1 of 4
Photo by Jonathan Pollack
2 of 4
3 of 4
4 of 4
Wait, didn't Robust's second location--downtown at the corner of 7th and Washington in the Mercantile Exchange (MX) development--just open a few months ago? Yes, indeedy, in late December to be precise.
Today Relish received word that Stanley and Arlene Browne (left) have inked yet another deal, this one in Edwardsville, IL. The address is 126 N. Main, currently the restaurant Erato on Main. At 3100 SF, the space is just slightly smaller than the original Robust (3200 SF) in Webster Groves. Erato's last day of service will be June 1.
For those of you paying absolutely no attention to the dining scene, Edwardsville has been white hot for some time. Many local diners did not realize that the area's highest-quality steaks are found in Edwardsville--at Andria's Countryside Restaurant--and we wrote about that here. In January of 2012, much to the chagrin of St. Louis loyalists, Relish called Eddieville THE dining hot spot for 2012. And for good reason. Peel Pizza was a full-blown, full-house, madhouse; Wasabi had just opened its sixth location, and there was Cleveland-Heath, and Dewey's Pizza...then along came Sugo's Spaghetteria and Mike Shannon's Grill. Cyrano's Cafe kicked Eddie's tires but could not strike a deal.
It seems every restaurateur serious about expanding is seriously looking at Edwardsville.
Including the Brownes. Erato on Main already had the vibe as well as the reputation as a small plates wine bar. Robust's unique wine program (featuring The Robust Factor) and consistently good food seemed to be a perfect fit. No wonder the Browne's were so quick to pull the trigger, less than 6 months after opening in a stunning space (below) downtown between Sixth and Seventh Streets, on what, ahem, one scribe called the hot block for 2013.
One major factor to consider when planning a restaurant expansion is personnel, and Robust was ready on that front, too.
Chef Brendan Hickham, currently at the MX, will double up serving as both GM and kitchen manager in Edwardsville.
Margaret Kelly, an experienced chef, co-owner of the former Terrene, and most recently in product development at Bissinger's Hand-Crafted Chocolatiers working alongside her husband Dave Owens, will take on a leadership role both at Robust's flagship location and at the MX, assisting corporate Executive Chef Joseph Hemp (left) who will oversee all three operations as well as Robust Catering.
Arlene Browne said it was the Main St. location, the history of the space, and "the people--the close-knit community of Edwardsville," that made expansion an easy decision, she said, "well relatively easy, for two people who just got done with another major expansion."
E-ville will get its first peek at...Bubbles, Crisp, Mellow, Luscious, Soft-Hearted, Generous, and Robust wine profiles--not to mention Sweet & Stickies--in mid-July of this year.
