Snax Gastrobar, a casual neighborhood-style restaurant concept from Robust co-owners Arlene and Stanley Browne, quietly closed over the weekend.
Snax took over the former J McArthur’s space, at 3500 Watson in Lindenwood Park, in March 2017. Both restaurants closed prior to their second anniversaries.
J McArthur’s closed after namesake chef Ben McArthur departed; Snax closed because the Brownes were “unable to sustain the volume we needed to fully continue operations,” according to a Facebook post published Sunday night.
Snax appeared to have a lot going for it. As SLM mentioned shortly after the restaurant opened, it was St. Louis' first gastrobar—"a shotgun approach to the gastropub, a descriptor that’s become as shopworn as the Guinness tap at McGurk’s.” And whereas gastropubs tend to focus on beer (by definition), the Brownes' gastrobar gave equal weight to beer, wine, and classic cocktails.
Snax pushed many of the right buttons: It had a super-casual atmosphere, a kid- and dog-friendly patio (complete with board games and sidewalk chalk), a back patio geared to grown-ups, and approachable food and prices to match. Executive chef Joe Hemp V dubbed the fare “humble foods,” as in “simple food done a little better.” For example, the A-List–winning Buffalo Balls were composed of “Sweet-Heat”–glazed chicken and pork meatballs over stone-ground grits, resembling "planets atop a bed of clouds" with an "other-worldly" taste.
We'll also miss the griddled, double cheeseburger served with a side of Snax Sauce, a variant on the kitchen sauce of the '50s or the popular “Comeback Sauce,” the dipping and dabbing condiment served in the South.
Reviews of the restaurant, on social media and elsewhere, were generally positive, and weekend business was solid.
So what happened?
Arlene was at a loss for words as to specific reasons for the closure. "I really don't have an answer," she says. "Most times, you do; in this case, we don't. Our prices were fair—right down to glass wines and cocktails—and our margins were low. We couldn't have gone any lower and still made a profit."
On a positive note, the flagship Robust in Webster Groves will soon celebrate its 11th anniversary, and "vegatini Mondays" (when plant-based dishes and martini specials are served on Mondays) are going gangbusters, according to the Brownes.
In the Facebook post, couple acknowledged the neighborhood and the staffers.
A prior SLM article stated that “Snax Gastrobar is the first concept in the expansion of the Robust brand—the first of several, according to the Brownes.” The indefatigable couple left that door open in Sunday night’s Facebook post: “BIG thanks to all who supported us, offered suggestions, and cheered us on. You will not be forgotten. We look forward to the next chapter ahead and hope to see you all again soon!
"Another door will open for us," Arlene says. "We are not afraid to go on. We have a ton of ideas."
