Copia in Clayton transitions to Copia Lounge, restaurant, and wine bar

Restaurateur Amer Hawatmeh is a passionate, opinionated risk-taker. In 2005, he opened Copia at 1122 Washington Avenue. The downtown restaurant, wine shop, and bodega spanned 18,000 square foot, including a massive rear patio with a retractable roof—the city’s first. At the end of 2017, when the restaurant had run its course and the lease was up for renewal, Hawatmeh could have quietly retired the concept and moved on. Instead, he was already planning the next two locations, both substantial endeavors: one in Clayton (the former Morton’s location) and the other in a free-standing building in Des Peres (the former Elephant Bar space).

The Des Peres location is on fire, but the Clayton space needed something more, Hawatmeh says. It opened last May and remained under the radar until the summertime Clayton Restaurant Week, which overwhelmed the understaffed restaurant. It never did gain a foothold, and so, late last week, Copia Lounge, restaurant, and wine bar was born.

Hawatmeh, the onetime owner of Clayton’s Nantucket Cove, believes the suburb has never realized its true potential as an entertainment district and says, “The city fathers finally understand what it should become, what it needs to become.” Buoyed by the city’s interest in establishing an Entertainment Overlay District, he converted Copia restaurant into more of an entertainment venue.

A DJ booth and dance floor were installed in the middle room to complement the private spaces and multiple bars. Upholstered seating and carpeting lend civility to the multi-room space.

Cocktails, beer, and wine will be offered, with bottle service as an added amenity. “By offering things like that [bottle service], we’re saying we want people to get comfortable, hang out, and stay awhile,” Hawatmeh says. "And remember: We built this business on having an extensive wine collection. That part isn't going away." 

Chef Kyle Parks, a capable chef and former instructor at L’Ecole Culinaire who’s been with Copia for several months, has created the 30-item menu, comprised of snacks, small plates, and pizzas, plus three sandwiches, salads, pastas, and entrées—a far cry from the prior menu, which was double the size and price. Sandwiches salads, and appetizers average $10, while entrées hover around the $20 mark, capped by Steak Frites with brandy-mushroom cream sauce for $23.

To help cultivate Copia’s new direction, Hawatmeh is working with Clayton officials to establish the city’s proposed entertainment district. Among the proposals: The valet station doubling as a ride-sharing area and beginning valet service at 4 p.m. “I’d love to see an entertainment district ride-sharing coupon discount, and what I'd really like to see is a golf cart service between venues once you’re here,” Hawatmeh says, stressing that all ideas and proposals are in the “very preliminary” stage. “We’re just trying to come up with innovative ideas that will bring some different energy to Clayton,” he says. “I just met two local attorneys who used to DJ and want to bring the old days back,” he notes.

“I’m happy where this has led,” Hawatmeh says of the new location. “Before, I was catering only to people’s stomachs. Now, by entertaining them, I’m dealing more with hearts and souls.”