Check Out The All-New Social House -- Opening Soon!

 If Social House were a tech startup, you would call what's going on at 1551 S 7th Street a pivot. Gone are the painted ladies and the glass-walled showcase room. Instead, you'll find plenty of televisions, sleek booths, sports memorabilia and a completely different atmosphere. I really hope the chicken strips remain or we are going to have issues. Driving by you'll also notice a sweet new patio out front. I hear there are garage doors that can be opened on nice days. 

Check out this walkthrough of the completely renovated space. An opening date is not set, but I'm told that it is coming soon. In the meantime, you can check out Social Bar & Grill at 4265 Reavis Barracks Rd. 

Now Open: Twisted RAnCH

It was way back in March that George Mahe of St. Louis Magazine first informed us that we were getting a ranch-themed restaurant here in Soulard. The seemingly crazy, ridiculous asinine idea quickly gained traction with foodies around the country. Eater did a story on the project. Deadspin's Foodspin wrote a piece that painted an idea that every dish would have ranch dressing poured over it and ended with "Don't Go To Missouri". I'll admit that I thought the concept was crazy and at times didn't think the team would be able to work.

When news broke that Twisted RAnCh's chef quit during the soft opening. When that chef said the owners "didn't know what they were doing". Each day when I walked out of my house and saw the building still dark, I thought that this crazy-ass idea was never going to work.

I am very happy to say I was wrong. Twisted RAnCH is a very pleasant surprise and a great addition to the Soulard neighbiorhood. While some of the challenges that owners Jim Hayden and Chad Allen have forced them to scale back a traditional full opening, we can all be thankful that food is coming out of the kitchen at the corner of 8th and Soulard and drinks are flowing from the bar.

Twisted RAnCH is open daily from 11am - 3pm for lunch and from 3pm-6pm for Twisted Happy Hour Tuesday to Saturday.

Twisted RAnCH's menu has been scaled back a bit from their previous plans, but still features some stellar treats.

On my first visit, I had the Ranched St. Louis Gerber. While this is supposed to be a St. Louis thing, I had never had it before. I like meat and cheese so I was very happy with a pile of ham topped with melted provel cheese.

On my second visit I decide to go with the Garlic Ranch Burger. It was delicious. A good-sized burger that was cooked well and served on an enjoyable bun. Both sandwiches were served with a very sizable amount of french fries The fries are seasoned well and come out just the right amount of crispy. I'm not all that much of a fry person put my neighbors rave about these.

Other sandwiches I have heard great things about are the Rotisserie Chicken Salad served on a croissant, the Ranched Meatball Sub the Grilled Cheese and the Turkey Bacon Ranch. As far as entrees go, I've only tried the Fried Mozzarella Sticks and they were awesome. It's nearly impossible to find handmade mozzarella sticks around this town, but these apparently are. The cheese is covered in Ranch-seasons panko bread crumbs before being deep-fried. They are then served with the Pesto Ranch for dipping and garnished with some crispy prosciutto on the side.

While originally just being open for lunch, Twisted started being open for happy hour this month. The Twisted Happy Hour from 3pm -6pm Tuesday to Saturday and features a scaled-down snack and drink menu. I went with toasted raviolis and a Brisket Slider. Although the t-ravs aren't made in-house like they had originally planned, I was pleasantly surprised with the dish.I believe six came on the plate with a side of Ranch Marinara for $4. The t-ravs were your standard restaurant ones and a little over-cooked but for the price I was definitely happy. I was very impressed with the $4 Brisket Slider. The generous portion of meat was well-cooked, the sauce was good and it was topped with an onion ring that paired perfectly. A larger brisket sandwich is a fairly recent addition to the lunch menu and also comes topped with onion rings.

Twisted RAnCH features an extensive list of signature cocktails with names like the Twisted Mule, the 8th & Soulard and more. While I haven't sampled these myself, I have heard great things.

The list of ranch sauces at Twisted RAnch seems endless. At last count, I believe it's 14, but it may now be 15 with the addition of Jalapeño Popper. The sauce offerings range from Buffalo to Roasted Garlic to BBQ to Cheesy Bacon to Sunny in Fetadelphia.

Go check out Twisted RAnCH for yourself and let me know what you think.

Look for dinner hours to be added in the next few weeks.

Check Twisted Ranch out on Facebook.

