New Owners Transform Chesterfield's Press Box Bar & Grill into Scarecrow

New owners Chris Mertz and Shawn Mulholland have transformed thePress Box Bar & Grill (1095 Chesterfield Parkway, Chesterfield; 636-536-9440) into a new concept called Scarecrow. While both interior renovations and the menu remain a work in progress, Mertz tells Gut Check this morning that he and Mulholland are closer to their goal: "We're trying to create [a restaurant like] we ourselves wanted" for the area.

Mertz describes the Scarecrow concept as "creative American cuisine" with a much greater focus than the Press Box ever had of making foods from scratch in house. Chef Michelle Parker took over the Press Box kitchen in December of last year, and the restaurant's current menu represents a transition from the old concept to the new.

"What we have right now are things that a little bit more resemble what the bar and grill had on it," Mertz explains. "There's a fairly broad selection of appetizers, and there's still a lot of burgers. We've added salads and vegetarian options."

Mertz draws special attention to the greatly expanded selection of entrées, which now includes New York strip steak, beef tenderloin in a mushroom-sherry reduction, Guinness pie and hoisin-glazed pork chops, among other dishes.

"We've also built a small wine room," Mertz says, adding that the initial list will feature 45 or so bottles and a rotating selection of ten wines (five red, five white) by the glass. In addition, the restaurant now features a single-malt scotch and single-barrel and Irish whiskey program.

Scarecrow is open from 11 a.m. to midnight Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday.