Listen Now: ‘Arch Eats’: Ben Poremba’s big plans for 2024
Ben Poremba’s stunning year of restaurant openings just got even more impressive: The chef and restaurateur announced last night that he will be opening a second location of AO&Co—his gourmet grocery store, sandwich counter, and coffee shop—inside the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis.
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AO&Co at CAM will serve its first guests this Saturday, March 9. The café will be open during CAM’s open hours: 10 a.m.– 5 p.m. Wednesday–Sunday and until 8 p.m. on Friday.
Described in Poremba’s post as an “urban café,” AO&Co at CAM will offer breakfast and lunch items, such as fresh pastries and Italian-inspired sandwiches, courtesy of Poremba’s restaurants Deli Divine and Olio. (The latter closed in its original Botanical Heights location on December 31 of last year and is anticipated to reopen in the Delmar Makers District later this year.) AO&Co at CAM will also feature coffee from the local roaster, Quarrelsome Coffee, which specializes in fermented beans.
“We’ve been working on this for about six months now. At first, we were going to take it over quickly, but then we thought, No, let’s do this right and really refresh the space,” says Poremba. “We put on a good coat of paint, brought in new furniture, replaced some of the equipment, and have turned it into a true urban or European-style café.”
Photographs that accompanied Poremba’s social-media posts about the new addition show a light-filled space with floor-to-ceiling windows, blonde leather banquettes adorned with multicolored pillows, sleek white chairs, frosted globe pendant light fixtures, and vibrant rugs. A black-and-white mural is also pictured in the background. Outside is a large, partially covered patio.
Poremba notes that the menu will offer some of Olio’s greatest hits, including its egg salad and Israeli bruschetta. AO&Co at CAM will also feature bagels and accouterments from Deli Divine and the Italian-style sandwiches and salads currently on offer at the Botanical Heights AO&Co. On Fridays, when the museum is open late, the café will stay open until 8 p.m. and offer happy hour drinks and snacks.
Poremba is particularly excited about the collaboration with Quarrelsome Coffee, a roastery that he considers to be an exciting and innovative partner for what he’s trying to do at CAM and throughout his hospitality group. “I was blown away when I first met them and quickly became a frequent patron at their coffeeshop,” says Poremba. “Their story is really cool, and what they do is cutting-edge. I thought this would be a great way for us to get some kind of collaboration with them. Their brand and everything they do is all so synergetic with what we do.”
A talented chef and prolific restaurateur, Poremba has a busy 2024 ahead of him. In addition to AO& Co, the three-time James Beard Award–nominated chef is set to open five other concepts over the course of the year, including Esca, a Western Mediterranean-inflected eatery, as well as Florentin, a casual daytime spot inspired by his favorite neighborhood in Tel Aviv. Additionally, he is in the process of relocating his three popular restaurants—Elaia, Olio, and Nixta—to the Delmar Maker District. Nixta will also host companion bar and nighttime gathering place Bar Limon, which will have its own identity within the restaurant.
In addition to his new restaurants, Poremba operates Bar Moro, Deli Divine, and The Benevolent King, which just underwent a major change of its own when it transitioned from its original Moroccan-style cuisine to a Japanese-inspired menu.
As for AO&Co at CAM, Poremba hopes that people will see it as much more than simply a place to grab a quick bite to eat or cup of coffee while already at CAM. His goal is to make it a destination in and of itself.
“This space has always been a place where you go if you are at the museum and want to have a cup of coffee or a sandwich,” says Poremba. “This is one of those exercises where we want people to come, whether or not they plan on visiting the museum. We want to be a destination in its own right. We have quality stuff, so it will be a good place to come if you are going to the Sheldon or are in the area for a meeting. It’s a great destination and a beautiful space to have lunch. It’s bright, artistic, clean, modern, and has easy parking—all of the things you would want in a daytime café.”