Trops Now Open In Soulard

Way back in October of 2014 iLoveSoulard, with the help of an attentive neighbor, broke the story that Tropical Liquers was coming to Soulard. In March, we followed it up with an interview with "Soulard Trops"part-owner Billy Thompson.

We're happy to report that the Soulard location of Tropical Liquers at 1800 S 10th is now open and thriving. Whereas the original Columbia, Missouri locations and the Springfield, MO location are owned by the same family that opened the first Trops in 1985, the Soulard outpost is the company's first franchise. The arrangement is new to both the Thompsons and Trops and thus can be pointed to as the reason for the delay in opening.

The first few weeks of the franchise being open were quite surprising, as many neighbors can attest to. The large crowds overwhelmed the staff and even forced the business to close its doors for an entire Sunday when they simply ran out of product. A few issues arose, but Billy, his sister Connie and the rest of the staff were quick to address those to the delight of the neighborhood.

The former Gladstone's building has undergone quite the renovation and looks stellar. The Thompsons completely renovated the first and second floors of the building as well as the patio area. The business also utilizes space on the side of the building as a patio extension with picnic tables for patrons. The upstairs area is a beautiful space that will be perfect for watching some college football this fall.

The offerings are generally the same as those offered in the other Tropical Liqueurs locations, with a few exceptions. The beer list is a little different to reflect some of the different brews available and the flavors available of the signature drinks includes an extra flavor. Voo Doo Brew features Banana Liquor, Vodka, Sloe Gin, Banana Puree & Lemonade. It's pretty delicious. I found in my experience that if you want to double-fist, this flavor goes great with  the Toasted Almond surprisingly.

The Soulard location is open 7 days a week with Happy Hour from 3p-6p every day but Sunday. During Happy Hour on Monday, all of the delicious frozen treats are $1 off while Tuesday-Saturday it's a specific flavor each day. Beer is also $1 off during Happy Hour.

A refillable tumbler is available for purchase at the bar. The 24 oz. beverage holder is sold filled for $18. Refills are then charged at the 20 oz price, saving you money each time you make a purchase.

I'm excited to have these folks as neighbors and look forward to frequenting their establishment.

Check below for a slideshow of other pictures I took during a recent visit to Tropical Liquers in Soulard.



Follow Tropical Liqueurs - St. Louis on Facebook.

Howards in Soulard Set To Open May 8

Soulard is enjoying quite the boom as late with new businesses opening all across the neighborhood. Henry's recently opened in the renovated former home of The Shanti. Woodie's recently opened in the Soulard Library building. Twisted Ranch garnered an incredible amount of press when they announced their plans to open in the former Sassy Jac's space. Shelly's has been tirelessly working on the former Clementine's spot whille Fleur De Lilies is targeting a June opening. A Tropical Liquers franchise is also set to take the former Gladstone's space at the corner of Soulard and 10th.

While all of these are a labor of love, a project at the corner of 13th and Lynch carries a special story. Longtime Soulard resident Judith Howard is spearheading the renovation of the former Hi-Way Bar location into an establishment that's "for the neighbors, by the neighbors". Howards will feature live acoustic music 5 nights a week and has a Grand Opening planned for the weekend for May 8-10.

The discussions that eventually led to this project began in the home shared by Judith and her wife, Molly Jankowski. The beautiful home the pair share is just the latest home in the Soulard neighborhood that Judith has restored. Our beautiful island owes its existence to those that have rehabbed the homes in this neighborhood. Judith caught the rehab bug from her father, USN Capt. Ronald C. Howard. The teacher thought it was time he and his protegee took on a rehab project together in Soulard. Sadly, Capt. Howard passed before the project was able to take shape.

The fire that Capt. Howard lit in his daughter burned brighter than ever after his passing. It was stoked by the encouragement of those close to her. By the time her mother decided to join her daughter in Soulard, that fire was hotter than one of her guitar riffs. She set her sights on a vacant, run-down building originally built in 1888.

The building at the corner of 13th and Lynch most recently housed the Hi-Way Bar, although it was originally built as a pharmacy. In between, the building housed a shoe store, an income tax office and a whiskey bar. For a time the building was even home to a bail bonds business. The location was mighty convenient considering during the time the local police station was housed in what is now Mad Art Gallery.

