Kevin A. Roberts
The Dooley Burger will be no more—at least for the time being.
After four years operating Dooley’s Beef N Brew House, Sean Dooley has announced he will close the restaurant on Saturday, October 17. Dooley is a 50/50 partner with Grand Restaurants Investors LLC, a group of investors led by Steve Smith, CEO at Lawrence Group, a major developer of the Grand Center area.
The original Dooley’s Ltd (at 8th and Olive) was owned by Sean’s father, Alex, and had been a popular Irish pub for 40 years, until a redevelopment project cleared the block in 2008. Dooley’s Beef N Brew House opened in 2011 at the corner of Grand at Washington, in the space formerly occupied by Wm. Shakespeare’s Gastropub.
Kevin A. Roberts
Devotees will remember the burgers, topped with scoops of soft cheese (cheddar, port wine cheddar, creamed onion, roasted jalapeno, or creamed blue cheese). And the hand-breaded onion rings. And the hot dog on a pretzel bun. And the Irish Fries (right), topped with shredded corned beef, scallions, and cheese. Dooley says he will hang on to all of his father’s recipes, just as he’d done before, in the event another opportunity arises.
Dooley told St. Louis Magazine that it wasn’t the management that prompted the decision to close (“the numbers were tight,” he said) but rather the general lack of volume. In addition, the flagship enjoyed ample foot traffic; the Grand Center location did not. And for all the business the Fox brought in, the theatre is also dark for much of the year. (That said, the Fox/Grand Center area is still a popular place for restaurants: there's Best Steak House, City Diner, The Dark Room, Triumph Grill, Vito's, Sweetie Pie's Upper Crust, and newcomers Lücha and BaiKu Sushi Lounge, plus dining at Jazz at the Bistro.)
The restaurateur (who is also a swim coach at two local high schools as well as a firefighter), hopes fans of either Dooley’s location will drop by and say goodbye before the curtain falls on October 17. Hours are 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Monday and 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. Tues – Sun. Dooley reminds us, however, that “it’s not a solid 8 p.m.” You know what happens when people in Irish pubs start telling stories…
