Let’s get the bad news out of the way first:
It’s sad to learn that after almost two years in business, Quarrelsome Coffee is shutting its doors at 33 N. Sarah this Sunday, February 2. In an April 2023 post, I shared that the new owner, “St. Louisan Mark Schwarz, a co-owner of Chicago-based Omega Yeast, purchased the building which once housed Terrene, and more recently The Block, and transformed the space into a handsome, inviting spot.”
On my visits to Quarrelsome, or when I passed by, the shop appeared crowded with neighbors from surrounding areas, SLU faculty and students using the middle room with communal tables (not photographed) as a quasi co-working space. There was no explanation given for the closure on the shop’s Instagram or Facebook page.
Now, an update on what’s happening at the corner of Euclid and McPherson:
The opening date for Mission (now Session) Taco has been elusive at best. Word was the popular restaurant was going to open before Halloween, then before the Window Walk, but those events have come and gone, and then January’s ghastly weather hit. The interior has looked ready-to-go for a couple of months, but the only hint of recent progress is new signage.
Rothschild’s Scott Sturdevant is guessing they’ll open in March, and that’s what another source told me as well. But maybe they’ll surprise us. Let’s hope.
According to Sturdevant, construction on Mainlander at 392 N. Euclid, left above, should wrap up mid-to-late March and the restaurant, which has outgrown its current location at 8 N. Euclid, will probably open in May.
Right, Tikka Tangy, which serves Indian and Mediterranean food and has a location in Chesterfield, will also wrap up construction in mid-to-late March, and open shortly thereafter. Far right, Ranoush, serving Middle Eastern cuisine, has been open since the end of December.
I was able to get a peek of Pass the Past Coffee’s new space at 4740 McPherson earlier this week with proprietor Erica Tsimerman. It is absolutely stunning. (If you have Instagram, here is a video showing installation of countertops in the coffee bar section.)
The front of the space will feature Tsimerman’s vintage clothing, jewelry, housewares, and furniture—if there’s room, while the back half is devoted to a state-of-the-art grab–and–go coffee bar. Coffee, teas and pastries will be sourced locally.
There will be no seating inside, there just isn’t room. They may add a bench or a few cafe tables out front later on. After inspections and hiring are completed, Tsimerman thinks it will be March before the first coffee is served.
The restoration of that historic building has taken almost 3 years, and before long all the businesses will be in operation again. That’s music to the ears of business owners in the McPherson Arts District who have kept their operations going throughout the pandemic and post fire and will welcome the new activity that will come with the re-openings. With the addition of Stacked STL on the northeast corner of McPherson and Euclid, the area should be humming along beautifully by Spring.
Coming soon: A post on CWE Yoga, which opened recently at 393 N. Euclid, above Left Bank Books.