2731 Lynch Street midway through renovations turning it into Howard's in Soulard

The Hi-Way Bar occupied the building for 40 years, closing in 2009 after winning the Best Place to Play Table Shuffleboard from the Riverfront Times in 2009. That award may be a bit misleading, however. The bar was described as "Soulard's most dive-y dive bar". That's not a bad thing by any means. Longtime residents still speak with fondness about the bar, it's camaraderie, cheap drinks and the cat that meandered around. The bar was mentioned several times in David Lester's book, The Lunatic of Soulard.

While the Hi-Way Bar served its purpose, Howards will be a welcome sight in Soulard. Judith and her team are completely renovating the building from "to the studs", as they say. Outside of the building, new utility lines are being run to handle the needs of the establishment, which will include a kitchen. The backyard will feature a full patio for plenty of seating as well as plenty of "golf cart parking".

Over the years the building at 2732 S 13th various levels of construction with each of its different uses. The entrance to the building that Howard wanted restored features a doorway that is quite a bit larger than normal. A door to fit those dimensions was found in a rather unlikely spot, Judith's own basement. Many of the rehabbers in Soulard have worked on multiple projects in the neighborhood throughout the years. It turns out that this particular door was likely taken off during a renovation of the building. The door somehow ended up in a pile on construction materials that is sitting in the basement of Judith's current home.

A focal point of the inside of Howards will be a stage large enough to fit a three-piece band. One instrument will be a permanent fixture in the room. Ruth Ann Howard, Judith's mother, is a retired piano teacher and soprano opera singer. The piano that moved with her when she came to Soulard, the acoustic piano that Judith and countless others have learned on, will get prime billing at the new establishment.

The piano won't be the only thing getting prime billing at Howards, of course. The logo that you see above, "The Captain", was actually designed by Capt. Howard in 1962 and used for years as his letterhead. Aside from Mom Howard's piano, an 8-foot fountain will be prominently featured in the backyard area in her honor. The front entrance to the restaurant will be completely catered to those folks in wheelchairs. Howard stressed in a neighborhood forum that this was an important point for her.

Another important point for Judith Howard at Howards will be the entertainment. If you've been in Soulard a Summer or two you've likely seen Judith playing her guitar for groups of neighbors on various patios throughout the neighborhood. While Judith won't have a regular gig on stage, many neighbors are hopeful that if enough people ask nicely enough, she will play from time to time. Howard has a full lineup of acts scheduled for May 8-10, including Zero Friction, Steve Reebs, The Alley Mutts and The Darrells. Her plan calls for the musical lineup to be set each month in advance. Howards shirts will be available for sale each month that feature the lineup on the back on the shirt. A portion of the proceeds each month will go to a local charity. Live music will be on the bill Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at Howards.

Judith Howard playing music on the patio at The Porch

Aside from the absence of smoke, Howards will feature another aspect the Hi-Way Bar never had, a food menu that includes more than just frozen pizzas. Howard's original plan called for a simple menu featuring mostly small plates to pair with its beer, wine and "classic cocktails reinvented" drink menu. That approach took a turn when the closing of the well-regarded Benton Park restaurant Luvy Duvy's Cafe closed in March. Howard's will serve from the Luvy Duvy's menu of mainstays for lunch and former owners Jackie Seal and Cassady Caldwell will consult in the kitchen. The simple menu was well-regarded among the patrons. Favorites included the cafe's takes on the classic rueben and cuban sandwiches. Howard's will also look to serve brunch on Saturdays and Sundays, although those might not be available when the restaurant first opens. A separate small plate menu will be available in the evenings.

Howards in Soulard will be an excellent addition to Soulard not just in its physical presence, but also in the story it is built on. Be sure to follow Howards in Soulard on Facebook to get a look at the construction progress as well as to stay up-to-date on the upcoming opening events.

Trops Soulard Eyes Early May Opening

Like just about every Mizzou alumnus that returns to St. Louis, Billy Thompson longed for a local outpost of Tropical Liqueurs. More commonly known as "Trops", the establishment is famous in Columbia and Springfield, Missouri for its frozen cocktails that it has been serving since 1985.

Unlike some of the other dreamers out there, Billy Thompson made up in his mind one day driving through the streets of Soulard that he was going to bring Trops to St. Louis and it was going to be in Soulard, a neighborhood he loves. He started making calls to family members and working through the numbers.Thompson comes from a commercial real estate background. His family has been involved in that industry for most of his life.

