Eleven culinary ventures reshape the local dining landscape
The articles show a dining landscape in flux. Owners launch new restaurants and rework old spaces. Some established places close or move. Locations change hands or get remodeled for new uses.
One article details the closure of Big Daddy’s 618 in Belleville, while owners pursue incentives for building upgrades and future business plans. Another covers Alma Dean’s, a Southern-style eatery that opened for business at Scott Air Force Base, offering dine-in and carryout. At the former O’Town site in O’Fallon, Yummy Bowl prepares to introduce menu items from China, Korea, and Japan, replacing an earlier food hall. In Edwardsville, a frozen cocktail bar called Narwhal’s Crafted opens its first Illinois location as part of an expanding franchise. Denny’s in Belleville shuts its doors without clear communication about reopening, reflecting national trends in the company. The former Agostino’s Restaurant in Fairview Heights transforms into Jack Henry’s, now serving American meals throughout the day. These stories together reflect frequent change, with new concepts filling gaps left by closures and longtime favorites adapting to challenges.
NO. 1: THREE NEW RESTAURANTS AND HALLOWEEN STORES ARE CLOSE TO OPENING IN THE METRO EAST
The latest restaurant and business updates from columnist Jennifer Green | Published August 23, 2024 | Read Full Story by Jennifer Green
NO. 2: NEW EATERY OPENING IN PLACE OF AGOSTINO’S IN FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS WILL BE HARD TO MISS
Owner Dawn Goodwin-Malone is opening the restaurant “on a wing and a prayer by the seat of [her] pants.” | Published September 6, 2024 | Read Full Story by Jennifer Green
NO. 3: BIG DADDY’S IN BELLEVILLE SET TO CLOSE, BUT OWNERS GET TIF INCENTIVE TO REMODEL BUILDING
The City Council signed off on the plan Monday night. What’s going to replace the downtown bar? | Published December 18, 2024 | Read Full Story by Jennifer Green
NO. 4: NEW RESTAURANT COMING TO BELLEVILLE; EATERY OPENS AT SCOTT AFB
A new restaurant will take up residence at the former Mariachi’s site on South Illinois Street. | Published April 11, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jennifer Green
NO. 5: POPULAR BELLEVILLE RESTAURANT ANNOUNCES PERMANENT MOVE TO COLLINSVILLE
The collaboration between the restaurant and the brewery/distillery over Cinco de Mayo weekend was a “sneak preview” of what’s to come, according to the owner. | Published May 9, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jennifer Green
NO. 6: IS DENNY’S IN BELLEVILLE CLOSED FOR GOOD? HERE’S WHAT WE KNOW
The company announced in October 2024 its plans to close 150 locations by the end of 2025. | Published May 28, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jennifer Green
NO. 7: THREE FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS RESTAURANTS ARE CLOSE TO OPENING. HERE’S WHERE THEY STAND
BND business columnist Jennifer Green shares the latest restaurant updates and recent openings. | Published June 3, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jennifer Green
NO. 8: FREEBURG BUSINESS OWNER SHARES INFO ON RESTAURANT’S REBUILD, WHAT TO EXPECT
The owner always knew they would reopen the family-owned restaurant that was damaged by fire in March. | Published June 10, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jennifer Green
NO. 9: BUSINESS SPECIALIZING IN FROZEN COCKTAILS TO OPEN FIRST FRANCHISE IN METRO-EAST
The news came days after Salt + Smoke announced it was coming to a new Edwardsville development. | Published July 14, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jennifer Green
NO. 10: O’FALLON’S NEW EATERY TO FEATURE FLAVORS, FARE INSPIRED BY CHINA, KOREA & JAPAN
The restaurant is located at the former O’Town Food Hall & Tap House site. | Published July 29, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jennifer Green
NO. 11: FORMER SWANSEA CVS GETTING MAKEOVER FOR NEW BUSINESS. HERE ARE THE DETAILS
Ongoing activity at a former CVS location at 1803 N. | Published August 19, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jennifer Green
The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.