Albert Pujols' West Port Plaza restaurant, Pujols 5, opened Thursday with a new name and no connection to the departed St. Louis Cardinals slugger.

The eatery has been renamed the "St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame Bar and Grill," and will display various commemorative items important to the city's sports heritage.

"(It) will feature authentic sports memorabilia, from pennants, banners, scorecards and classic photographs to major trophies awarded to players and teams in St. Louis history," according to the announcement by the restaurant's investors Thursday.

Pujols, quoted in the press release, praised restaurant owner Patrick Hanon, who had partnered with the Cardinals slugger when the restaurant originally opened.

“I want to wish Pat Sr., Dave, Pat Jr., and the rest of the Hanon family nothing but success and happiness with their new restaurant,” Pujols said. “They are passionate about what they do and that is why the Hanon’s are the best in the business.”

Patrick Hanon's comment:

“The Pat Hanon family remains fully supportive of the mission and work of the Pujols Family Foundation and thanks Albert and Deidre for their friendship and partnership in the restaurant for the past five years,” Hanon said. “ We wish them only the best.”

Pujols left the Cardinals for a 10-year, $240-million deal with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in December, a move that prompted security guards to be placed around a statue of Pujols outside the restaurant.

That statue will wind up with the Pujols Foundation, likely in the Southern California area.