While the industry experience and connections are certainly important in this endeavor, it's also important to note that Thompson possesses another quality that is essential; the guy bleeds Black and Gold. He graduated from the University of Missouri in the early 2000s with a degree in Political Science and minors in Philosophy and Spanish. While at Mizzou, he was the president of the Delta Upsilon chapter and served on both the Greek Week and Homecoming Steering Committees. Thompson now works for a local non-profit and lives in a loft downtown, but he is looking to buy a house and move to Soulard.

Brad Thompson, Billy's brother, will be assisting him on-site with the Tropical Liquers franchise. His sister Connie will he helping with the accounting aspect of the business and his mother will be assisting with the business in several different capacities.

Thompson has signed a lease with Red Brick for the building at 1800 South 10th that previously housed Gladstone's. Gladstone's closed in 2011 and extensive work has been done on the building since. Billy has worked closely with Alan Dodd for about a year on this Trops Soulard project. Dodd lives in Columbia and is the son of the Trops founders. The Soulard outpost will be the first franchise location for the company.

Construction work has already begun on the building and Thompson hopes for an opening in early May of this year. The business will utilize both stories of the building as well as the patio area out back. If you remember being in the building when barbecue was served and questionable acts were being committed by the staff, you're in for quite the change of scenery. The stairs and the bathrooms will both be moved during the build out, which is very pleasing to hear since we don't really want to know what happened in those bathrooms before.

He'll have 12-15 machines inside that will churn out the famous flavors like Brain Freeze, Toasted Almond , Silver Bullet and Tiger Paw. A full bar will also be available, but food will not. Patrons will be encouraged to bring their own food in from neighboring establishments or have food delivered, much like the International Tap House model. Thompson really wants to be a good neighbor and said he won't be having loud, obnoxious music on the patio into the night or have any outdoor decorations that don't fit into Soulard's historic charm.

The second floor of the building will be used for extra seating and possibly some of your typical bar games. Thompson brought up the idea of possibly having his sound system set so the second floor can be used for sporting events and such as well.

For now, you can follow Tropical Liqueurs St. Louis on Facebook while you wait for warmer weather and delicious frozen cocktails. You can also buy Trops merchandise and check out the other locations at 2trops.com

Shelly's Gets A Logo

Soulard lost a longtime business back in September when Clementine's sold its last stiff drink on September 29. The building and parking lot across Allen were sold and a new bar will open in place of Clem's.

The new owners have done a lot of work to the building, Here's a recent picture of the outside.

Mark Packer first spoke at the November General Membership meeting of the Soulard Restoration Group about the building he had purchased and his plans. He said he wanted to make the place into a "true sports bar" and shot down rumors that the place would be a "gentleman's club". He said they were targeting a January 1 opening. A representative of the bar again spoke at the January SRG General Membership meeting where they invited residents to stop by for a tour if they were out and about. They also spoke of some mess that was caused by having to completely redo the main water line into the building.

There's no word yet on the opening date, but Shelly's In Soulard does have a Facebook page and a logo.

The logo came from 99designs. a crowd-sourcing site. From the project page, 134 designs were submitted by 44 different designers and cost the owners of Shelly's $499. The bar also submitted a blurb about the description of the bar and its target audience.

"Description of the organization and its target audience

Shelly's will be a sports bar in the Soulard neighborhood in St Louis.
The Soulard area is a historic French district (mid 1800s victorian)
that is the nightlife and partying center of St. Louis. Soulard hosts
the second largest Mardi Gras celebration in the country.
Shelly's will be located in a 1860 vintage brick victorian building
with New Orleans style balcony. We are in the heart of Soulard. The
bar will be sexy but classy. We will have a "good time" party
atmosphere. We will have attractive outgoing flirty servers. Many flat
screen TVA for sports. We will do some live music. The Interior
features a large classic wood bar and lots of exposed brick and rich
wood. Drinks and food will be moderately priced. We are aiming at
business and working guys during the day and a fun crowd at night.
Target age range is 35-65.
We feature attractive outgoing flirty servers. I would like to see
some designs that convey a sexy look (without being sleezy or tacky or
making us look like a "strip club" - which we're not) - something that
says flirty, tease, suggestive, provocative. Maybe include some
element(s) like: the form or suggestion of the female body, an
attractive face, lips, high heals, mardi gras beeds, mardi gras mask,
a sly smile, martini glass or similar.
I would also like to see some designs that convey fun and party.
Something that is more wild and/or casual in styling and less "iconic"
and symetrical. Something that's a bit louder and more daring. We want
our bar to be the the place to party in Soulard. Looking for something
that says: fun, wild, up for whatever happens."

