Starbucks, Chipotle to Occupy Former Phillips 66/Del Taco Saucer in Midtown

Official rendering of Midtown saucer renovation (6/12):

Image of saucer with Starbucks nearing completion (9/12) - image by Paul Hohmann:

The opening of the saucer, Storified: Midtown Saucer Stabucks Opens
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It's been a while since the Phillips 66/Del Taco saucer at Grand and Forest Park Avenue has been in the news. Rumors have heated up recently about two future tenants set to occupy to landmark building once threatened with demolition. Owner Rick Yackey argued last June at a Board of Aldermen hearing that while the Council Towers complex was historic and justified in its listing on the National Register of Historic Places, the former gas station, turn burrito stand, was only listed by geographical happenstance. Yackey, and 19th Ward Alderwoman Marlene Davis, argued that the building was a blight on the area, a magnet for crime, and that demolition and a new building should be an option for the developer. Having space for multiple tenants was stated as a necessity to maximize profit.

A grassroots effort to opposed the demolition drew widespread attention and very quickly became the highest profile effort to save a mid-century modern building in St. Louis. That effort was successful, City of St. Louis mayor Francis Slay weighed in and the potential demolition was delayed long enough to locate new viable tenants. The building is planned to be expanded to the east, retaining its iconic form, but allowing room for two commercial tenants. With St. Louis University surrounding the location and high traffic counts on adjacent streets, there is no doubt that both Starbucks and Chipotle will be successful and the iconic saucer gets a new life. No new renderings have been made available at this time.