Work starts for Auffenberg relocation project. Belleville beer garden opening postponed
Before I get into the latest in the world of local businesses, I want to thank the readers who recently gave me feedback about this column as well as those who have provided business leads and topics they would like to see covered.
Knowing that people are reading these columns and taking the time to call or send an email means a lot. It tells me, as well as my editors, that this is the type of information the people in our communities want. All feedback, good or bad, is always welcome.
Just as important as the feedback are the leads and information that come to me via a press release from a business or local chamber of commerce, or a quick email or phone call from you. I can’t share information if I don’t know about it first, and tips from you make a big difference. I can’t do it without your help.
So I thank you.
For those of you who read this far, here’s the news you came for:
I recently saw construction crews clearing the landscape at the corner of Frank Scott Parkway and Fortune Boulevard in Shiloh, the future site of Auffenberg Dealer Group.
The auto dealership announced in March 2017 that it would relocate from O’Fallon to a brand new facility in Shiloh. Represented by Barber Murphy Commercial Real Estate, the dealership bought the 36-acre lot for the $40 million project in 2017. Auffenberg Shiloh, LLC purchased an additional 6.77 acres at 2001 Frank Scott Parkway East from Progress East Healthcare (BJC) in November 2020, according to a Nov. 3 release on the Barber Murphy website. The site is north of Frank Scott Parkway.
Plans included in the Village of Shiloh’s meeting agenda for April 5 indicate that the new auto mall will include Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep & Ram, Mazda, Volkswagoin, Nissan and Kia dealerships. Another set of plans in the agenda show an additional site, described on the plans as “Shiloh Auto Mall South,” on the south side of Frank Scott Parkway.
The Village of Shiloh passed a rezoning ordinance for this area at its April 5 meeting. Ordinances for rezoning and a sign variance for the north side of Frank Scott Parkway and sign installation at both sites were also passed.
I will provide updates as the project progresses.
One Belleville business postpones outdoor service, another closes permanently
4204 Main Street Brewing Company posted on Facebook the postponement of its beer garden opening.
The April 11 post said, “The weather is beautiful, but unfortunately we just can’t adequately staff the outdoor space. We can’t offer the outdoor bar currently, nor the woodfire pizza oven.”
The post went on to praise 4204’s “great, hardworking crew” but said there just aren’t enough crew members. 4204 Main Street Brewing Company is accepting in-person applications 2-4 p.m. Monday-Friday. Applications are sought to fill bartender, server and cook positions.
Since the post appeared on Facebook, several applicants have come in to apply for positions, said Rebecca Wuest, director of marketing for 4204. Wuest said they are still accepting applications and is thankful for the support of the community.
With an increased number of employment applications coming in, Wuest said the owner is optimistic and hopeful that they might be able to open the beer garden by the end of the month.
Although the beer garden area is not staffed for serving guests at this time, drinks and food can be ordered from the patio bar.
4204 Main Street Brewing is located at 4204 W. Main St. in Belleville. Hours are currently 4-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday-Saturday and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.
For more information, call 618-416-7261, visit the website at mainstreetbrewingco.com or visit the Facebook page.
Belleville Meyer Service Center and Scout Shop, located at 335 W. Main St. in Belleville, was scheduled to permanently close at the end of business Saturday, April 17.
The closure is posted on the Greater St. Louis Area Council Boys Scouts of America website.
An April 12 email was also sent to a customers notifying them of the closing.
Both the website and the email stated that a “new, modern Scout Shop with more merchandise at a convenient and accessible location” in the metro-east would soon be announced.
Information was provided for two alternative store locations that will have extended hours starting Monday, April 19:
St. Louis Scout Shop, 4568 W. Pine Blvd., St. Louis, Missouri. Hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m Monday-Tuesday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday-Friday, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.
BSA Outfitters, 13347 Manchester Road, Des Peres, Missouri. Hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
Customers can place orders online at https://scouting.jotform.com/201336348054046.
Area businesses mark grand openings
A Walmart Supercenter in Carlyle marked a grand reopening with an April 9 ribbon-cutting, according to a press release. At the event, Walmart representatives presented a check for $3,000 to Carlyle High School for an outdoor sand volleyball pit, allowing the school to start its first volleyball team.