To the best of my knowledge, Shelly's In Soulard was recently granted a liquor license by the City of St. Louis's Excise Division.

Debate about Shelly's has been quite fierce on Next Door, the community social app. Feel free to post your comments below while keeping note of two things:

1) While this description doesn't scream "family-friendly", it doesn't say "half-naked waiters/waitresses who can hook you up with the white powder coke" either. It's pretty logical for any new place to want "attractive, outgoing flirty servers". Businesses (other than Clem's and their ridiculously stiff drinks) exist to make money. You want people to have a great experience. There's a difference between how much money you need to bring in when you've owned a building/business for awhile and how much you need to make after shelling (get it?) out a ton for rehabbing a building. Can you imagine how much it cost just to get the stale smoke smell out? Add in the cost of quite a few televisions and you are looking at a lot of money.

2) I'm tired of hearing "Soulard doesn't need ANOTHER sports bar". The only way that argument is accepted is if you can point me to all of these great sports bars you think we have in Soulard. I sure haven't found them. 

Trops Coming To Soulard?

A neighbor sent me this today.

That address is the former Gladstone's building at 10th and Soulard. This appears to be Tropical Liqueurs, which first opened in Columbia in 1985. It expanded in Columbia with a second location in 2001 and put a location in Springfield, MO in 2004.

The establishment specializes in frozen alcoholic deliciousness. 

I'll update this post when more information becomes available.

**Update**

I called up to the downtown Columbia location today and spoke with a woman there. She couldn't really give me any information but she did allude to the fact that something is in the works in St. Louis. I have an email out to Trops to try to get some more information.

*Update**

The Riverfront Times was able to confirm that Tropical Liqueurs does have plans to franchise a location in the St. Louis area, which would open in the Spring.

Sneak Peek at Pizzeoli

Pizzeoli will open in October 8th at the corner of 12th and Allen. The spot was most recently occupied by Arcelia's. Before that, it was home to Juniper Grill.

If you can remember Arcelia's, Pizzeoli will not be utilizing the main seating area of the space. Owner Scott Sandler plans to have 14 seats around tables set up as well as nine seats set around the bar. The main bar is the same as it had been in the space but without the clutter behind it. Pizzeoli will have six beer taps and a vintage Coca-Cola cooler behind the bar. From that cooler, Sandler will serve beverages such as Coker de Mexico and Fanta de Mexico, drinks sweetened with natural ingredients.

I got the opportunity to taste several pizzas during my visit there last week. The oven Sandler will using a Naples-style wood-fired oven for his pizza. This oven has a smaller mouth and a smaller dome than some of the other woo-fired ovens around. The oven can fully cook a pizza in about 60 seconds at around 800 degrees.

I'll admit Neapolitan pizza isn't my first choice when I go out. So, if you are looking for an in-depth and professional food review, I suggest you wait for Sauce, Feast, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch or the Riverfront Times to review it.

I really enjoyed the consistency of the crust Sandler uses. It folds well with the toppings, which is a plus. With a pinch of sea salt added to the crust right before it enters the oven, you get a good flavor from the crust. The Margherita pizza, the staple of any place of this nature, was excellent. The smoked mozzarella pie was really a treat. The cheese had a great consistency and tasted great. The perfect amount of smoked flavor. Sandler says he will be using local cheeses, but hasn't decided exactly yet on where he'll be getting it from.

Scott and I had a discussion a week or so prior to this about the lack of meat toppings on the menu. He told me he had a plan for that that I would probably be happy with. I was defiantly pleased when trying the finished product. The pizza on the menu is called The Soulard and will feature MATCH Italian sausage with a brushing of chili flakes.

A preliminary menu is available on the Pizzeoli website. 7 or 8 different pies will be available as well as a salad and a couple desserts. Pizzas will be 12 inches and cost between $9.95 for the Margherita and $13.95 for some of the more elaborate options. Hours are start out as Tuesday-Saturday from 5 pm - 9 pm. Lunch hours and Monday hours are possible in the future.

I look forward to being able to enjoy Pizzeoli Neapolitan pizza in mid-October in Soulard. Enjoy some pictures I took during my visit and take my word and try it when it opens. Be sure to follow Pizzeoli on Facebook.

Clementine's Closing after 36 years

Clementine's is closing after 36 years in business. iLoveSoulard first saw the news on Nextdoor. Sunday will be the last day of business. In April, the bar celebrated its 36th anniversary.

