Beffa's Closes Kitchen October 1, Reopens as Honey Bee's Midtown

The Midtown institution had reopened in March 2020 after a 9-year closure

Sep 27, 2023 at 10:29 am

JOHN SCHOEMEHL

Beffa's sits in the shadow of Wells Fargo's office complex in Midtown St. Louis.

An attempt to bring back one of St. Louis' landmark restaurants has ended — but the restaurateurs say they'll be back with a new concept.

Beffa's Bar & Restaurant (2700 Olive Street) reopened in Midtown St. Louis in March 2020, nine years after the closure of the original Beffa's at the same site. The restaurant had been an institution, first opening as a saloon in 1898 before turning to food service during Prohibition. For years, it was a gathering place for the city's politicians and those who needed their favor.

But the Beffa family's long-anticipated reopening faced major headwinds, beginning with the global pandemic that caused unprecedented turmoil for the entire hospitality industry. No sooner had Beffa's reopened than restaurants everywhere had to close. And after that, even established restaurants struggled to find staffing and bring back diners.

Yesterday, Beffa's announced they would be changing gears.

Beffa's Kitchen Closing -New Food Concept to be Announced Soon!
It is with mixed emotions for us to announce that Beffa's Kitchen will be closing following Brunch service on Sunday, October 1st. pic.twitter.com/3Qr2jfBKHO
— Beffa’s Bar & Restaurant (@BeffasStl) September 26, 2023

In a subsequent tweet, the family said they would close the kitchen after brunch service October 1.

"A new concept is planned to launch out of the kitchen on October 11th bringing Beffa's customers some exciting new food options. More information on that to come over the next couple weeks," they tweeted. "Please be sure to follow us along this new journey."

The restaurant said the bar would stay open during the period of transition.

"While we will miss the kitchen, we are very excited for what's to come. We do believe that this new concept will continue to honor the memories and history that Beffa's holds," they wrote. "Please help us send off Beffa's kitchen with a bang and cheers."

Update: Beffa's later announced the new concept it had promised was coming: Honey Bee's Biscuits has opened a Midtown outpost inside the Beffa's space. Menu details below:

Biscuit Joint Could Make Midtown St. Louis a Breakfast Mecca: It's actually the second biscuit-centric eatery opening soon in the neighborhood

Slideshow

The Best Food & Drink in St. Louis 2023, as Chosen by Readers

Best SteaksTucker’s Placemultiple locations including 2117 South 12th Street, tuckersplace.comREADERS' CHOICE SPOTLIGHT When you walk into Tucker’s Place’s Soulard flagship, you know you’re in the presence of steak greatness. The smell of thick-cut meat sizzling on the well-seasoned grill scents the room with its intoxicating aroma, filling you with an almost unbearable anticipation that nearly reaches its breaking point when you see the bone-in ribeye listed on the chalkboard menu with the day’s specials. That ribeye is extraordinary — gorgeously marbled meat, the perfect grill char crust and a generous slather of the restaurant’s signature steak sauce that tastes like the nectar of the gods. Though the steaks are serious, Tucker’s bucks the pretentious steakhouse vibe in favor of such low-key offerings as foil-wrapped baked potatoes, jalapeno poppers and dinner rolls. Lean back, bask in the historic setting and surrender to the pure meaty joy.

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About The Author

Sarah Fenske

Sarah Fenske is the executive editor of the RFT and its sister papers. She is the former host of St. Louis on the Air and continues to host its Legal Roundtable, as well participating as an occasional panelist on Nine PBS' Donnybrook. She lives in St. Louis.