Lester's Tavern Coming to the Central West End

By Sarah Fenske Wed., Sep. 1 2010 at 3:09 PM

Lester Miller, the Ladue impresario behind the (now shuttered) Busch's Grove restaurant, has set his sights on the Central West End.

City records show that a limited liability company controlled by Miller, Lester's Tavern LLC, has applied for a liquor license at 4651-53 Maryland Avenue -- the vacant space just east of Brennan's and the Saint Louis Chess Club.

A spokesman for Miller confirmed that the company is looking to open a tavern very similar Lester's Sports Bar & Grill, the concept that Miller premiered in Ladue in 2007. (It's since expanded to include a location in Chesterfield.)
Speaking on behalf of the restaurant, Pedro Beltranena said it was too soon to discuss specifics, but confirmed that the application for a liquor license is being processed, as are new plans for the storefront's facade. He said that Lester's Tavern would likely be a similar concept to Lester's Sports Bar & Grill, but that nothing was "in the bag yet."

The hearing for the restaurant's liquor license is scheduled for September 9 at 2 p.m. at St. Louis City Hall. Considering all the boozy options on the same block -- from Culpepper's to Drunken Fish to Sub Zero Vodka Bar -- it's hard to imagine anyone in the Central West End will be objecting.