One of the more outrageously themed, locally owned restaurant concepts of the past few years, Hi-Pointe Drive-In, just inked a deal to take over the former Honey Pit Smokehouse space in Kirkwood (951 S. Kirkwood), which closed its doors June 14 after a three-and-a-half-year run.
Partner Ben Hillman says the ownership group had been looking for space in the western corridor for at least six months. “It’s the perfect location for a Hi-Pointe and both sides are happy,” Hillman says of the arrangement to assume the Honey Pit lease. (The same group owns Sugarfire Smoke House and Chicken Out concepts, the latter opening its second location this summer, also in Kirkwood.)
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The building is in good shape and won’t require an extensive buildout, according to Hillman, who expects an early-August opening. The 4,100-square-foot building is slightly larger than the other two Hi-Pointe locations and will feature 60 interior seats, as well as “an open-air dining room” accessed via operable garage doors. The building has a pickup window for pre-ordered food (as opposed to a drive-thru window, where orders can be placed and picked up).
The flagship Hi-Pointe location opened in early 2017 in the former Naugles/Del Taco site, at 1033 McCausland, but the pre-opening buzz was building months before. Long before the first smash burger was ever plated, passersby were intrigued by a fiberglass steer standing sentry on the roof of a building made from brightly colored shipping containers. Other artistic stimuli include a roof top rocket ship and a Security Van, a former mini Chinese-made delivery vehicle showing crime fighters “armed” with food from the Hi-Pointe. And this is before any eyeballs reach the bold visuals inside. A second location was added downtown in April 2019, featuring a 20-foot sci-fi mural and burger, fries, and condiment mannequins watching over the action from the mezzanine level.
Due to zoning restrictions, the visuals at the Kirkwood location will more resemble the downtown space than the flagship. “We’ll have fun with the interior and the exterior as much as we can,” says Hillman. “We’ll push the limits but stay within them.”
Expect the same bawdy, “Stay Hi!” banter and the same menu as at the prior locations: signature smashed burgers, outrageously named and over-the-top daily specials, and premium milkshakes. Adam Pritchett, creator of many of the daily sandwich specials, will lead the Kirkwood kitchen. Longtime Hi-Pointe team member KoKo Jackson will serve as general manager.
