The St. Louis area’s newest dining destination, 9 Mile Garden, will celebrate its grand opening over the Independence Day weekend.
Touted as Missouri’s first food truck garden, 9 Mile Garden in Affton will open its doors to the public beginning at lunchtime on Friday, July 3, and operate for lunch and dinner the entire holiday weekend. An array of events is planned during 9 Mile’s grand opening week, including live music from local bands, as well as an outdoor movie screening on Saturday night, July 4.
Chef and restaurateur Brian Hardesty, managing partner of 9 Mile Garden, said health and safety guidelines as recommended by the CDC and St. Louis County will be in place to provide a socially distant setting.
“Three-quarters of the venue is outdoors, so we will have a large outdoor area,” Hardesty said. “The tables will be at least 12 feet apart, and we’re also encouraging guests to bring their own lawn chairs so they can be at an even safer distance from others. My staff will be wearing masks, and there will be plenty of hand-sanitizing stations throughout the property, as well as availability of restrooms for hand-washing.”
The venue, located at 9375 Gravois Road between MacKenzie and Weber roads in Affton, will feature a rotation of 30 local food trucks in a “picnic park” setting. Also on site is The Canteen, a modern draft house serving beer on tap from a number of local and national breweries, as well as St. Louis-based Blueprint Coffee. The space will also feature live music and offer a large patio seating area overlooking the grounds of 9 Mile Garden.
“People should expect a really good time, with lots of free, family-friendly entertainment,” Hardesty said. “Children and dogs (on leash) are welcome, so just relax and have a good time!”
Following the grand-opening festivities slated for the entire Fourth of July weekend, 9 Mile Garden will be open six days a week (closed on Sundays), with lunch service from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and dinner service from 5 to 9 p.m. The food truck lineup for each day—five options for lunch, seven for dinner—will be announced at 9 a.m. every morning via Twitter.
For more information, visit 9milegarden.com
