These days, it’s a full-time job monitoring the comings and goings of metro area restaurants. Within the past 10 days, Clayton alone has experienced a number of noteworthy changes.
Tani Sushi Bistro, the popular sushi restaurant at 7726 Forsyth, closed abruptly last weekend. At the time, owner Eric Heckman said “some repositioning and restructuring was necessary” and hinted at opening a fast-casual concept outside of Clayton, which Sauce magazine later reported to be Rocket Bowls, in Greenville, Illinois, slated to open March 21. Heckman also told Sauce that he was “looking to maybe bring Tani back into town” but does not have a timeline to do so right now.
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Several days later, Tani’s windows were papered over. A few days after that, a sign appeared that Wasabi would be taking over the space. Currently, Wasabi has seven locations in metro St. Louis, including one in Clayton at 16 S. Central. SLM has reached out to the property owner on Forsyth and the owner of Wasabi for additional details.
Last Thursday, LemonShark Poke, a fast-casual poke concept located at 33. N Central that opened last July, adjacent to the Ceylon apartment complex, was not open during business hours; a cryptic Facebook post read, “BRB….. Gone Fishin’ Looking to reopen soon.” SLM has reached out to the franchisee for comment.
This time last year, SLM reported that at least five Clayton eateries planned to vacate to make way for a mixed-use project that included a proposed hotel and condo development. The businesses within the half-acre parcel were notified that any existing leases would not be renewed and that they must vacate by February 2020. The original project was rejected by the city of Clayton, and another proposal was presented late last year. So far, though, there’s been no activity or notice of same. “The current proposal has been withdrawn, and there is no new plan in place,” according to a source who’s familiar with the project.
In the interim, the only restaurant that made concrete plans to move was the Imo’’s Pizza at 23 N. Bemiston, which will be moving to 8337 Maryland Ave. later this year. Until that time, the Bemiston store will remain open for lunch and dinner.
Anticipating a move, John P. Field’s leased the space across the street (formerly The Wheelhouse) and reopened it last fall for events and parties. Owner Jim Campbell says he can be ready to move at any time, but in the interim, “so far, so good. Both spaces are doing quite well.”
This time last year, Brian Marsden, owner of Vincent Van Doughnut, said he had no plans to relocate in Clayton, which he said is still the case this year.
The owners of Nami Ramen, BARcelona, and House of Wong indicated that they had no plans to move at present. (Jon’s Pipe Shop has already relocated around the corner to 7927 Forsyth, former home of The Libertine.)
On the other side of town, Alan Richman, owner of Sasha’s Wine Bar, reports that the patio and the rooftop are open for business (weather permitting), and that bookings are now being accepted for the new rooftop event space. Richman also says he’s “still kicking around concepts” for the former Barrio/DeMun Oyster Bar space.
