at a huge cost to the CWE.
STL Biz Journal: St. Louis Chess Club to expand in Central West End. Brennan's, Culpepper's, and the FroYo are all shuttering.
Brennan's is one of my favorite places in all STL; this pisses me off incredibly.
The Chess Club's taking the downstairs retail spots, but what about the second floor? What about the BHive? Or Maryland House? The gawddamn cigar lounge? Rex, I'm glad you're investing in chess in the City as much as you are, and doing all the other things that help STL, but you're really sticking it to Kevin and his business in the process. Whatever you're going to do here better be truly awesome, because it's coming at a huge cost to the CWE.
So they are going to have the entire retail strip along Maryland, and the two houses to the east, and don't they have property across the street as well (The Chess Museum)? That's quite an expansion.
Anywho, the Chess Club expansion would not preclude development of the parking lot behind it. I really don't see a chess club needing much parking space compared to the three bars and restaurants.
Anywho, the Chess Club expansion would not preclude development of the parking lot behind it. I really don't see a chess club needing much parking space compared to the three bars and restaurants.






