O’Fallon Downtown District preps for season, restaurants come and go, and pub crawls

O’Fallon Downtown District Coordinator Sarah Burton said the organization has been preparing for a new season of the Vine Street Market at the O’Fallon Station, which starts May 11 from 8 a.m. to noon.

Meanwhile, several Micro Markets are set for Saturdays – March 16, March 30, April 13 and April 27, from 9 a.m. to noon.

For special activities, first up is a wee bit o’ fun with the St. Patrick’s Day Grub Crawl this Sunday with 10 participating businesses from 1 to 5 p.m., offering Irish eats and drink specials, a stein holding contest – look for the leprechauns, and an appearance by Gaelic Origin Irish Dancers.

Business comings and goings

In the downtown district, several businesses are coming and going, changing the landscape in O’Fallon there and elsewhere. The Depot bar and grill has closed at 126 E. State St. When reached for a comment, the owner declined to explain his decision.

The Upright Pub and Music Parlor has opened in the former Hemingway’s Zen Garden space at 123 E. First St., O’Fallon, with hours Wednesday through Saturday. They offer live music the nights they are open. Chrissy Nordin and Kristen Keller are the proprietors.

The former Birch Market location at 227 W. First St. will open in late April as Toast and Table. Co-owner Stacy Fangmeyer said they are a specialty kitchen store offering kitchen tools, gadgets, cookware, barware, and gifts.

“We’re geared towards the everyday home cook. We will also be a teaching kitchen where we will offer hands-on cooking classes and private events,” she said.

Meanwhile, while it no longer has a storefront, which closed in August, Birch Catering remains in operation, catering for large and small events.

A new interior and exterior design company, ROAM, opens March 14 at 502 E. State St.

Former owner Angie Bernreuter moved her Juice Heal Thrive smoothie and juice bar from 622 E. State St. to 124 W. State St., next to the Medicine Shoppe in the Schwarz Center, last June. In February, she sold her family-owned business, which opened in 2020, to Phil Wilhelm, who continues to sell all-organic, plant-based, gluten-free cold-pressed juices and offers a few food items, like special salads and energy cookies.

Chevy’s Fresh Mex closed its O’Fallon location, at 1305 Central Parkway Drive, on March 7. Two locations remain in St. Louis, at 9119 Olive Blvd. in Olivette, and at 12466 Tesson Ferry Road in South County.

Brand new to O’Fallon

Community Development Director Justin Randall said Outback Steakhouse has pushed its opening, set for this month, to April. It is located at 1102 Central Park Drive, near the Drury Inn.

The Australian-themed American chain is returning to the southwestern Illinois region after the Swansea location, which opened in 1995, did not reopen after a fire on April 24, 2021. Currently, there are three in the St. Louis area — O’Fallon and St. Peters, Missouri, and South St. Louis County.

The new Starbucks is expected to begin construction on the former Southview Plaza site next week, at Lincoln Avenue and U.S. Highway 50, Randall said.

Wahaka Margarita Bar and Grill plans to announce its opening in the coming days. Located in the Blade building, in the former 1818 Chophouse space, on Green Mount Road, it has given this spot the phonetic spelling for “Oaxaca,” which is the name of their first location in Edwardsville, at the Trace on Parkway. Oaxaca is a region in Mexico, and the co-owners focus is authentic cuisine.

Smoke & Kettle in the KC Hall and Event Center on Old Collinsville Road is now open 4 to 8 p.m. on Wednesdays, serving barbecue, chicken and fish, in addition to their Friday fish fries during Lent.

Not just donuts anymore

A Dunkin’ Donuts is the final commercial development at The Shoppes at Richland Creek that borders Greenmount Road, Frank Scott Parkway and Central Park Drive. Popeyes, Five Guys, Wing Stop, Burger King, Taco Bell, Chicken Salad Chick, and Smoothie King are the neighboring places.

This Dunkin’ (company is dropping the “Donuts” from the title), will be a two-lane drive-thru and will not have indoor dining. No estimate yet about when they will open. The nearest metro-east location is currently in Fairview Heights.

St. Louis Kolache, with eight locations in the metropolitan area, is a franchise operation of American Kolache, a breakfast and lunch quick service food operation with fresh-baked kolaches (puffy yeast dough with either savory or sweet fillings). It is renovating the former Imo’s Pizza location at 521 West U.S. Highway 50 and will be the second in the metro-east, with Edwardsville being the first.

St. Patrick’s Day Grub Crawl

Organizer Chrissy Johnson said she is thrilled by the response so far.

“The name O’Fallon is straight from Ireland! It only makes sense to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in a big way with our community,” she said.

For the third year, 10 pubs are participating in the St. Patrick’s Day Grub Crawl from 1 to 5 p.m., offering a themed dish for around $5 and having a lucky drink special.

“We have such a nice walkable downtown with each bar and restaurant being unique in their own way,” she said.

Each place is serving Irish eats. Johnson’s place, Boarding House Bistro, will offer Shepherd’s Pie, Gears inside Bike Surgeon is serving Irish Nachos, Mandy’s will have Guinness Beef Sliders, Shooter’s will have Corned Beef Sliders, First Street Lounge will offer Corned Beef and Cabbage, Peel will have Reuben Sliders, Le Ono will have Corned Beef and Cabbage Egg Rolls, and the American Legion will have Irish Beer Cheese Dip. Sweet offerings include Guinness Chocolate Cake at The Upright and Irish Mousse at the VFW.

Participants are encouraged to wear green and look for the leprechauns roaming around downtown to compete in the Stein Holding Competition. That contest is $5 per entry, heat winners get a token to compete in the final championship, which will take place at Gears at 5 p.m. The grand champion will take home bragging rights for a year, plus a cash prize, Johnson said.

Gaelic Origin Irish Dancers will be making an appearance too.

Restaurant Growth

Last year, new restaurants opening included Le Ono, GiGi’s Gelato and Italian Market, Los Amigos Mexican Restaurant, and Tio’s Taco + Tequila Bar. Casa Maria Express was renamed Frida’s Cucina, and Imo’s Pizza moved to 705 Cambridge Blvd.

In 2022, the city welcomed the first Hi-Pointe Drive-In and Dogwood Social in the metro-east, the second metro-east locations of Edley’s Bar-B-Que and Hawaiian Brothers Island Grill, a Scooter’s Coffee drive-thru, Blossom Play Café, Juice Heal Thrive, Yummy Rice Bowls, and O Town Food Hall & Tap House in the remodeled Hop House location.

To find out the status of planning and zoning projects, check out this map: https://arcg.is/1vaO8q