Lost Tables

In 1978, Bob Mepham bought a small outdoor fish stand in the University City Loop. He called his new business Bob's Seafood. 

In 2005, Bob bought a building on Olive, just east of I-170, and moved Bob's Seafood to the western outskirts of University City. But University City forced Bob to close his doors in 2022.

I interviewed Bob Mepham about 2 weeks later.

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Giovanni’s on the Hill was the lifeblood of Giovanni Gabriele for almost 44 years. In 2021, Carmelo Gabriele recounted his father’s story, with an assist from his 78-year-old mother, Fina Manno Gabriele.

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In 1999, Leon Bierbaum opened a French bistro on Laclede in the Central West End. He called his bistro Chez Leon.

Leon Bierbaum isn’t around to tell the Chez Leon story – he died in 2016. But Haris Zukanovic started working at Chez Leon on day one, and was there for 10 years.

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Bryan Young spent almost 20 years at Balaban’s, working his way from assistant waiter to manager. He also ran a successful catering business for many years.

I interviewed Bryan at his home in October of 2024. At age 70, he’s still larger than life, with his deep melodic voice and booming laugh

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Restaurateur Danny Meyer is firmly planted in New York City, with eateries like the Union Square Café, Gramercy Tavern and Shake Shack. But Danny’s roots stretch across the country to St. Louis, where he grew up exploring many of our city’s Lost Tables.

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Frank and Helen’s became a Lost Table on December 8th of this year. This is the second of a two-part podcast celebrating the restaurant’s long history.

 The second half of the Frank and Helen’s story will be told by told by the individuals who owned the restaurant after Frank Seitz sold it in 1991. First, Bob & Betty Oddy, then Scott and Mary DePolito, and finally, Patrick and Rebecca Horvath, with the help of longtime employee, Rose Hepler.

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Frank and Helen’s will become a Lost Table after its dinner service on December 8th of this year. This is the first of a two-part podcast celebrating the restaurant that became famous for its pizza and broasted chicken.

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We once again return to Duff’s, with another voice and another perspective. Ginger Carlson’s perspective. Ginger was Duff's first chef. This is her story – a story she wanted to tell.

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Kemoll’s, one of the oldest family-owned restaurants in St. Louis, became a Lost Table this past New Year’s Eve. Owner Mark Cusumano made that decision. 

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Adalaide Balaban left her restaurant and the Central West End over 30 years ago. But from her home in Silsbee, Texas, the memories came flooding back.

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