Photo by George Mahe
The location of the next Pasta House Co. restaurant will be the Greentree Center at Woodlawn and Manchester in Kirkwood.
After a short hiatus, the large corner restaurant space in the Greentree Center at Woodlawn and Manchester in Kirkwood has a new tenant. The Pasta House Co. plans to move into the space by late spring, according to broadcaster Frank Cusumano, who casually mentioned the news yesterday on The Press Box, his weekday radio show on 590 TheFan.
The building includes a full bar, a 120-seat dining room, and a 50-person partially covered patio. The previous tenant in the space was Pi Pizzeria + ¡Rico! Mexican, a hybrid dining concept owned by Pi Pizzeria founder Chris Sommers, which closed last August after a nine-month run. Winfield’s Gathering Place, Kirkwood Brewhouse, and the flagship Saint Louis Bread Co. also previously inhabited the space.
Reached today by telephone, Pasta House owner Joe Fresta, Sr. said that, as with most restaurants, "expansion plans are on hold," but the 4500-square-foot building in Kirkwood was "in the perfect position" [the nearest Pasta House is in Creve Coeur], "in perfect shape" [requiring minor retrofitting], and "almost all the amenities we'd need were in place and useable," which made the decision an easy one. "We just have to make it look like a Pasta House, which we've done a hundred times," he says.
Well, almost.
Courtesy of Covenant Books
In his new book, The House That Pasta Built, which published in November, Fresta tells the story of how over the course of five decades he and his partners built 72 restaurants (both Rich & Charlie's and Pasta House Co's) all over the United States. Fresta is 84-years-old now, albeit a spry and still-golf-playing 84. But regarding future expansion plans, he says simply, "Unless it's a no brainer, like this one was, Pasta House is staying put."
"Kirkwood does have a big U-shaped bar," he says about the new location, "which we're not accustomed to. So besides our regular menu, the plan is to add some bar items–wings, nachos, fries–for people to enjoy while watching games on TV. We know the Pasta House name is already solid in Kirkwood, and between that bar and a big patio, we'll have even more to offer."
The Background
Courtesy of Pasta House Co.
Founded in 1974 by Joe Fresta, Sr., the late John P. Ferrara, and the late J. Kim Tucci, The Pasta House became one of St. Louis’ best known and most popular locally owned restaurant chains. (Much of the company’s history and personality was revealed in this Q&A with Tucci.)
Long known for its affordable pasta dishes, signature house salad, and toasted ravioli, as well as its robust catering business, The Pasta House currently operates 16 locations in Missouri and Illinois, including an outpost at St. Louis Lambert International Airport. The company also owns Pronto!, a fast-casual spinoff in Brentwood (which is temporarily closed due to staffing issues).
Courtesy of Pasta House Co.
Prior to the Kirkwood location, the most recent Pasta House restaurant opening was at 8831 Ladue Road in Ladue (the former Giovanni’s Kitchen space), in late 2020. At the time, Pasta House executive Sam Garanzini reported that, in addition to its standard takeout business, the company’s family meal deals had become a significant part of its sales during the pandemic. "Our carry out business exploded then and it continues to grow," Fresta says.
Seven meal deals are currently available and include pasta, T-ravs, house salad, and bread for a family of four. The Pasta House also offers gluten-free pasta, entrées, and pizza.
