We’re losing another distinctive institution from the old days of St. Louis. The Hilltop Inn, a great example of that world of the blue-collar 1950s, is shutting down. The great mom-style cheeseburgers, somewhere between fat and thin, and plate lunches like pork chops or hand-carved ham from the small steam table will go the way of Wrestling at the Chase and Adams Dairy.
We’d thought the evening transformation of the Hilltop into a spot for young drinkers, who could still get those cheeseburgers at night although the steam table shut down, might keep the place afloat for yet another generation to enjoy. The J. Garavaglia sign is still out front for the moment, and the wonderful wooden bar yet remains. But someone will snatch them up after the Hilltop disappears like Dieckmeyer’s saloon and Fran’s Chrome Bar.
There’s still time to don a vintage Mamie Eisenhower hat or a bow tie and a straw boater, but not much. The Hilltop will serve its last meal on Friday, May 27. The bar will continue to offer drinks until June 30. But bring cash. They still don’t take credit cards.
UPDATE, 9 a.m., May 25:
Greg Rhomberg (below left), sign collector extraordinaire and long time supporter of the Hilltop Inn, has procured the legendary exterior sign. As SLM reported here, "His multiple warehouses in the Metro area are stuffed with a museum-quality collection of vintage autos, tractors, bicycles, coin-operated machines, carousel horses, menus, pinball machines, gumball machines, bumper cars, phone booths, barber chairs, pedal cars, carnival rides, fire trucks, jukeboxes, camping trailers… and neon signs."
Photo courtesy of Greg Rhomberg
The Hilltop Inn
6902 Morgan Ford
Lunch: Mon - Fri
Dinner: Mon - Sat
Closed Sundays
314-481-9191
An original water color of The Hilltop by local artist Marilynne Bradley, courtesy antiquewhs.com