The store’s remodel includes an expansion of the online grocery pickup and upgrades to COVID-19 safety measures already taken to help protect employees and customers. Store improvements include new produce and deli departments, a wider selection of home furnishings and housewares, and an expanded liquor department with new offerings.
The Walmart Supercenter is located at 2591 12th St. in Carlyle. Hours are 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week. For more information, call 618-594-2465 or visit walmart.com.
An area pizza place has opened a third location at Scott AFB. FlamentCo’s The Place held a grand opening at 813 Seibert Road on April 5. The menu includes pizza, wings, subs, pastas, appetizers, sandwiches, calzones and more. Take-and-bake pizzas are also available.
FlamentCo’s The Place has locations at 711 W. Highway 50 in O’Fallon and 418 S. Tucker Blvd. in St. Louis. Hours at the new Scott AFB location are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday-Saturday. Orders can be placed in person, by calling 618-801-2274 or online at flamentcopizzasafb.com.
Egyptian Workspace Partners, located at 129 W. Main St. in Belleville, marked the grand opening of a new showroom with a March 23 ribbon cutting ceremony.
The showroom “is designed to help business leaders rethink the way they work in a post-COVID work,” stated Egyptian’s press release. Customers visiting the showroom can take a tour, explore 13 different “curated zones,” and tackle issues such as privacy, safety and well-being.
“This was an investment for our employees, clients and community,” said Director of Interiors Brett Baltz. “We’re happy this project is behind us and look forward to utilizing this new tool to help educate and inspire our business friends.”
Hours of operation at Egyptian Workspace Partners are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday. For more information, call 800-642-3949 or visit goegyptian.com.
Guaranteed Rate, a retail mortgage lender, hosted a recent ribbon cutting ceremony for the company’s new O’Fallon location, according to an April 12 press release.
The ceremony took place at 111A W. State St. and was attended by representatives from the O’Fallon Chamber of Commerce.
“I am extremely excited to serve the O’Fallon community with our new location,” said Cara Srogus, the location’s branch manager. “Since our doors opened in December, we have been fortunate enough to meet many local business owners and members of the community. We have a true passion for our military homebuyers and being local for them was very important when it came to choosing our newest location in Illinois.”
Srogus’ team includes Sara Long, a Mortgage Consultant, Scott Struense, a business development associate, and Kevin Johnson, a licensed sales assistant, stated the release. The group assists veterans and active-duty military members in purchasing homes.
Fore more information, visit rate.com/carasrogus.
Other items of interest and updates:
▪ The Scottish Rite - Valley of Southern Illinois moved its office to a new location at the Belleville Masonic Temple Association building, 225 E. A St., Belleville, on Saturday, April 10. A moving sale will be held 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 24, at the Scottish Rite building at 1549 Frank Scott Parkway West in Belleville. Available are items that the organization has no room for or no longer needs. This event is open to the public. For information, call 618-235-3350.
▪ The groundbreaking ceremony for the R.P. Lumber Center was postponed from March 25 due to a weather forecast of lightning. The new recreational development is part of the City of Edwardsville’s “A Better Place to Play” campaign. The rescheduled event took place Tuesday, April 13, at the Center’s future site behind Edwardsville High School off of Tiger Drive and Governors’ Parkway in Edwardsville.
▪ Villas of Holly Brook opened its new Belleville location in March. The facility announced in a March 17 Facebook post that the location is open and accepting residents.
Plans for the assisted living center were first proposed to the city of Belleville in 2017. At the time, many area residents opposed the project, stating concerns about safety for the facility’s residents who drive, extra traffic and reduction of property values. The Belleville City Council approved the project in December 2017.
Villas of Holly Brook is located at 4350 Frank Scott Parkway in Belleville. For more information, call 618-744-0231 or visit online at villasofhollybrook.com/belleville-il.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREWhat's happening in your community?
Help the BND report on new restaurants and other businesses in southwestern Illinois. Share your tips and questions about openings, closings and other business topics by contacting reporter Jennifer Green at jgreen@bnd.com or 618-239-2643.
This story was originally published April 18, 2021 at 6:00 AM with the headline "Work starts for Auffenberg relocation project. Belleville beer garden opening postponed."
