ST. LOUIS — Guerrilla Street Food announced it is closing two of its locations.
Owner Joel Crespo confirmed to Today in St. Louis’ Abby Llorico that the Tower Grove East location will close on Feb. 9 and its Maryland Heights location is already closed.
In Dec. 2019, it closed its St. Charles location.
Crespo said the lease was up at its Tower Grove East location. He said it was the ‘smarter business’ decision to not renew it. This location was the first brick-and-mortar location, expanding from its popular food truck.
“We just want people to know we are grateful for almost 9 years of support and we are continuing—I know it makes it sound like this is the end, but we are still going to do our best to continue operating at Webster Groves, 2nd Shift [Brewing Company] and until we find someone to take over the lease at Delmar,” Crespo said.
There are several years left on its lease at the Delmar Avenue spot, but Crespo said they’re looking for someone to sublease the space.
“I don’t want people to think this is the end,” he said. “We are going to do our best to try to save Guerrilla Street Food, and we hope we can do that.”
The spot in Webster Groves just opened on Jan. 7. It's located at 43 S. Old Orchard Avenue.
Crespo along with co-owner and chef Brian Hardesty said they will continue to spread their love of Filipino food and culture but said their future in the restaurant scene is ‘unknown.’
Guerrilla Street Food was one of St. Louis’ first food trucks, a partnership between former businessman Crespo and decorated chef Hardesty.
“It’s not an easy road, we thought that we thought we could expand bigger than we were able to and so hopefully taking this measures of closing down some of the locations to refocus on the newly opened locations is not too little too late,” said Crespo. “It would be kind of foolish to try and predict that but our intention is to try to refocus our efforts on the new locations and the ones that are still performing well.”
Crespo and Hardesty work the kitchen every day at the Delmar Loop location. Crespo said it’s not as busy as it should be there, and that they will continue serving there until they’re able to find someone to take over the lease.
You can find Guerrilla Street Food at 6120 Delmar Boulevard.
“We’re not giving up and if they’re sad to see those locations go, the best thing people can do is support the locations that remain and hopefully we can bounce back from this,” Crespo said.
Guerrilla Street Food said many factors led to the decision.
"Many contributing factors have led to this outcome but above all, it has been our choices as owners that have led us down this path and we are here to take full responsibility for those choices. We will immediately reorganize, focus and hopefully, save Guerrilla Street Food. We hope that the upcoming effort is not too little, too late."
