Old Base Factory, featuring 7 food vendors, delays opening. Here’s an update

The Old Base Factory’s opening has been delayed, according to co-owner Eric Wallace.

Plans were to open in early summer as a food hall with seven local vendors near Family Sports Park in O’Fallon.

“The planning is taking longer than expected and I am not sure when we will be open. We want to open as soon as possible and are doing everything we can to move the project along,” Wallace said.

They plan to feature a lineup of seven food vendors local to the area, offering such items as barbecue, ice cream, burgers, sandwiches, hand cut fries, pizza, desserts and tacos.

“We have the food vendors lined up, but we may see a few changes by the time we open,” he said.

Two announced food vendors are Max and Mugg’s from Andria’s Steakhouse and BEAST Craft BBQ from pitmaster and nationally renowned chef David Sandusky.

Third-generation restaurateur Max Kenison is hoping to build on his family’s legacy with a new casual dining concept under the Andria Family Restaurant banner. He will offer burgers, gourmet sandwiches and craft beers. His Fried Muggs sandwich may make the menu -- fried bologna, bacon onion jam and American cheese served on Texas Toast.

David and Meggan Sandusky of O’Fallon have owned The BEAST Craft BBQ at 20 South Belt West in Belleville since 2014, earning national recognition and awards, including besting the host on “Beat Bobby Flay” and being a finalist on “BBQ Brawl.”

They are one of the food partners at St. Louis City soccer team’s Energizer Park, a food vendor at Washington University, and operate a food truck.

Sandusky said they will have two concepts, to be unveiled closer to opening.

“We live in this great community and frequent the park with our four children. We’re stoked to be connected to O’Fallon in a whole new way. BEAST Craft BBQ Co. will soon be readily available to our fans in this neck of the woods. Looking forward to telling everyone more about the project,” he said.

The Wallaces are working with Currency for Caring and Food is Love programs by John Michel and Lasse Sorensen to help provide meals for people in need throughout the region.

“Food is Love will also be helping us rotate exciting food offerings in and out throughout each year,” Wallace said.

Michel said the Food Is Love booth will feature graduates of their entrepreneur program, starting with Soul-Full, which is Southern cuisine and comfort food from executive chef Dennis E. Rodgers. Some of his popular entrees are a jerk turkey spinach meatloaf and Cajun chicken pasta. They also serve wings, fries, and mac ‘n cheese.

“Chef Rodgers will be there for six months. This is a win-win for us. It’s everything we are about. The Wallaces are very community-oriented,” he said.

Michel, a former fighter pilot who retired as a U.S. Air Force Brigadier General, started Soulcial Kitchen in Swansea as the first metro-east food truck park in 2021, and has since opened The Flock food truck park in downtown Alton.

Their innovative Currency of Caring program addresses food insecurity through a meal program. People can purchase tokens for $8, which can be shared/donated and used at local participating restaurants.

Sorensen is in his fourth year as host of the St. Louis-based Food Is Love program. He oversees the educational training, entrepreneur development program and a food truck apprenticeship in addition to other charity-driven missions.

The Old Base Factory is a reuse of the existing 11,230 square foot Velocity Metalworks Industrial building.

Eric and his brother Mike are converting a former tool and die shop, which is a 12,000 square foot building on 2.5 acres, into the food hall, which will be located at the park’s east entrance at 230 Oberneufemann Road.

The goal is to offer a unique experience that can accommodate large groups and sports teams.

“We hope it’s a special place our community will be proud to show off to the visitors to our town and a convenient place for visitors to the park to enjoy,” he said. “We’re really excited and the response has been overwhelmingly positive.”

The building will include dozens of TV’s, an indoor/outdoor bar, a large covered outdoor deck, a play field with synthetic turf, a walk-up window for grab-and-go, and a large private event space, Wallace said.

Hours of operation will be 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., and no outdoor music is allowed.