One of the oldest, if not the oldest gay bars in the Midwest, Clem's has been in business at the same location at 2001 Menard since the 1970s. It is routinely named one of the top gay bars in St. Louis.

An employee who answered the phone at Clementine's was not a happy camper, as expected. He did confirm that Sunday is the last day of business. Ownership is keeping them largely in the dark, other than, you know, telling them they are out of jobs as of Monday.

The only thing that was said to employees was that the bar was going in a different direction and would not be a gay bar any longer.

This post will be updated as more information is available.

**Update*

Chris Andoe spoke lovingly of Clem's in The Vital Voice today. Steven L. Brawley, who founded the STL LGBT History Project, will be at Clem's Sunday in an effort to collect memorabilia from the bar to memorialize it.

Here's another post from #Boom magazine.

Neapolitan Pizzeria PIZZEOLI coming to Soulard

PIZZEOLI, a Neapolitan Pizzeria, will be taking over the space on 12th and Allen previously occupied by Arcelia's and before that Juniper Grill.

Scott Sandler posted the following on the Soulard Saint Louis Facebook page today next to the picture of 1928 S. 12th.

Dear Soulard Community, I would like to announce that yesterday we signed a lease to open a Neapolitan Pizzeria in the old Arcelias/Juniper space. It will be called PIZZEOLI (Means "the pizza makers" in Italian, pronounced Pitzeeolee) (our own twist on the spelling). We will feature Neapolitan Pizzas with the highest quality ingredients, a fine selection of craft sodas, local beers and Italian wines. As much as possible will be locally sourced. We will be cruelty free but feature an amazing vegan sausage and fresh farm produce on our pizzas. We also be vegan friendly. Hand made dough of course and eventually hand made mozzarella and gelato. Pizza will be cooked in a 800-1000 degree wood fired oven.(no gas assist). First and foremost this will be a neighborhood place with community involvement. The offering will add a new style of pizza to the neighborhood taking nothing away from the excellent existing pizzerias. Stay tuned for a Facebook page, website, Twitter, Instagram and all that social media stuff with updates on our progress. We are honored to be joining the community. A lot of work to do!!! Here is a pic of the space

**UPDATE**

Scott doesn't want to give a projected opening date for PIZZEOLI as it is very early on in this project. Scott's background is in commercial real estate, where he has spent the last 15 years. He's been a self-described "general pizza enthusiast" for about the last 10 years. He's turned into a pretty serious home baker and pizza maker in that time. He says he's "pretty much perfected" his dough and "pizza-at-home" skills and is ready to move on to the next level.

Sandler will be traveling to California to take some formal training classes through Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana. He will then move into apprenticing with a "very well-known Neapolitan pizza maker" for two months. In between that, Scott and his crew will be getting the space ready.

When asked how he decided on the space in Soulard, Sandler says the Soulard space really decided on him. He knew he wanted to be in a neighborhood within the city limits like Soulard, Lafayette Square, Dogtown, Central West End or the like, but he wasn't exactly sure where at first. His business plan called for taking over a space already built out for a restaurant and 1928 S. 12th fit that just right.

PIZZEOLI will just be taking over the 1928 part of the building at first. After settling in, the business will then look to take over the 1926 part as well.

Sandler seeks to address a "real gap and a hunger in the market" with PIZZEOLI that he sees within the city limits.   He pledged to keep iLoveSoulard updated throughout the project, including with things such as a website and social sites.

iLoveSoulard looks forward to this great addition to the neighborhood and hopes this early "press" reserves a spot on the "Official Taste-Tester" list.

Sandwich Artists Ready To Roll

The new Subway location is just about open. An employee told me this morning that they are waiting on the Health Inspector to come by and then they will be ready. They hope to open later today, but if not then they should be ready to go by Tuesday morning.

The hours will be 7am-7pm Monday-Friday and 9am-3pm on Saturdays to start out. The shop plans to be closed on Sundays. These hours may change as they feel out business patterns. One of the two two-bedroom apartments above the restaurant it already leased. The employee at Subway today said that he thinks the other one goes for $850 per month.

The asphalt for the parking lot was poured last weekend. Here's how the space looks now.

Looks a lot better than the vacant lot it was. The Welcoming Party moved along with the racks of Sunchips and Cheetos into Soulard Proper.

