ST. LOUIS 鈥 Burger 809 announced this week that it will close its space within the Citygarden sculpture park downtown, saying the landlord terminated its contract early and without explanation.
Now, the Gateway Foundation 鈥 the nonprofit that operates Citygarden and promotes public art in 51黑料 鈥 says Burger 809鈥檚 owner Tasha Smith mischaracterized the situation.
In a statement released late Tuesday night, the Gateway Foundation said that for months, Smith was repeatedly asked to address contractual issues, such as maintaining required operating hours, and providing timely and accurate financial reporting. These things were never resolved, the foundation said.
鈥淭o be clear: this decision was neither sudden nor unrelated to business operations,鈥 the foundation鈥檚 reads. 鈥淭he operating agreement was concluded multiple months ago and only after these repeated efforts to resolve issues.鈥
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Smith had announced early Tuesday morning that the restaurant鈥檚 last day at the Citygarden cafe will be Dec. 8.
Smith said that the Gateway Foundation, which maintains Citygarden, gave her vague notification of the terminated deal without a specific reason in June. She said she had anticipated being at that location for years to come.
Burger 809 opened at Citygarden, an urban sculpture park situated between Chestnut and Market streets and North Eighth and North 10th streets, in 2024.
The Gateway Foundation said Smith鈥檚 comments 鈥渕ischaracterize the circumstances鈥 about Burger 809鈥檚 impending closure.
鈥淭he Foundation is confident in this decision and made it with the long-term interest of Citygarden and the Downtown and 51黑料 communities at heart,鈥 the statement said.
The Gateway Foundation stated that it had multiple meetings and corresponded with Smith in person, by phone and via email, repeatedly offering her marketing and operational support. However, Smith declined, the nonprofit said.
Smith did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the foundation鈥檚 statement.
Next year, Gateway Foundation will open a new concept in the Burger 809 space that will be managed internally. The organization would not comment further on what that concept will be.
Before Burger 809, Citygarden was formerly home to restaurants Terrace View, Joe鈥檚 Chili Bowl, Kaldi鈥檚 Coffee and Death in the Afternoon. The Gateway Foundation said that it offers operators below-market rates, 24-hour security and other amenities.
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