HuSTL Hospitality Group recently announced that it would cease daily operations of Steve’s Hot Dogs and The Fountain on Delmar, located adjacent to each other in the Delmar Maker’s Locale, a portion of the Delmar Maker District that also includes operations from Third Degree Glass Factory, Nixta, and Alpha Brewing Company (since closed).
Steve’s Hot Dogs and The Fountain on Delmar will serve their final guests on January 10, following months of recovery efforts and a slow neighborhood rebound.
In a release, HuSTL CEO Danni Eickenhorst encouraged guests to visit the locations one last time to support the staff and share a final meal. “Grab a dog, share a sundae, and help us give this staff the sendoff they deserve,” Eickenhorst said on social media.
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The Fountain on Delmar will remain open this weekend from noon–10 p.m., followed by Thursday and Friday from 4–9 p.m., and Saturday from noon–10 p.m. Steve’s Hot Dogs will be open from 10:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 10:30 a.m.–7 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
The Closures
The decision follows an intense seven-month recovery period after the devastating EF-3 tornado in May. Despite sustained efforts by HuSTL and the surrounding community, prolonged resident displacement and an uncertain reconstruction timeline have made sustained daily brick-and-mortar operations impossible, the release stated.
Looking ahead, HuSTL plans to evolve its business model by directing all new growth toward high-volume, low-margin opportunities, such as stadiums, food halls, festivals, residencies, and mobile concepts while remaining committed to its existing brick-and-mortar stores. Steve’s operates in Tower Grove South and Chesterfield, as well at Enterprise Center, CITYPARK Stadium, and America’s Center. Sister concept Steve’s Meltdown operates at City Foundry and within the Chesterfield location. The flagship Fountain on Locust is located in Midtown.
A cornerstone of the new strategy is the launch of a Steve’s Hot Dogs food truck on March 1. It will offer greater flexibility, lower overhead, and broader regional reach.
When the projects opened on Delmar, the goal was to create a true community gathering place, Eickenhorst said, adding, “I truly believe we were on our way to doing it when the tornado struck. Shifting to high-volume models like stadiums and food trucks allows us to generate the resources necessary to provide our team the quality of life and wages they deserve” and “to lead the charge for St. Louis for years to come.”
The Backstory
A nonprofit expert and communications pro by trade, Eickenhorst added restaurateur to her resume five years ago, when she partnered with Steve Ewing in Steve’s Hot Dogs and then acquired The Fountain on Locust from founder Joy Grdnic. In 2023, along with Ewing and her husband, Marcus, Eickenhorst launched HuSTL Hospitality Group. Plans called for the trio to expand existing concepts The Fountain on Locust and Steve’s Hot Dogs, which resulted in locations for each in the Delmar Maker District in July 2024.
The Delmar Maker District and its restaurants experienced slow but sustained growth until May 16, 2025, when many businesses sustained significant storm damage from an EF-3 tornado. The HuSTL team quickly transformed its sites into a community recovery hub, serving 750 meals and distributing more than 300 bags of groceries and essential supplies. The group also raised $100,000 through its “Build Back the Block” concert and spearheaded the “Delmar Hope Murals” initiative.
Ultimately, the economic reality of a prolonged neighborhood recovery made ongoing daily operations impossible, the release stated. HuSTL says its immediate priority is its people, and the company is actively working to create opportunities for displaced employees at other HuSTL locations or within its expanding high-volume divisions, including festivals, stadiums, and the new food truck.
This week, Eickenhorst, who serves on Mayor Cara Spencer’s Tornado Recovery Commission, said, “We believe deeply in this neighborhood and will continue advocating for its recovery. This is not the end of our commitment—it’s a strategic step forward.”
The closures arrive as restaurateur Ben Poremba moves forward with renewed investment in the Delmar Maker District. He recently announced plans to reopen Olio and Elaia, joining Bengelina Hospitality’s existing neighborhood concepts, Nixta, Esca, and Florentin. In addition, Poremba plans to open two additional projects in the district: Esca Vino & Spuntino, a daytime wine shop that transitions into a wine bar at night, as well as another restaurant concept to be announced in March.
