STLPR0%
Here’s what St. Louis restaurants opened and closed in April 2026 26%
By Jessica Rogen0%
5/1/2026, 10:00:00 AM
BS Summary: This article contains 19 faulty reasoning types, including Appeal to Emotion, Post Hoc (False Cause), and Self-Serving Bias, with Optimism Bias as the most egregious example at 22.2% saturation with 92 hits. Analysis detected 418 faulty-reasoning hits from 415 analyzed words, generating a BS Score of 37.8% and a BS Rank of 26% (12,486 of 16,813 articles). This article is better (less manipulative) than 74.30% of the article peer group.
For St.
Louis restaurant scene news, April was sluggish.
What it really needed was a shot of caffeine.
Now it has one.
Fern Grove, a new coffee shop in the Grove from the owners of Fiddlehead Fern, has opened in the former space of Songbird, which relocated to Tower Grove South last year.
In fact, it was Songbird’s Chris Meyer who reached out to owner Darcy Heine to tip her off to the spot, said operations director Marcey Howell.
“The restaurant industry is just very tight-knit,” she said.
“We're all looking out for each other.”
Songbird’s logo still adorns a window but not for long.
Howell said that it’s soon to be replaced by a walk-up window in order to serve the neighborhood’s prolific foot traffic.
That’s not the only change.
A large pink-tiled bar divides a large workspace from the customer area, which features new flooring.
There’s also a new patio out back.
The menu is a bit different from Fiddlehead Fern, also.
Thanks to a slightly different setup, Fern Grove will be able to offer a few more substantial food options, like a croissant egg sandwich.
But it also brought some favorites over, like an avocado toast and vegan Caesar salad.
The new location has also meant they could hire a larger team — 36 people.
“We're excited for the new challenges that having two locations will bring,” Howell said, “excited to be able to offer twice as many jobs as what we have.”
There were challenges leading up to the opening, she added, like getting some permits and a liquor license, which is still pending.
But she never had any doubt that it would happen.
Fern Grove quietly opened its doors last Friday, initially telling only friends and family and some regulars.
But the word got out quickly.
“The neighborhood has been great, the local business has been really supportive and awesome,” Howell said.
“It’s been good.”
Openings
Ard Cafe, St.
Peters
Boathouse Beer & Wine Garden, Forest Park
Cava, Cottleville
Fern Grove, the Grove
Mabel Mae’s at Head’s Store, St.
Albans
Paris Baguette, Olivette
Rosalita’s Cantina, O’Fallon, Missouri
Shorty’s Diner Westport, Maryland Heights
Sonic the Hedgehog Speed Café, Delmar Loop (Open in Nudo House STL until June 28)
Closings
Cupio’s Barbecue, Belleville (fire)
Florentin, Central West End (relocating)
Sabroso, St.
Ann
Shaved Duck, Tower Grove East
Vincent Van Doughnut, the Grove
See one I missed?
Let me know at jrogen@stlpr.org.
Analysis
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