A racing-themed restaurant in Chesterfield Valley will soon have a new driver. When Wente's O&W Restaurant owners Terry and Carol Wente officially retire at the end of this month, longtime customer and Chesterfield resident Marla Conn of Gumbo Flats, Inc., will take the helm and shorten the restaurant's name to simply Wente's.
The interior will be closed the first week of September for renovations, but regular business hours will resume after Labor Day, with a grand reopening the weekend of September 11 and 12. Conn hopes to add new menu items while keeping many of the favorites (for instance, pizzas, wings, burgers, and smoked meats) and preserving the overall vibe.
"I feel blessed to be able to continue the tradition and keep it alive, to keep it fresh and new while keeping the staff and the great menu," says Conn. "I want to make some changes that will elevate the place a bit but have it still feel like home to everyone who comes in."
Terry Wente opened the restaurant in 1994 with his father, professional race car driver Bob Wente. Keeping with their passion, the two gave the place a racing-based theme. Now, after retiring a quarter century later, Terry plans to continue working as a consultant during the transition.
“Marla has great passion, and we trust her to continue the great Wente’s tradition," Terry said in a press release. "I am excited to have time to spend with my family and relax after many years of operating the business. We are thrilled that Marla will be keeping the staff, and our customers will have the same great experience.”