This is good and bad. It's good because now these guys aren't taking up the parking spots in front of John Donut. It's bad because they still haven't found anything better to do.

To recap, check back later today or tomorrow at 7th and Geyer for $6 footlong Tuna subs this month and $3 six-inch Black Forest Ham and Cheese subs.

New Subway at 7th and Geyer Almost Complete

**update** Here's a story posted yesterday about the building on nextSTL

The Subway sandwich shop currently located next to John Donut on Broadway will soon be moving into new digs at the corner of 7th and Geyer. The owner and his architect worked closely with representatives from the Soulard Restoration Group on the design of the building. Make a point to walk by the building sometime this weekend. Maybe grab some ice cream at Soulard Sweet Treats?

The chairs are already in the building so it can't be very long now. The building also has two two-bedroom apartments located above it. No word on what the rent will be.

Google has pictures of the lot from September of 2007 up to 2011. The site didn't get any better until they started building this building. Say what you will about not wanting a "chain restaurant" in Soulard. Feel better? Now please stop and enjoy this great addition to the neighborhood.

Mission Taco 2.0 opening late June in Soulard

UPDATE: The latest information out there has Mission opening in the first or second week of August.

As many of you probably know by now, the Tilford brothers are opening their newest restaurant here in Soulard. Mission Taco has been crazy successful in the Delmar Loop area and the brothers will be opening a second Mission location here in Soulard. It'll be right around the corner from iTap and Epic in that storefront on Ninth facing Bogart's.

Source: Space blog

Space is handling the build out of the space. They recently posted an update on their blog. Below are a few highlights of the post and a rendering of the space.

• The restaurant is slated for a late June opening.
• The bar "will float in a steel frame, surrounded by a curtain of wood".
• The tables "will feature pine, interspersed with narrow strips of color".
• The skylight in the middle of the space will have a bell in it.
• A mural by Craig Downs will catch your eye.

Here's a rendering of the space.

Source: Space blog

On a side note, I was talking the other day with some friends of mine who live close to the Mission 2.0 site. Since they moved in 3-4 years ago, they've seen iTap, Epic, Sweet Divine and Bogart's all open within a block of them while only losing Gladstone's. Stretch that area out to two blocks and you also get the awesome food of Sassy Jac's. Stretch that out on the other side and you get Fields Foods. Needless to say, their property value has gone up a bit.

Pets In The City Leaving Soulard

Pets in the City will be moving off the island next week according to an email sent out today. Their new address will be 1919 South Grand Suite 100. It looks like this:

Here's home to get the two miles from their current location on 12th street to their new location. Their phone number (314-772-7387) will remain the same.


View Larger Map

The store will be completely closed from December 10-12 and will reopen in the new location on December 13th.

The store is having a huge sale starting at 10 am on December 5th. Check out those deals here.

The store said on their Facebook page that they wanted to stay in Soulard but couldn't find the bigger space that they needed for the right price.

Get Excited for Mission Taco: Soulard

**Update** Here's some more on the new location form Feast.

As many of you already know, Mission Taco Joint will be opening a second location in St. Louis and has picked 908 Lafayette for that locations. Where is that you ask? It looks like this:

The space is actually connected to International Tap House and Epic Pizza & Subs by way of a door in the back of that space. The space was used a couple of years ago on Grand Parade Day as an overflow room by iTap. It's a big open space right now and it will be interesting to space and it will be quite interesting to see what Adam Tilford, the owner of Mission as well as Milagro and Tortillaria, can do with the space. He told Ian Froeb of the Post-Dispatch that he is thinking "a sort of open kitchen in which most diners will be able to see the tortilla press in operation and a little bit of the kitchen behind it." 

Tilford knows how the whole food-iTap thing works already seeing as how Tortillaria does quite the business serving customers of iTap CWE.

This will be awesome having an iTap-Epic-Mission complex on that corner. Both Epic and Mission have great food so there will be something for everyone in your group if you are hanging out enjoying drinks. 

If you aren't familiar with Mission Taco Joint in The Loop you are doing life wrong. Their menu features some quality tacos, burritos and tortas. They will also serve the high-quality cocktails and margaritas available at their other locations. Here are five things I am most excited to try, hopefully in May.

