SLM recently chronicled the closure of three restaurants: The Dam in Tower Grove South, Tapped in Maplewood, and BEAST Southern Kitchen & BBQ in Columbia, Illinois. Now, five more—including some longtime establishments—have closed or plan to close their doors soon.
West End Bistro (255 Union): Located north of Forest Park, the restaurant quietly closed after service on Mother’s Day, May 8. Owners Kevin and Marion Green opened the original location in 2019 in the former Pig & Pickle/Atlas space, at 5513 Pershing, before moving to its more recent location. SLM dining critic Dave Lowry praised its “uncomplicated, thoroughly satisfying fare,” and called West End Bistro “a worthy heir to the former Atlas space”—no easy achievement. In 2020, the Greens moved the business to 255 Union, a multi-room restaurant with a huge street-facing patio that at least 10 restaurants have called home over the years. (SLM recalled them in this article). Kevin Green did, however, allude to future plans.
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Nicoletti’s Ristorante (1366 Big Bend): The Ballwin restaurant closed May 13, according to a sign on the door, which read, “Due to circumstances beyond our control, we are closing as of today.” A Facebook post read, in part, “Nicoletti’s has closed and we’ve retired. To all our friends we’ve made over the years, we will miss you. To the community that has supported us for 35 years, we thank you.” The family-owned restaurant was known for its Steak Modiga, generous portions, and popular monthly Rib Night, touted as “the best ribs you’ll find at an Italian restaurant.”
Ramon’s El Dorado (1711 Saint Louis): The popular 55-year-old, family-owned Mexican restaurant in Collinsville closed May 17 until further notice. A Facebook post announced that the health of operator Carlos Otero Sr., has been compromised, requiring surgery, and that “without Carlos, Ramon’s El Dorado cannot continue to stay open or manage its many expenses.” (Otero Sr. is the son of founder Raymundo “Ramon” Otero, who died in 2016.) Ten days ago, a GoFundMe with a goal of $10,000 was organized on behalf of the beloved restaurateur. More than $29,000 has been raised to date.
Courtesy Diner (3153 S. Kingshighway): The diner closed “indefinitely” on May 25, the Post-Dispatch reports. A company representative said the diner’s future is uncertain and that the building is not yet for sale. Courtesy Diner’s other two locations (1121 Hampton and 8000 S. Laclede Station) remain open, serving up such favorite dishes as St. Louis Slingers and Southsider omelets.
Pho Grand (3195 S. Grand): Perhaps the most shocking closure announcement: Pho Grand, one of the most popular restaurants along the South Grand restaurant corridor, plans to close June 13, after 33 years in business, as Sauce magazine first reported. For many St. Louisans, Pho Grand was their first introduction to Vietnamese food; for others, it was a weekly ritual for spring rolls, noodle soups, and filled rice flour crepes. Owners My and Tami Trinh told multiple sources that the closure was bittersweet and it was time to focus on their health and happiness. They also teased that it may be more of a “see you later” than “goodbye.”
One bright spot: In the same period of time that the closures were announced, six restaurants have opened, and several more have been announced. Among them are such blockbusters as a new location of Katie’s Pizza & Pasta Osteria at Ballpark Village, Billy G’s Finer Diner in Chesterfield, and an upscale tavern in Clayton from Louie owner Matt McGuire.
