Hi-Pointe Drive-In Opening in Edwardsville
The owners of Sugarfire Smoke House, Hi-Pointe Drive-In, and Chicken Out have announced that the newest Hi-Pointe Drive-In–the eighth location and the second in Illinois–will open this Thursday, October 19, at 6147 Trace Parkway in Edwardsville, Illinois. The 3,500-square-foot building also features a back patio. Hi-Pointe Edwardsville will be open from 11 a.m.–9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m.–10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
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The menu will include the brand’s signature smashburgers (made from beef chuck, brisket, and short rib), mile-high sandwiches, milkshakes, and memorably named specials, such as Send Noods (a double smashburger with a ramen-noodle patty, served on a crab Rangoon bun), Belly Clarkson (a double smashburger with pork belly and bacon-fat aioli), and Snoop Hoggy Dog (a collaboration with Steve’s Hot Dogs that involves a hot dog covered in pulled pork, mac ‘n’ cheese, bacon bits, and barbecue sauce), and Strawberry Gooey Butter Cake milkshake (pictured at right).
The décor boasts one of artist Killer Napkins’ themed murals, as well as the concept’s familiar neon signage, bright colors, bold graphics, and whimsical design touches.
The relatively new Trace on the Parkway development has been a popular hub for new restaurants. Dining options include Doc’s Smokehouse, Oaxaca Margarita Bar & Mexican Restaurant, a relocated 1818 Chophouse, American Kolache (a franchised location of St. Louis Kolache), and Mike Del Pietro’s Blue Violet, as well as new locations for Kimchi Guys, Drunken Fish, and Clementine’s Naughty and Nice Ice Cream. Catty-corner to the development is the flagship Bella Milano, Twisted Biscuit Brunch Co, and Taj Indian Cuisine.
Chicken Out Closes in University City
Earlier this month, the flagship Chicken Out closed, as Sauce first reported. The fast-casual concept opened to great fanfare in June 2020 at 6197 Delmar (at Skinker) on the Delmar Loop (or “Coop”, according to its website). A second location opened at 10463 Manchester in Kirkwood (a.k.a. “Cluckwood”) in fall 2021.
“As it turns out, the chicken sandwich business–especially with us starting up during Covid and enduring super high chicken prices for a super long time–became a lot trickier than we thought,” says partner Mike Johnson, who says the location struggled to make a profit, even after the pandemic subsided and chicken prices fell.
“We have so much good going on in our company and have only so much time, resources, and people, who we were able to relocate to other locations,” adds partner Ben Hillman. “Closing the Loop location was not an easy decision, but [the employee relocation] made it a little easier.”
“We love the landlord and we love the Loop neighborhood,” Johnson says. “We just couldn’t make that location work.
“On the flip side,” he adds, “Kirkwood [Chicken Out] is doing great.”
