Photo by George Mahe
Southtown Pub on the evening of August 1, 2019, with a sandwich board blocking entry.
Alas, the venerable Southtown Pub is no more. A sign posted on a sandwich board outside the building, at 3707 S. Kingshighway, on the evening of August 1 said, “Apologies, we’re closed today.” But it had a deeper meaning: The “smoked meats and cheap drinks” emporium hasn’t opened since (despite a July 31 post to its Facebook page), and an online auction of the contents has been scheduled for 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, August 7 (a public open house preview iwill be held from 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. that day).
Courtesy Southtown Pub
Even though the Southtown Pub had been a neighborhood watering hole for decades, it appeared on local foodies' radars when it amped up its menu with a selection of barbecue basics, as well as turkey, sausage, meatloaf, and smoked portobellos. Leading the pack was the pub’s rubbed and smoked chicken wings (which many proclaimed the best in town), but it was the whimsical dishes that garnered much of the attention.
In a 2017 story titled “Dishes That Taste Better Than They Sound,” SLM called out the pub’s Atomic Turds (smoked jalapeños stuffed with chorizo and cream cheese). Hoosier Nachos (pork or chicken atop house-made chips, dressed with jack cheese, BBQ beans, sour cream, Memphis sauce, and banana peppers) generated buzz as well. SLM even put Southtown Pub on a list of the top 5 foodie bars in St. Louis in 2017.
The rise to prominence can be credited to a handful of talented pitmasters, including Jamie Brust (now with the Gianino’s Family of Restaurants), Travis Parfait (now co-owner of Sister Cities Cajun), and Chris Muich (now at Hogtown Smokehouse in Dogtown).
The pub boasted a tented patio and lounge and pavilion that was especially popular during game days; a free shuttle to Blues and Cards games; and the upstairs Barrel Room, equipped with every accouterment needed for a proper party, including karaoke.
Longtime customer Pat Eby remembers the attention paid to customers of all ages.
"One of the things that made Southtown so popular was their focus on hospitality and good customer service," she said. "Servers, bartenders, greeters all engaged with their customers. Pamela Parfait worked the floor with style and even met her future husband there, the affable Travis. I've seen a server engage a fractious 2-year-old with a bit of close hand magic with colored scarves that stopped a tantrum dead. Family-friendly wasn't just a slogan there. Kids were truly welcome.
"The food wasn't just good for a pub, it was solid, not just the smoked meats and burgers, but the sides, too. The "angry beans" hit both the sweet spot and the hot button -- a great combination. The drinks were inexpensive and well made, even in a happy hour crush. A not-so-happy ending for hardworking southsiders."
Late on August 5, owners Paul and Samantha Perrigue posted the official announcement to the Southtown Pub's Facebook page.
SLM has reached out to the Perrigues for additional comment.
Editor's Note: This article has been updated to include Southtown Pub's Facebook post.
