A well-known restaurateur in St. Louis is now proudly operating as a local grocer.
Matt McGuire, who owns Louie (706 DeMun) and Wright’s Tavern (7624 Wydown) in Clayton, has just launched Box Hill Grocer (7628 Wydown) right next to the latter. The primary offering includes prepared hot and cold items meant for quick pick-up.
“It won’t be just ‘a full-stop pickup shop,’” McGuire shared with SLM, “but customers can look forward to some unique items and some of our restaurant favorites.”
Starting December 27, the store will be open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Here’s what you should know before visiting.
The Concept
The idea for Box Hill Grocer arose from ongoing discussions with a retired dentist who had operated his practice in the adjacent storefront next to Wright’s Tavern. “He also owns the building and resides upstairs,” says McGuire. During these exchanges, one idea stood out: a market centered around prepared foods—a concept McGuire believed the neighborhood truly required. The market aims to serve the local apartment and condo residents, as well as empty nesters.
“There are days when I feel worn out and do not have the energy to trek to the grocery store and then cook,” McGuire admits. “On those days, it’s convenient to have a spot where you can quickly grab something and be back home in 10 minutes.”
Operating two restaurants under the Box Hill Group brand and owning Box Hill Farm near Hermann, McGuire envisions the market as an extension of his ambition to infuse a touch of rural charm into Clayton. “The market pays tribute to bringing charming experiences to the urban environment,” he clarifies, drawing inspiration from establishments like Loaves & Fishes, a cherished gourmet food shop in The Hamptons.
Ultimately, McGuire expresses a straightforward goal for Box Hill Grocer: “To nourish people in a different manner, on a different day, than in the restaurants. If you’re not in the mood to cook dinner, I want to be your solution.”
The Atmosphere
A model sailboat and wooden oars set in one window evoke memories of summer vacations or perhaps summer camps, capturing the attention of passersby. In the opposite window, a counter adorned with vintage wooden swivel stools invites visitors. The experience officially commences with the cheerful sound of a small-town, old-fashioned shop bell adorning the door.
Inside the 1,200-square-foot shotgun storefront, guests are welcomed by a graceful U-shaped cherry wood counter, meticulously crafted by esteemed local woodworker Dave Stine, who also designed the matching shelves and cabinetry.
“I anticipate the busy influx of kids walking up Wydown after school each day,” McGuire noted to SLM. “Like any genuine neighborhood market, we will have something for them.”
At the back of the shop, customers can discover raw products from distinguished meat suppliers, including Creekstone Farm, Blackhawk Farms (known for the ground beef served in Wright’s Tavern’s cheeseburger), and Porter Road (a premium meat provider based in Nashville, owned by local St. Louisan and Niche alum James Piesker). The shop will also showcase pottery created by McGuire’s daughter, Grace, who is a Louisville-based ceramic artist, along with inlaid wooden cutting boards from craftsman John Rice, a former restaurateur-turned-realtor.
The Menu
The prepared food selection at Box Hill Grocer includes a variety of ready-to-eat and bake-ready items designed to marry convenience with quality. Two central islands showcase an assortment of cheeses, spreads, dips, sauces, salad dressings, and essentials for charcuterie boards, such as Nueske’s meat products. Additionally, a refrigerated case is stocked with farm-fresh eggs, butter, and milk products.
Customers can grab quick-prep options like soups, chowders, and lobster bisque, alongside salads and sides such as roasted carrots with sumac, orange, and mint. The rotating menu features items like quiche, house-smoked meat sandwiches on Union Loafers bread, and heftier mains including grilled smoked shrimp, grilled swordfish, and famous dishes from McGuire’s restaurants—Wright’s crabcakes and potato-encrusted halibut, plus Louie’s hummus, pasta dishes, and potentially a grab-and-go version of the beloved Roman Gnocco.
On the beverage front, customers can choose from a curated array of wines, both sparkling and still waters, craft beers, and specialty drinks like French sparkling blood orange lemonade from Lorina. Additionally, several varieties of Kaldi’s Coffee are available for purchase, with Natural High—a fair-trade organic blend—as the store’s house drip coffee.
Leading the kitchen is chef Josh Poletti, an experienced roundsman from Louie and Wright’s, whose impressive resume includes tenure at Monarch, The Libertine, Niche, Pastaria, and Basso. At Box Hill, Poletti aims to create “dishes you adore but perhaps struggle to make well at home.”
The general manager of the store is hospitality veteran Molly Aceves, who previously worked as a long-time manager at Annie Gunn’s and was the former general manager at Olive + Oak and Balkan Treat Box.
The Background
McGuire’s journey began with the legendary King Louie’s restaurant, located in a less-accessible industrial district on Chouteau Avenue. After completing college, McGuire and a group of friends acquired a college bar that eventually evolved into a neighborhood bar and grill, “even though we didn’t have an actual neighborhood,” McGuire previously shared with SLM. “As a means of survival, we transformed it into a fine dining establishment. For patrons to make the trek, it had to be exceptional.”
Indeed, it was exceptional. However, when the viaduct connecting the restaurant to its patrons took two years to rebuild instead of one year, sales plummeted and never recovered. After the closure of King Louie’s in 2007, McGuire managed some of St. Louis’ premiere restaurants: Monarch, Herbie’s, Central Table Food Hall, Brasserie, and Niche.
Before embarking on his venture with Louie, McGuire served as director of service at Niche Food Group, focusing on mentoring and developing both managers and staff, areas where he excelled. “I was adept at having those conversations about whether a role was the right fit and persuading individuals who never envisioned themselves in management that they had the potential,” he recounted to SLM in 2017.
Louie debuted to glowing reviews in December of that same year and has since become one of the most frequented dining spots in the area, frequently on the must-visit list for celebrities.
Five years later, in December 2022, McGuire opened the 35-seat Wright’s Tavern, which has consistently served a full house every night since its grand opening.
While some might wonder about McGuire’s transition into the grocery business, part of the motivation stems from his family roots.
“My grandfather was a neighborhood grocer throughout his life,” he explained to SLM, “and just down from Wright’s, there used to be a grocery store called Wydown Market. So for me, being able to revive a neighborhood grocery was something that felt right.”
