There have been a couple of great articles this week about Duff’s final days, in both the West End Word and St. Louis Post-Dispatch. One of the best tributes however was written by Harper Barnes, who has been a devotee since the restaurant opened in 1972 (don’t miss his report here!).
Reservations are practically non-existent as Duff’s winds down its operation (the restaurant closes after brunch on Sunday). As a friend said last evening, “It’s almost as if tour buses are pulling up, there are so many people stopping by Duff’s for one last meal.” Left Bank Books proprietor Kris Kleindienst, whose business has been across the street since 1978, posted the following on Facebook: “This has been a slightly odd week with the parade of folks coming to eat at Duff’s and say goodbye. I mean, I have seen folks whom I haven’t seen in the neighborhood in a VERRRYYY long time. (months? years?)”
After 41 years in the restaurant business owner Karen Duffy, above, was more ready to move on than co-owner Tim Kirby, also above. Several members of both families, including Brendan Kirby, Tim’s son who is the manager, tried to find investors to keep the restaurant going, but it didn’t happen. The space was sold to restaurateur Brant Baldanza and chef/owner Justin Haifley. They plan to open Cucina Pazzo (crazy kitchen), an Italian gastro pub in the fall. Baldanza is part of a group that owns four other restaurants: The Tavern Kitchen & Bar, The Corner Tavern and Grill (two ocations),and The Shack PubGrub on Laclede Avenue near St. Louis University.
When I stopped in Tuesday to take photos someone came in to buy one of the tables for her husband. She said it was his favorite spot in the whole place so she wanted him to have it. Whatever furniture, etc. is left after the restaurant closes will be auctioned online by BCL auctions starting July 1.
The aggregate number of years employees worked at Duff’s is mind-boggling. Barrett, above, has been a waitress for 33 years; Tim Kirby’s sister Nancy, in pink shirt, has worked at the restaurant for 41 years. Tim calculated that Michael Byrne (who was the bartender), Jimmy Voss, the chef for many years, and his sous-chef had 100 years in the restaurant among them. Jimmy also traveled with The Grateful Dead as their chef when the band was performing in the Mid-West. He has moved on to the Clarksville Station Restaurant at Overlook Farms in Clarksville. Tim and Karen also gave many neighborhood children their first jobs washing dishes or doing salad prep. They were made to feel like they were part of the big Duff’s family and were included at the annual staff picnic held every summer on Portland Place.
From the time Duff’s opened in 1972 there were poetry readings on Monday nights. It is fitting then that the last event scheduled at Duff’s will be a reading—chance operations poetry— Monday at 7:30 p.m. Last September River Styx, as the poetry series is called, found a new home in the CWE at the Tavern of Fine Arts, 313 Belt.
Thanks for the many wonderful memories Karen and Tim. Duff’s will be definitely be missed.