Fairview Heights restaurant known for comfort food closes after 29 years
Lotawata Creek, a fixture in Fairview Heights for nearly three decades, has permanently closed, owner Ken Archer confirmed Tuesday.
“We had to finally give it up,” Archer said.
Sunday marked the restaurant’s last day of service. Archer said he returned to work Monday and, after reviewing the books, made the difficult decision to shutter the business.
The restaurant closed temporarily in late August for renovations and to implement a new business model. After 29 years as a sit-down establishment, Lotawata Creek had transitioned to a more casual service, with customers placing orders at a counter and seating themselves at available tables.
Archer said in early September that the shift was necessary after the restaurant failed to turn a profit for more than a year. He and his brother, Rodney Archer, worked seven days a week to try to keep the business going.
“Some people liked the changes, some didn’t,” Archer said.
He acknowledged the difficulty of the closure, adding that his family and staff are taking the news hard. Archer is currently assisting staff in finding new employment, including positions at his quick-service restaurant in Florissant, Missouri—Lotawata Creek’s Chicken Shack—which he plans to focus on moving forward.
Some of the Fairview Heights restaurant’s popular menu items will be added to the Florissant location, Archer said.
About Lotawata Creek
Lotawata Creek Southern Grill opened at 311 Salem Place in Fairview Heights on Aug. 6, 1996.
Lotawata Creek’s Chicken Shack is located at 14065 New Halls Ferry Road, Florissant, Missouri. Hours are 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. For more information, call 314-887-3322 or shackitup.com.
This story was originally published November 25, 2025 at 1:56 PM.
