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Photography by Samantha Stevenson
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Photography by Samantha Stevenson
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Photography by Samantha Stevenson
On October 17, Wentzville will become the newest home of a Sugarfire Smoke House location.
Sugarfire co-founders Charlie Downs and Mike Johnson teamed up with franchisees Matt Martin and Jim Cook for their fifth venture together, which will be the largest and most ambitious version of the popular barbecue eatery to date.
Located at 1101 Lodora Drive, the 5,000-square-foot restaurant will seat 110 diners with a rooftop patio for additional alfresco dining, and the 2,000-square-foot patio will offer a full bar, two sand volleyball courts (leagues begin next spring), and a fast-option menu. Next door, the 3,500-square-foot Sugarfire Reserve will play host to private events featuring custom menus and Sugarfire’s first brunch offering.

Courtesy Sugarfire Wentzville
As Wentzville natives, Martin and Cook are excited to bring home the bacon (and ribs, and brisket, and pulled pork, etc) to their hometown. Their design plan for the dining room will center around Wentzville’s history as a railway station, with a railroad track ceiling serving as a focal point.

Courtesy Sugarfire Wentzville
On opening day, doors open at 11 a.m., with the full-service menu of smoked meats, creative sides, and cold sodas and suds. To mark the occasion, visitors on opening day will be entered to win a prize basket valued at $1,000.
Then, on October 19, the new restaurant will host a luau and charity volleyball tournament. A whole hog roast and the full Sugarfire brunch service, plus beer and music, are only $20 per person. (Fifty spectator wristbands will be available on a first-come, first-served basis beginning at 10 a.m.)
Twelve sand volleyball teams will play throughout the day for the championship title, and 100 percent of the proceeds will be donated to Wentzville charity Andrew’s Hugs, which helps children with disabilities live their lives to the fullest, and Brace for Impact 46, former Cardinals pitcher Kyle McClellan’s efforts to build orphanages, schools, and medical centers in Haiti.
“We’re so honored to be able to give back to organizations that we care about and that make a difference,” says Martin. “I had the opportunity to travel to Haiti with Brace for Impact 46. These kids had nothing before, and now they couldn’t be happier.”
Sugarfire Wentzville will be open daily from 11 a.m.–9 p.m. or until sold out, with counter service, carryout, delivery, and catering available.

Courtesy Sugarfire Wentzville