Monday, Jun. 15, 2009

Krieger's sports bar in Granite City shuts down

The last metro-east Krieger's Sports Bar standing in the metro-east has closed. According to a sign in the window of the restaurant in Nameoki Commons in Granite City, a new eatery to be known as Sweety Pies is coming soon to take Krieger's place.

The chain of sports bar and grill restaurants was established more than 10 years ago in Maryland Heights, Mo., and once had spots in O'Fallon, Edwardsville and Troy. But according to employees at those remaining Krieger's, each became independently owned operations a year ago. That's when managers of the Edwardsville locale decided to leave the chain and reopened their business at 1071 Illinois 157 in Edwardsville as Bull & Bear Grill and Bar. It was where founder Brian Krieger had opened his first metro-east site in 2002. In 2005, the Krieger's in O'Fallon closed, and the one at 914 Edwardsville Road in Troy closed a year ago.

Krieger's restaurants across the Mississippi River in Chesterfield, Mo., and at Big Bend in St. Louis also are run independently. Elsewhere in Illinois, Krieger's in Mount Vernon and Quincy also are independently owned and still in business. ...

Also having already left the steel city is the River's Edge Golf Course and Restaurant. The nine-hole golf course and adjacent bar and grill quietly closed Dec. 31.

Both were located within River's Edge and along the harbor and canal that once provided recreation for army personnel before the Tri-City Port District took over the property and renamed it River's Edge about eight years ago. The 840-acre tract of land had once housed the Melvin Price Support Center, but the government declared the army depot "in excess" in 1995 and eventually closed the base four years later.

River's Edge General Manager Dennis Wilmsmeyer said three different owners had operated the 80-acre golf course when it reopened, but each struggled to get the enterprise going. He said the port district is marketing the property for commercial or industrial buyers.

"It's a nice, big, wide-open piece of property, which could be used for retail service and has nice access that is adjacent to the river and our harbor facility," Wilmsmeyer said. "It is very likely we could attract a tenant that could utilize harbor services." ...

A sign on the building that had housed Simon Jewelers & Gifts on North Illinois Street in Fairview Heights will soon reopen as a hair and beauty supply store. Stay tuned. ...

Local air travelers can now enjoy two new dining venues. Missouri Vineyards and Brioche Doree Cafe recently opened at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport. Both restaurants have been developed as part of a joint venture with St. Louis-based D&D Concessions and LLC Partnership. Both are located on the Main Terminal on the ticketing level. ...

And finally, employees of Scott Credit Union recently raised almost $1,000 during a fundraiser to support the Illinois Center for Autism. In order to dress down during a day at work, Scott Credit Union employees made a donation and also accepted donations from members during the past month. Scott Credit Union currently has 14 area locations: Scott Air Force Base, East Belleville, Fairview Heights, Collinsville, O'Fallon, Edwardsville, Cahokia, Waterloo, Highland, Caseyville, West Belleville, Millstadt, Mascoutah and Troy.