An update on restaurant openings, a music venue, shops and apartment buildings

 

After 3 long years, post fire and a tornado, Session Taco, formerly Mission Taco, reopened at the corner of Euclid & McPherson in late June. The footprint of the popular restaurant has expanded into what was Pass the Past Vintage, (which reopened a few doors east as Pass the Past Coffee & Vintage), and into the lower level, where there’s an event room with some arcade games.

As has become the tradition when CWE businesses have opened, there was an official ribbon cutting Thursday, August 21, hosted by the CWE North Community Improvement District (CWEscene.com). Those participating were, front row from left, Session Taco’s Kitchen Manager Kaleb Reid, General Manager Sean Harris, and Director of Operations Josh Laney.  Back row, RothschildSTL’s Scott Sturdevant, Pete and Donna Rothschild, 9th Ward Alderman Michael Browning, and CID Board Member Ken Fowler, COO of Patty Long Catering.

Session Taco, 398 N. Euclid, is open Sun. – Thurs. 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Fri. and Sat. from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Tikka Tangy, serving Indian and Mediterranean bowls, wraps, and pizza, recently opened at 390 N. Euclid, between Rasoi and Mainlander.A view of the interior. The website says that the restaurant, which also has a location in Chesterfield, sources its fresh ingredients from local farmers markets.

Tikka Tangy, 390 N. Euclid, Open 11 to 11 Sun. thru Thurs., 11 to Midnight Fri. & Sat.

Mainlander Supper Club and Jube Bar,  396 N. Euclid, between Session Taco and Tikka Tangy, is planning an October 1 opening. Owners, Blake Askew and Gorden Chen, operated a pop-up restaurant before opening Mainlander on Euclid south of Laclede several years ago. Their imaginative menu gained the attention of devoted followers and notice by the James Beard Foundation. As a result, they quickly outgrew the space and ultimately decided to move to the former Salt & Smoke (and before that, Duff’s) location.

Offering a locally-sourced prix-fixe menu, reservations for the supper club are required.  However, the Jube Bar, according to an article by Shannon Weber in Feast Magazine, will be “a casual affair with a small a la carte menu and lightly curated cocktail, wine and beer list,” available on a first-come, first-served basis. Look for more details on Instagram.

After a 9-year run, East+West, a men’s clothier located at 387 N. Euclid, closed in mid-June. Judging by the response from customers on the shop’s Instagram page, and those of us who loved to report on their handsome clothing and accessories, that was really sad news.

The good news is, as you might have guessed from the items in the storefront, a botanically-themed business is opening October 1.  Further details are being kept under wraps by the proprietors, who are moving back to St. Louis from Omaha. Stay tuned.

Stacked Burger Bar’s opening date at the northeast corner of Euclid & McPherson has been a moving target, and according to an email from proprietor Matt Windish: “It’s a day-to-day thing right now as we wait on occupancy and permits. I can’t quite put a date on it, but I would imagine it will be between September 12 and 19th.”

In the meantime, signage has been painted on the exterior doors, and we’ll all be delighted when we can taste what some have called “the best burger in town.”

Meanwhile at Euclid and Laclede:

Pete Rothschild, who owns the Wildflower property at Euclid and Laclede minced no words when describing his now non-existent relationship with the restaurateur who leased the space for years, and never opened. The mishegas resulted in a lawsuit and now, the space is available again.

Rothschild STL’s Scott Studevant followed up in less colorful terms describing what they were left with.  “The space is a tremendous mess, and we are waiting until it has been put back together before marketing it.” He anticipates that it will be at least the first of the year before there is any action on the site.

At Olive and Newstead:

After two years of planning and a spectacular transformation of the former gas station/car wash at Olive and Newstead, Jackson Piano’s Joe Jackson is ready to roll out the welcome to Noteworthy Cafe and Culture. The music venue/cafe/yoga studio will open September 6 with multiple events for the whole family throughout the day. The schedule follows:

On Union, between Lindell and Pershing:

I reached out to Josh Richardson, co-owner of The London Tea Room to find out if the May 16 tornado damaged their new space at 345 N. Union.  Josh replied: “Miraculously our part of the building was left untouched, but other parts of the complex were definitely damaged. Our opening has been delayed and we’re hoping for a Fall, possibly November opening.”

In the meantime, they are planning a pop-up shop on September 6 from 11 to 5 at 275 N. Union featuring their teas and new home goods products. The flyer is on the blog’s calendar section.

Pier Property Group’s Michael Hamberg said in an email they they are still working on a final piece of the financing for “The Flats at Forest Park,” a 5-story apartment project on the former Reliance Automotive site at Kingshighway and McPherson.

At Kingshighway and Lindell, The Albion CWE is in full-steam-ahead mode. The photos below were sent by Carson Foard who can chart the progress of the 30–story apartment project from her windows at the adjacent St.Regis.

 

Construction of the 30-story glass-sheathed apartment building, which features 292 luxury apartments and 340 parking spots, is expected to take about two years.