Snarf's On Delmar Is Closed — Is The Missing Trolley To Blame?

UNIVERSITY CITY, MO — Local sandwich chain Snarf's has closed in the Delmar Loop. While the restaurant has three other St. Louis locations, with a fourth coming soon, the location at 6301 Delmar was the original.

"It is with sadness that we are closing this Snarf’s location after the close of business on Sunday March 11," the restaurant posted to its website last week. "We have loved being a part of the Delmar Loop for the past seven years, and sincerely hope you will please visit us at our newest location at 360 N. Skinker Blvd. just north of Forest Park Avenue."

The Riverfront Times reported when Snarf's Skinker location opened two years ago that the owner had no intention of closing the nearby location in The Loop. Despite having a tough year on Delmar, owner Matty Aronson hoped the much-anticipated Loop Trolley would bring more people through his doors. But the trolley has yet to materialize — the Loop Trolley Company said last year it needed another half million dollars cash before it could begin services.

There have been significant investments made by taxpayers to support the Loop Trolley project, but it has been at a standstill for many months. A $25 million Federal Transit Authority grant, as well as local grants, tax credits and a special districtwide sales tax have made up the bulk of the project's initial funding. St. Louis County has provided $3 million toward the project, while University City has kicked in $250,000.

Two local real estate development firms — Clayco and CRG — announced in December that they are dedicated to supporting The Loop Trolley project in order to make it operational and pledged the missing $500,000. But as of March, the Loop Trolley company still said it is finalizing safety procedures and hopes to announce a start date soon.

Other Loop businesses have also closed recently, citing decreased foot traffic, declining sales and, in one case, a poor relationship with the area's primary landlord, developer Joe Edwards. They include soda and candy shop Rocket Fizz and HSB Tobacconist, which had been in the same location for 46 years.

Both of those businesses also mentioned the trolley — or, rather, lack thereof.

Photo by J. Ryne Danielson/Patch