CHICKEN FLAUTAS- La Mesa
crisp flour tortilla filled with shredded chicken, corn, Chihuahua cheese, served with ancho bbq sauce and Mexican crema   $8

SWEET POTATO & CHORIZO-Taco
roasted local sweet potatoes, house made chorizo sausage, grilled onions, crema   $3.25

SOUTH BEACH-Burrito
grilled chicken, Chihuahua cheese, cilantro rice, smashed black beans, chipotle aioli, topped with guacamole   $8

CHORIHUEVO-Torta
house made chorizo sausage, soft fried egg, pickled jalapeno, smashed black beans, Chihuahua cheese, garlic lime mayo   $9

FIRST DAY BACK-Cocktail
bourbon, apple cinnamon syrup, Yellow Chartreuse   $8

Johnny's Turns 20

One of the most recognizable businesses, housed in one of Soulard most famous (or infamous depending how you view Mardi Gras) buildings, is turning 20 this week. Johnny's is marking 20 years of being the place "where the food is better than is has to be!" all day long on Friday November 15 with food & drink specials, prizes and special guests.

Johnny's has always called 1017 Russell home. That building previously housed Hilary's. In February of 1980 a Mardi Gras party was thrown there by Hilary Clements, Bob Brinkman, James Rabbitt, Bill Strubbs and Bill Coleman. Revelers marched up to John D. McGurk's on that cold night with some horns and trombones. That marked the first Soulard Mardi Gras Grand Parade. To this day, the Mardi Gras season is officially ushered in on January 6th each year on the steps on the front steps of the bar.

Soulard owes a whole lot to Johnny Daus of Johnny's and Joanie Thomas of Joanie's. Johnny's was first to open in 1993 and Joanie's followed shortly after in 1995.

Friday is the day you should stop in an officially celebrate the birthday with Johnny and his ladies, but why not go a day early? Thursdays are Cass-A-Rita Thursdays with $2 Lime-A-Ritas, $2 Dos Lunas tequila shots and $5 nachos from 2pm-6pm. $10 buckets of Natty Light and Bud Light Platinum are always available.

Shakespeare's Is Coming To Soulard

It's not as cool as if the Columbia, MO landmark were to open a full store here, but it is still cool. With this Facebook post, Shakespeare's announced they will be opening in a booth at the Soulard Farmer's Market, stand 118. They will be handing out samples as well as selling frozen pies and apparel. More details coming soon.

**Update** Here's a piece from the Columbia Tribune**

Post by Shakespeare's Pizza.

Mama Gusto's Replacing Sage

As reported last week by the Riverfront Times, the sign to the right is taped to the front door at 1031 Lynch, the former location of Sage Urban American Grill. This will be the second location for Mama Gusto's. The original is in Lebanon, Illinois and a second location on Ivory Avenue in South St. Louis closed in February of this year.

The menu at Mama Gusto's features a variety of Italian dishes including pizzas, pastas and strombolis.  The flagship location also includes a deli and Italian grocery. No word on if the Soulard location will be the same.

Before closing in South St. Louis, the location got great reviews.

Hopefully the "Big Mama" will be a feature at 1031 Lynch.



Look for Mama Gusto's-Soulard to be open around the 4th of July.

Saturday 4/20: A Great Day In Soulard

Some people who like to hear themselves talk will tell you that 4/20 is a day to smoke the pot. They will then proceed to laugh like they made a funny joke that no one has heard before.

Saturday 4/20/13 was a great day in Soulard. The Sweet Divine opened to a line at 8am, 50+ island neighbors volunteered to set-up, pour beer and clean up at the Tap 'N' Run. and the Shakespeare Festival St. Louis brought Shakespeare to Soulard.

The Sweet Divine brings their award-winning cakes and cupcakes to the island as well as coffee, espresso and pastries.

Tap 'N' Run brought 3,600 runners to Soulard for a great time. Jam Active, which runs these races all across the country, said the Soulard race was the largest race they have put on. They credited the Soulard Restoration Group volunteers for the event running so smoothly.

Members of the Alpha Psi Omega chapter at Saint Louis University practiced for weeks to put on a performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream in front of Sweet Divine on the corner of 9th and Soulard. The event was part of the Shake38, the 38-play Shakespeare marathon that brings his plays to various places across St. Louis. It is part of the Shakespeare St. Louis Festival.

Check out the slideshow

Dollar Tree Is Open

The official Grand Opening of the Dollar Tree happened on Monday, Jan 21, but the store actually opened up on the Thursday before. Here are some pictures from the store.

The frozen food section

Ribeye steaks for $1 AND you can microwave them

These were not completely awful

Find more fun finds after the jump