If you’re in the mood for BBQ before, after or during a Cardinals Game, or whenever you feel like it, Ballpark Village now has you covered. Salt + Smoke BBQ will open on Monday May 17th. I got the chance to check out the new location during a “soft opening” event on Friday May 14th.
The space is large and occupies the first two floors of the One Cardinal Way apartment building. The first floor is home to a large bar and restrooms as well as an elevator that allows you to access the parking garage at One Cardinal Way. The elevator doubles to allow people to access the second floor of the Salt + Smoke location. The rooftop deck has plenty of seating and a nice view up and down Broadway and Clark, but lacks a view into Busch Stadium to watch games. Regardless of that though, the game day energy should still be felt.
During the soft opening, small eats were served including ribs, chicken wings, white cheddar and crackers mac and cheese, pulled pork sandwiches, sweet potato chips, and brownies. Drinks were also on the house during the soft opening. Due to the recent change in COVID-19 guidance from the CDC and City of St. Louis, the second level was packed and mask wearing was minimal. Many people at the event, that I talked to, said that they loved the feeling of the return of normalcy after a little over a year of restrictions, capacity restrictions, mask mandates, and curfews. I also welcome these changes. This is expected to continue once Salt + Smoke opens to the public on Monday.
For hours, a menu and more, visit the Salt + Smoke Website (not fully set up yet): https://saltandsmokebbq.com/location/ballpark-village/
On the other end of Ballpark Village, and along Clark Street, Arch Apparel has opened in the retail space between the Live! by Loews “Clark & Bourbon” restaurant and Baseballism. For those who don’t know, Arch Apparel is a local clothing store specializing in St. Louis themed streetwear. The store is quite simple, but has a nice selection of shirts, hats, and cups that all relate to St. Louis. During my visit, a friendly husky hung around me and walked around the store. It was a surprise. The staff here were very nice and agreed when I brought up the great location they gave (being right across Clark from the Cardinals Team Store).
Arch Apparel at Ballpark Village opened last Friday (May 7th) and is open Sunday-Thursday from 10AM-6PM and Friday-Saturday from 10AM-8PM.
Both Salt + Smoke and Arch Apparel join a series of new businesses that have opened recently at Ballpark Village, all of which are in the Phase 2 portion. Other businesses to open recently include Baseballism, Starbucks, Scott Credit Union, Sports and Social, and OneLife Fitness. The next business to open is Spark Coworking at the PWC Pennant Building.
Ballpark Village: 601 Clark Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63102.
Salt + Smoke: First floor of One Cardinal Way at Broadway and Clark.
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