The New Krieger's Parties All Week, With Discounts

After a 20-year storied history, Krieger's Sports Bar and Grill restored its original commitment to good food, good service and good times. To celebrate their anniversary, the Chesterfield eatery will unveil a new 40 foot mural featuring St. Louis sports celebrities and a week-long party.

It's located at 1684 Clarkson Rd., near and

When Krieger's opened in Chesterfield in 1991, it was quickly established as a comfortable, family-run business where everything was house-made, service was friendly and prices were reasonable. Over the years, they would become the victim of their own success.

Franchises began opening until eventually there were 20 or so Krieger's spread around several states. Quality control became difficult—if not impossible—and quality from one franchise to another varied wildly. The once-neighborhood bar had become corporate and its reputation suffered.

Enter Matteo Terzo, owner of Gianfabio's in Chesterfield, who purchased the Chesterfield Krieger's in 2008. Terzo quickly signed up Josephine Chirco as General Manager. Chirco's brother had founded Krieger's originally and she had been heavily involved in the restaurant for several years.

Terzo and Chirco had both not only grown up the restaurant business, they had been friends since they were children. In a story right out of the movies, their mother's had been friends in Sicily. Both move to the U.S. and, unbeknownst to the other, both moved to Maryland Heights, Mo. The two mom's ran into each other at the grocery store.

“We're like brother and sister,” Terzo said.

“And we fight like it too,” added Chirco.

The two new principals set about restoring Krieger's good reputation by returning to the values that made it popular in the first place; Good service, good food and everything made in-house.

There is a second independently owned St. Louis Krieger's located in Twin Oaks at 1356 Big Bend Square, Ballwin, MO, 63021, owned by Chirco's cousin.

“We make really good comfort food,” Chirco said. “Everything is made in-house, made to order—right down to the mozzarella sticks. People like our salad dressing and French fry seasoning so much, we sell it to our customers right out of the kitchen to take home.”

The menu is extensive and varied, including a full line-up of appetizers, quesadillas, wings, soups, salads, wraps, pizzas, sandwiches, burgers, pastas, entrees and lunch specials. In addition they feature daily specials which constantly change, recently featuring a Sicillian steak sandwich, Mexican Melt panini, BBQ chicken salad and a drink special, Pearl Vodkarita.

As part of their 20 year week-long anniversary party, a mural is being painted by artist Julie Krovicka featuring sports scenes with some St. Louis sports heroes, including Marshall Faulk, Bernie Ferderko, Whitey Herzog and Stan Musual.

“Whitey's a real good, regular customer” Chirco said. “He's going to sign it when it's finished.”

The mural has an image of a baseball player batting whose face you can't see. He also doesn't have a number on the back of his jersey yet. “We're going to have a contest to choose what player he should represent and who's number goes on the jersey” Chirco said.

Each day of the week-long party will feature drink specials on a different mural sponsor's product, including Schlafly, Sam Adams and New Belgium beers, Pearl vodka and Bacardi rum. There will also be the usual food and happy hour specials.

“We are probably the cheapest place in town,” Terzo said. “People should come to Krieger's for good food—come for good service. We just want people to know we are back to the old Krieger's.”

The date of the week-long anniversary party will be determined based on when the mural is finished. Check Krieger's Facebook page for updates, and visit the Krieger's Sports Bar and Grill menu page on their website to see the complete menu.