Relish

Yesterday afternoon, the beermeisters over at STLhops broke the story that the third International Tap House (iTap) will bow at 16. S. Euclid in the CWE (former home of The Loading Zone) around the first of the year.

Anyone who thinks that location is too small to fit the iTap model (as we did) is mistaken. The flagship store in Chesterfield is 2400 SF, iTap #2 (in Soulard) is 1.5 times bigger, and iTap 3, although the building footprint is small, measures a total of 3500 SF, thanks to a large mezzanine (see renderings, below), space that in most cases comes rent-free. (Like outdoor patios, such space is often referred to as "the tenant's dream.")

Brad Lobdell and Sean Conroy, iTap's owners, have been on the hunt for a third location for some time, lobbying hard to secure the former Pasta House Co. space at 313 N. Euclid, a longtime NIMBY stronghold, before opting for somewhat friendlier confines further down the street.

In discussing the project with Conroy today, we got the impression that this iTap will be different. "Whereas Soulard feels more warehouse-y and the flagship [Chesterfield location] is in the wide open spaces, it's appropriate that this space be a little more upscale," Conroy said.    

Neither of the two prior iTaps have a kitchen and the third will be no different, rather offering the option to have food brought in from nearby restaurants. A burger from Taste and one of iTap's 500 beers sounds pretty good to us; or maybe a pizza from Pi. We suspect someone could make a living just from running pizzas that couple of hundred yards down Euclid Ave.