‘Times have gotten tough,’ so Fairview Heights restaurant made a change
Lotawata Creek, known for its Southern-style comfort food, has reopened in Fairview Heights following a brief closure for remodeling.
Owners Ken Archer and Rodney Archer redesigned the restaurant during a 10-day renovation to accommodate changes in its business model. Moving forward, customers will place orders at the front counter rather than at their tables. After ordering, diners can sit at any available table and wait for their name to be called or have their food delivered by an employee.
Ken Archer said the change was necessary to keep afloat the business he and his brother established nearly 30 years ago. The restaurant has not turned a profit in more than a year.
“We basically had to do open-heart surgery to save it,” Archer said.
There was a time, Archer noted, when sit-down restaurants thrived in Fairview Heights. Longstanding establishments like Lotawata Creek, Red Lobster and Olive Garden used to be much busier, particularly on the north end of town.
But dining habits have shifted since the COVID-19 pandemic, he said. Fast-casual restaurants have gained market share from traditional sit-down establishments, and curbside pickup and online ordering have become more common.
Folks are willing to wait in lines, in their cars, to order meals today, Archer said.
Archer said he tried to retain as many employees as possible and to ensure their well-being during the transition.
“We put all the chips on the table with this remodel,” he said.
Lotawata Creek has reopened after the 10-day closure. Customers are now greeted by an employee who explains the new ordering system and provides a letter from the owners.
Archer acknowledged that some customers are unhappy with the changes, but said the letter is intended to explain that the modifications were necessary. It states:
“For nearly three decades it has been our greatest joy to welcome you in, feed you far too much, and share in your lives. You’ve celebrated birthdays, spent time with family and friends and made memories in this place, and we are grateful for every one of you.
“Times have gotten tough and to keep our doors open and kitchen cookin’ we have decided to make a change. From here on out, you will place your order at the counter, then sit back and relax and let us continue cookin’ your favorites.
“The way we serve may look a little different, but the food is the same, the love is the same, and we hope you make many more memories here. This change will help us keep the doors open, food fresh, and the prices cheaper. Even though we have lowered our prices, our portions remain the same, and we still serve complimentary rolls with our famous honey butter.
“We can’t thank you enough for the 29 wonderful years, and we hope to serve you for 29 more. There’s one thing that will never change ...
“We ain’t no chain restaurant. We serve real food.”
“Everything is still in transition,” said Archer.
This includes the name on the building. Signage permits were submitted to the City of Fairview Heights. The Land Use and Economic Development department shared a rendering of the new sign, depicting the restaurant as Lotawata Creek’s Food Shack, on social media last month.
Bringing back original menu items
The menu at Lotawata Creek will be limited as everyone adjusts to the new set-up. Archer said the menu is about 80% the same as before. Steaks were dropped due to cost and short supply.
Regular customers are still able to order items like Mama’s Meatloaf, Chicken Fried Steak and the Stuffed Fried Mushrooms.
The menu currently includes:
Appetizers: Fried Pickles, Porkchop Bites, Onion Rings, Queso Steak Fries, Stuffed Fried Mushrooms, Chips & Queso, Fried Mac & Cheese Balls;
Chk’n Wings: Bone-in and Boneless Wings, flavors: Buffalo, Nashville (Kinda Hota/Lota Hota), lemon pepper, garlic parmesan, Cajun lemon pepper, honey glaze, sweet whiskey; dips: ranch, spicy ranch, Gotcha sauce, honey mustard;
Chk’n Tenders: Southern Fried or Nashville Hot, 3- and 6-piece;
Burgers: Classic, American Cheese, Mushroom Swiss, Fried Mac, Oooey Gooey, Hot Mess, Bacon, Heart Attack. All served with fries;
Nota Chk’n Sandwich: Fried Meatloaf, The Big Baller, Pork Chop, Catfish, Steak Philly. All served with fries;
Seafood & Classics: Fried Catfish, Hand-Breaded Fried Shrimp, Seafood Combo, Fried Pork Chops, Chicken Fried Steak, Mama’s Meatloaf, Steak Mac N’ Cheese;
Chk’n Sandwiches & Entrées: Whataclucker, Big Clucker, Cajun Chicken Philly, Open-Faced Chicken Parm, Savannah Chicken Sandwich, Nashville Chk’n & Waffles, Southern Chk’n & Waffles, Chicken Fried Chicken, Chicken Atlanta.
Lunch specials, kids meals and sides are also available. Beverages include a variety of soft drinks, teas and lemonade, as well as beer and other adult beverages.
Lotawata is also going back to some of the original food items. The burger buns were once made in-house and will be again. The catfish is farm-raised in Mississippi. The free bread, which comes in rolls now, will return to the original recipe, with oats sprinkled on top.
Additional menu options will be introduced (in some cases re-introduced) over time. Steak Mac N’ Cheese is a new item and others, including salads, will be added later. Online ordering is also on the horizon.
Customers can save around 30% to 35% more than before, as prices were lowered for some menu options and tipping is no longer expected, said Archer.
The goal is to provide good comfort food to customers. There aren’t a lot of these places anymore, he said.
About Lotawata Creek
Lotawata Creek Southern Grill first opened Aug. 6, 1996. The restaurant’s name came from the Archers’ childhood in Oklahoma. Ken Archer told the Belleville News-Democrat in 1996 that he and Rod used to travel down Lotawata Road to go fishing.
“We just changed Lotawata Road to Lotawata Creek” and added “Southern Grill” at the end, Archer said at the time.
Lotawata Creek is located at 311 Salem Place, Fairview Heights. Hours are 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Sunday, Tuesday-Thursday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday-Saturday.
For more information, call 618-628-7373 or visit lotawata.com.
This story was originally published September 5, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
