urbanSTL

dweebe wrote: ↑

9:17 PM - Aug 11

Stacked in the Central West End is closing today.

Related to the burger place down in the Patch?  That Stacked?

Yes, they opened in CWE about a year ago. That retail spot/corner at Euclid is kind of cursed in CWE, few closings and turnovers in recent years. I don’t think the Vino space has ever been filled either

When I first saw the post, I freaked out it was their Ivory triangle location because I think that area is one of the most underrated and underutilized in StL and really want to see it thrive for many years

Until we bridge CWE and Fountain Park and get Delmar in shape, these bays in the north part of CWE just may not be as prime as they should be

I am always shocked by the amount of vacant land between McPherson And Delmar in north CWE. We need some development and foot traffic up there


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Damn that was a short run

delmar2debaliviere2downtown wrote: ↑

10:17 PM - Aug 11

Yes, they opened in CWE about a year ago. That retail spot/corner at Euclid is kind of cursed in CWE, few closings and turnovers in recent years. I don’t think the Vino space has ever been filled either

When I first saw the post, I freaked out it was their Ivory triangle location because I think that area is one of the most underrated and underutilized in StL and really want to see it thrive for many years

Until we bridge CWE and Fountain Park and get Delmar in shape, these bays in the north part of CWE just may not be as prime as they should be

I am always shocked by the amount of vacant land between McPherson And Delmar in north CWE. We need some development and foot traffic up there


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There are definitely a couple of projects in the works. 

dweebe wrote: ↑

9:17 PM - Aug 11

Stacked in the Central West End is closing today.

A few things...

That intersection has been kinda cursed since that main building on the SE corner burned. It had Session Taco, Salt & Smoke, etc. Took them 3 years to get it up again and, in that time, the intersection lost some of it's attraction/vibe for restaurants. I have no inside knowledge but I walk by it often -- LaPez Mod Mex won't last much longer. usually empty.

Now to somewhat refute my point about that intersection,  Mainlander is one of the very best spots in STL right now. Usually very busy.  can't recommend enough. And the ice cream place seems to do well.

Lastly, I hate to write this, as I try to support local restaurants so much, but, i found Stacked just average.  Average burgers aren't hard to find anywhere these days. I don't think their burgers are good enough to travel to this specific location. And, that part of the CWE just isn't all that dense so not enough "locals" to support it.

33 Wine Bar closing up shop in Lafayette Square after 25 years (St. Louis Magazine).

Some interesting quotes in there that may be relevant to other bar/restaurant closures, citing decreasing alcohol consumption, increased cannabis usage/staying home, insurance and inflation costs, and even GLP-1s as headwinds --

Even after the pandemic ended, however, many bar goers haven’t returned. Across the country, alcohol consumption is down as authorities increasingly warn of its effects on health and GLP-1 medications depress appetites for not just food, but also drink.

In St. Louis, where recreational cannabis was legalized in 2022, even some of the most committed drinkers are choosing to stay home and watch Netflix rather than spend a few hours at the bar. People in the hospitality industry are increasingly sending up distress signals (as just two examples, Robust Wine Bar closed after 19 years in Webster Groves in January, and 33’s longtime next-door neighbor, Baileys’ Chocolate Bar, closed just last month after 22 years). 

...the cost of health insurance had skyrocketed. Business insurance had also become a huge expense, going from $6,000 a year in 2013 to $24,000 a year in 2026. Despite [owner] Smallwood never filing a claim on their policy, apparently just being a bar that serves alcohol in this day and age is considered a huge liability. Add in people going out less, and drinking less when they do, the answer seemed all too clear. 

Oye, that was a nice little place in the Square. Sad

Just lost Chocolate Bar too. Rough little stretch for that commercial row


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dweebe wrote: ↑

5:41 PM - Aug 12

Things aren't good:

• Baileys closed
• 33 closing
• Park Avenue Coffee trimmed hours and runs with minimal staff
• Square One is a lot less busy

At least Polite Society seems to be doing decent enough.

Vicini is quite busy on their limited hours.  FWIW.

stldotage wrote: ↑

3:19 PM - Aug 12

33 Wine Bar closing up shop in Lafayette Square after 25 years (St. Louis Magazine).

Some interesting quotes in there that may be relevant to other bar/restaurant closures, citing decreasing alcohol consumption, increased cannabis usage/staying home, insurance and inflation costs, and even GLP-1s as headwinds --

Even after the pandemic ended, however, many bar goers haven’t returned. Across the country, alcohol consumption is down as authorities increasingly warn of its effects on health and GLP-1 medications depress appetites for not just food, but also drink.

In St. Louis, where recreational cannabis was legalized in 2022, even some of the most committed drinkers are choosing to stay home and watch Netflix rather than spend a few hours at the bar. People in the hospitality industry are increasingly sending up distress signals (as just two examples, Robust Wine Bar closed after 19 years in Webster Groves in January, and 33’s longtime next-door neighbor, Baileys’ Chocolate Bar, closed just last month after 22 years). 

...the cost of health insurance had skyrocketed. Business insurance had also become a huge expense, going from $6,000 a year in 2013 to $24,000 a year in 2026. Despite [owner] Smallwood never filing a claim on their policy, apparently just being a bar that serves alcohol in this day and age is considered a huge liability. Add in people going out less, and drinking less when they do, the answer seemed all too clear. 

I heard that the the proprietors of 33 were really struggling with the space kinda falling apart. The proprietors offered to buy the space but the space's owner needed more money (that what was offered) to cover the loan.  

Clearly partial hearsay/game of telephone. Just relaying what I was told. 

Even so, as much as I love these old buildings they are incredibly expensive to own/maintain.  New construction is often times way cheaper. 

The question is why are places that been there for years  now closing or struggling?? The seems to always be foot traffic, Lafayette square has higher income, what seems to be the issue changing customer taste??  The broader economic situation the country is in??? 

I live in this area.  I don't find these closings surprising to be honest.  The food has gotten stale at a number of locations.  That said Kingside is coming in and the Vin De Set building is filling up again.  There's another place coming in (it seems) in the old Ketchup Mayo location.   It would be great to see the LS business area transition to more informal dining options (at least in part).

i,Iive,to,draw wrote: ↑

7:54 PM - Aug 12

The question is why are places that been there for years  now closing or struggling?? The seems to always be foot traffic, Lafayette square has higher income, what seems to be the issue changing customer taste??  The broader economic situation the country is in??? 

The SLM article I linked to above (and the quotes I highlighted) offered the perspectives of the 33 owners as to why.

GLP-1’s too.

dweebe wrote: ↑

5:41 PM - Aug 12

Things aren't good:

• Baileys closed
• 33 closing
• Park Avenue Coffee trimmed hours and runs with minimal staff
• Square One is a lot less busy

At least Polite Society seems to be doing decent enough.

meanwhile across the street in downtown west, Extra Wavy is constantly packed 

https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/new ... louis.html

Planet Sub downtown has closed.

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^ Well, the building is about to be acquired and redeveloped right? I imagine they just dipped out at the end of the month.

Either way a bummer, I really enjoy their bread.

That is too bad, I have tried to support them since my office moved.  I really enjoyed their sandwich 'The Experience'.  I would like to see the reopen elsewhere.

bwcrow1s wrote: ↑

10:00 PM - Aug 28

^ Well, the building is about to be acquired and redeveloped right? I imagine they just dipped out at the end of the month.

Either way a bummer, I really enjoy their bread.

Correct. Them leaving and the building shutting down makes sense ahead of the desired redevelopment.