Post by DJ DRAGN on Jan 21, 2006 2:17:43 GMT -5
fter rapping about "Grillz," Nelly is now getting into the restaurant business-adding a new bar and grill to his steadily growing list of entrepreneurial ventures.
The St. Louis native and his cohorts the St. Lunatics are planning to open a new eatery, Mack's Bar and Grill, in Hazelwood, a suburb of St. Louis, this April.
The grill will be named after its owners, since Mack's contains the first letters of the names of each member- Murphy Lee, Ali, Cornell, Kyjuan and Slodown.
"Nelly has always looked for business opportunities, and Ali ran across this [property]," Nelly's business manager Mike Chaffin told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "And we found that it could be a profitable opportunity."
The 3,500-square foot bar and grill at 6827 Howdershell Road was formerly known as Pilla's Restaurant and Lounge. The St. Lunatics purchased the eatery from Theresa Ahern and John Pilla, who died last month. According to Chaffin, Pilla's family will continue to own the property while the group will own the business.
The City Council approved a special land-use permit for Mack's on January 4 but the group is still awaiting their liquor license. Mack's will offer a conventional grill menu, including offerings like burgers, fries and veggie burgers. Other plans include adding flat-screen televisions showing music videos and sports programs as well as a jukebox. Chaffin said the group considered offering live music but city officials weren't as fond of the idea.
Hazelwood Mayor T.R. Carr acknowledged to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that at least one Hazelwood planning official considered requiring Mack's to display a "no marijuana smoking" sign before city officials decided against it.
"We don't post signs on activities that individuals know are already illegal," Carr said. "This will be a family-style restaurant, and the location should be good. We wish them the best. Everything they presented to the council looks pretty positive."
The St. Louis native and his cohorts the St. Lunatics are planning to open a new eatery, Mack's Bar and Grill, in Hazelwood, a suburb of St. Louis, this April.
The grill will be named after its owners, since Mack's contains the first letters of the names of each member- Murphy Lee, Ali, Cornell, Kyjuan and Slodown.
"Nelly has always looked for business opportunities, and Ali ran across this [property]," Nelly's business manager Mike Chaffin told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "And we found that it could be a profitable opportunity."
The 3,500-square foot bar and grill at 6827 Howdershell Road was formerly known as Pilla's Restaurant and Lounge. The St. Lunatics purchased the eatery from Theresa Ahern and John Pilla, who died last month. According to Chaffin, Pilla's family will continue to own the property while the group will own the business.
The City Council approved a special land-use permit for Mack's on January 4 but the group is still awaiting their liquor license. Mack's will offer a conventional grill menu, including offerings like burgers, fries and veggie burgers. Other plans include adding flat-screen televisions showing music videos and sports programs as well as a jukebox. Chaffin said the group considered offering live music but city officials weren't as fond of the idea.
Hazelwood Mayor T.R. Carr acknowledged to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that at least one Hazelwood planning official considered requiring Mack's to display a "no marijuana smoking" sign before city officials decided against it.
"We don't post signs on activities that individuals know are already illegal," Carr said. "This will be a family-style restaurant, and the location should be good. We wish them the best. Everything they presented to the council looks pretty positive."
