Maplewood City Council Tuesday gave final approval for a restaurant/dinner theater at the corner of Manchester Road and Sutton Boulevard; the former location of Blind Tiger, which closed in September.
The new restaurant will be called True Sites; owned by Michael True.
True was not at the council meeting, but previously told the planning and zoning commission the restaurant will have an Alaska theme. He also said the food will be reasonably-priced and unpretentious. A dinner theater is planned for three weeks approximately every three or four months on a stage in the restaurant.
Officials also heard first readings for a Japanese restaurant (Robata) with a drive-thru in the former Church’s Chicken location at Southwest and Manchester, and a Chinese restaurant (St. Louis Kitchen) at 7325 Manchester Road, next to Shop ‘n Save.
See also: Sushi, ramen, yakitori bar set to take Church’s Chicken location, Maplewood P&Z OK’s Chinese restaurant
Final votes on True Sites and St. Louis Kitchen are set for Jan. 13.
The council also gave the first two readings of an ordinance that would allow a new restaurant moving into any previous restaurant location in the CB1 (Community Business) District to bypass planning and zoning and council approval, which would save the business time and money.
Any changes to the new business, such as adding a drive-thru, would require P&Z and council approval. Any liquor license also requires council approval.
Hopefully this is a business to stay and would be a nice addition to Maplewood. I was sad to see the Black CAT Theatre close, but glad there is new businesses in its place now.