This weekend, a pop-up bar unites two fan favorites, Helen Fitzgerald’s (1650 S. Lindbergh) and St. Louis Cardinals star outfielder Lars Nootbaar, for The Noot Baar presented by Budweiser.
The Nootbaar-themed baseball experience opens at 6 p.m. on August 15 and runs throughout MLB Players Weekend, featuring special giveaways, game-viewing parties, a new menu item selected by No. 26 himself, Budweiser sampling, Cardinals décor, and more. Here’s what to know before you go.
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The Noot Baar
Nootbaar and Budweiser worked closely to incorporate the 26-year-old outfielder’s charismatic personality into the design and programming for this special pop-up. Themed details will be everywhere, from the exterior signage to the customized details that fans will see when entering Helen Fitzgerald’s, which will be known for the weekend as The Noot Baar presented by Budweiser.
“I’ve said it before, but St. Louis is like baseball heaven to me. I feel so fortunate playing for this town and for these fans,” Nootbaar says. “Budweiser is making it possible for me to show my gratitude to this incredible fan base and city with an experience like this, and for that I am so grateful. I mean, who wouldn’t want a bar named after them?”
The bar and grill will host viewing parties for the Cardinals’ three-game series against the Dodgers, with the first pitches on Friday at 7:15 p.m., Saturday at 6:15 p.m., and Sunday at 1:15 p.m. There will also be giveaways, promotions, and other surprises throughout the weekend.
The Noot Baar presented by Budweiser is a family-friendly experience, aside from the ticketed VIP preview event from 4–6 p.m. on Thursday, when Nootbar will be on hand.
The Backstory
The concept for the pop-up came from Nootbaar himself, after he was asked, “If you had your own bar, what would you name it?” If he hadn’t become a baseball player, Nootbaar says, he would have loved to own a sports bar. The teams at Budweiser and at Helen Fitzgerald’s were happy to oblige for the weekend and make his dream come true.
The Budweiser partner player became a fan favorite back in 2022, after a short stint with the Cardinals to open the season, then a trip back to the minor leagues, followed by a triumphant return to the majors with 14 home runs, 16 doubles, and three triples that season.
Nootbaar, who is half Japanese on his mother’s side and a Southern California native, is an international superstar in Japan, thanks to helping that country win the World Baseball Classic title in 2023.
Helen Fitzgerald’s is known for its Irish-inspired ambiance, famous wing sauce, and live music on weekends. The bar and grill’s classic dishes, such as chicken dip, St. Louis–style pizza, and whiskey-glazed sirloin steak, will be available, along with Nootbaar’s signature dish: a seasoned chicken wing that he particularly enjoys while dining there.
