New restaurant coming to Belleville; eatery opens at Scott AFB
Some of you may have noticed new signs at 400 S. Illinois St. in Belleville.
In case you haven’t, La Fiesta Mexican Restaurant is coming soon to the former Mariachi’s, which closed in November.
A commercial occupancy permit for the location was submitted to the city, according to Cliff Cross, economic development, planning and zoning director for Belleville.
I don’t have much more than that at the moment, but I’ll share more details when I have the info.
Another new restaurant is now open at 817 Seibert Road at the edge of Scott AFB.
Alma Dean’s Southern Style Eatery is owned by Timm and Nicole Taylor, who celebrated the grand opening earlier this month.
The restaurant offers fried or baked chicken wings, meatloaf, fried or Cajun sautéed swai (white fish), pork steak and ribs.
Side items include mac & cheese, collard greens with smoked turkey, braised cabbage, mashed potatoes, candied yams, Southern-style green beans, buttered corn, mustard potato salad, cole slaw and spaghetti with sauce.
Call in orders, carryout and limited seating for dining in are available. Hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week. For more info, call 618-420-7932.
Bar updates along Belleville’s Main Street
Here’s a quick update on The Harp Pub in Belleville, which was previously slated to open this month.
After checking in with owners Glen McElligott and Greg Partelow via text, I learned that they’re dealing with some equipment delays.
The opening has been pushed to (hopefully) late May, according to McElligott.
So that properly poured pint of Guinness I’ve been pining for at 1112 W. Main St. will have to wait a little longer.
Big Daddy’s 618 closed at the end of March as planned for a big renovation project taking place over the next several months.
With TIF assistance from the city, the longtime gathering space will get some updates, a new kitchen and other improvements before reopening in September with a new food concept.
In a business plan submitted with its TIF application, Smeez Inc. proposed a modern deli. However, owner Scott Schmelzel told the BND in January that the details for the food concept were still in the works.
Whatever that ends up being, the incentive mandates that the business create up to 15 new jobs, adding to the 10 positions that will be retained.
What’s that development on Hartman Lane in O’Fallon?
I often see posts on social media from folks asking about new developments in the area. One recent poster asked about a development on Hartman Lane in O’Fallon, near the Circle K at Hartman and Thouvenot.
This development is a “multi-phase expansion project” for Calvary Church, according to the religious organization’s website.
The first phase of the project is the current construction, states the website, which will include space for the Kids Ministry, Youth Ministry, lobby, restrooms and multi-purpose space for worship events and other gatherings.
The church acquired the 5.36-acre property in March 2018, and construction broke ground in August 2024.
For updates and more information about this project, visit ccmetroeast.org.
Readers, if you see new developments in the community and would like more info, feel free to contact me at jgreen@bnd.com or 618-239-2643. I’ll check it out so you can be in the know.
