Official word came this morning that, after 19 years in business, Dogtown stalwart Chuy Arzola's Tex Mex Restaurant will close. Owner Eddie Arzola cited the closing of Highway 40 as the reason for a drop in business over the last year; Arzola said he'll be exploring other opportunities. July 3 will be the restaurant's last day of business.
I have a difficult time believing that Highway 40 closing is to blame. The restaurant is in an extremely dense area and Hwy 40 is still open 3 miles west of the location. I seriously doubt they have a devout following from people in St. Charles/Chesterfield.
TB1000 wrote:I have a difficult time believing that Highway 40 closing is to blame. The restaurant is in an extremely dense area and Hwy 40 is still open 3 miles west of the location. I seriously doubt they have a devout following from people in St. Charles/Chesterfield.
Definitely sad news! Were they always open on Sundays? I see Sunday hours listed, but I stopped by twice on separate occasions with out-of-town guests and they were not open. (This would've been within the past two years...)
Maybe they can tear down the closed store, Chuy's building and laundry mat and build a 4 story condo complex with retail on the first level, under ground parking etc.......
oh wait....we already have that on the other side of the street
I can remember a number of times driving there for dinner and walking home because we enjoyed too many of their great margaitas. Nothing like the walk of shame the next morning to pick the car back up.
Thats bad news. The news story (I think it was on Channel 4) a few years ago about Chuy's being the dirtiest restaurant in st. louis hurt their buisness. It was never as busy after that came out. I loved the Lonestar Chicken Quesadilla. Very Sad
I've only lived in the hood for 2 months and I ate there once. I wasn't all that impressed with the food, I prefer El Maguey, but the service was friendly and obviously it had a good neighborhood feel. I hate to see an empty storefront, there's already too many at that intersection (and the surrounding area).
Oh, yeah, and the huge disaster of a development with half a million dollar condos that will remain standing as nothing for years to come.
I think Mi Ranchito killed this place. Better and cheaper food. I always liked Chuy's but I heard a LOT of people with negative opinions. Hwy 40? come on...
carrieocity kills wrote:crap. i forgot all about Chuys. that was a great place.
that's why they closed, when restaurants fall out of people's consciousness for whatever reason. Hwy. 40 didn't make people forget about it.
I was last there a year ago, and it seemed like the food and service had edged downhill just a bit. Chimichangas on S. Grand is my new fave Mex. joint.
JuiceInDogtown wrote:I've only lived in the hood for 2 months and I ate there once. I wasn't all that impressed with the food, I prefer El Maguey, but the service was friendly and obviously it had a good neighborhood feel. I hate to see an empty storefront, there's already too many at that intersection (and the surrounding area).
Oh, yeah, and the huge disaster of a development with half a million dollar condos that will remain standing as nothing for years to come.
People keep moving into Dogtown, yet retail is moving out. Sad. And what about those condos that are not being completed on Kraft.
Chimichangas on south grand is better than Mi Ranchito. better chips and guac. not as clean as Mi Ranchito though. who wants a clean mexican restaurant though. try cherokee st.
JuiceInDogtown wrote:I've only lived in the hood for 2 months and I ate there once. I wasn't all that impressed with the food, I prefer El Maguey, but the service was friendly and obviously it had a good neighborhood feel. I hate to see an empty storefront, there's already too many at that intersection (and the surrounding area).
Oh, yeah, and the huge disaster of a development with half a million dollar condos that will remain standing as nothing for years to come.
People keep moving into Dogtown, yet retail is moving out. Sad. And what about those condos that are not being completed on Kraft.
I live in on Kraft...Are you talking about the condos that the back side is facing Clayton, and the front of the condos is all jacked up with mud and debris? Those aren't getting completed either? What is wrong with these people?
JuiceInDogtown wrote:I've only lived in the hood for 2 months and I ate there once. I wasn't all that impressed with the food, I prefer El Maguey, but the service was friendly and obviously it had a good neighborhood feel. I hate to see an empty storefront, there's already too many at that intersection (and the surrounding area).
Oh, yeah, and the huge disaster of a development with half a million dollar condos that will remain standing as nothing for years to come.
People keep moving into Dogtown, yet retail is moving out. Sad. And what about those condos that are not being completed on Kraft.
And at this rate, when do you suppose the retail project on Oakland will get canceled?
I was never impressed with Chuy's. Of course, my wife and I went several years ago and became very sick, so I never really felt compelled to give it another try.
The impact of 64/40 is a convenient excuse, and we all know the economy sucks. But could the reason for Chuy's demise be as simple as the relative glut of quality Mexican restaurants scattered throughout our region? I know that on my way to Dogtown, for example, I could pass at least three or four solid Mexican choices in south St. Louis, and that's without even getting close to Cherokee Street.
That said, I'm still sorry to see it close, and I'm sorry to see another vacant storefront in Dogtown. (Not to be cynical, but I can't imagine it will be the last, because I don't know how Felix's stays in business after two less-than-stellar visits there.) FWIW, I think Dogtown will be well-poised once the economy starts to improve, as it's one of the best locations around town for prospective residents and businesses alike. (Now, if we could just do something about that abomination on the SW corner of Clayton and Tamm avenues, that would be GREAT!)
JuiceInDogtown wrote:I've only lived in the hood for 2 months and I ate there once. I wasn't all that impressed with the food, I prefer El Maguey, but the service was friendly and obviously it had a good neighborhood feel. I hate to see an empty storefront, there's already too many at that intersection (and the surrounding area).
Oh, yeah, and the huge disaster of a development with half a million dollar condos that will remain standing as nothing for years to come.
People keep moving into Dogtown, yet retail is moving out. Sad. And what about those condos that are not being completed on Kraft.
I live in on Kraft...Are you talking about the condos that the back side is facing Clayton, and the front of the condos is all jacked up with mud and debris? Those aren't getting completed either? What is wrong with these people?
Those very ones! There has been no activity on those in quite awhile. I'm going to get the bank number and call... there is a sign laying on it's side, leaning against the building(on the Berthold side)--I think there is still a sign on the Clayton side, though.
ThreeOneFour wrote:I was never impressed with Chuy's. Of course, my wife and I went several years ago and became very sick, so I never really felt compelled to give it another try.
The impact of 64/40 is a convenient excuse, and we all know the economy sucks. But could the reason for Chuy's demise be as simple as the relative glut of quality Mexican restaurants scattered throughout our region? I know that on my way to Dogtown, for example, I could pass at least three or four solid Mexican choices in south St. Louis, and that's without even getting close to Cherokee Street.
That said, I'm still sorry to see it close, and I'm sorry to see another vacant storefront in Dogtown. (Not to be cynical, but I can't imagine it will be the last, because I don't know how Felix's stays in business after two less-than-stellar visits there.) FWIW, I think Dogtown will be well-poised once the economy starts to improve, as it's one of the best locations around town for prospective residents and businesses alike. (Now, if we could just do something about that abomination on the SW corner of Clayton and Tamm avenues, that would be GREAT!)
I wondered about the sudden surge in Mexican restaurants, myself. There are quite a few in the immediate area, and even more just slightly further away... we even sampled Amigo's in Kirkwood this weekend (pretty tasty, way crowded, kind of far for something so readily available near us).
I live a stone's throw from Chimichanga's and El Burrito Loco, and I love them both, so I probably miss out on some other great Mexican joints around the area. Since I wash my Mexican food down with one of the Mexican beers that are available, I have no opinions on the margaritas at either restaurant, though.
(and the surrounding area).
