The long-dark storefront that used to house a Starbucks on Wydown Boulevard in Clayton is finally in line for a comeback. Local restaurateur Matt McGuire plans to turn the space into Gigi’s Cafe, a coffee-by-day, pizza-and-drinks-by-night operation that could put steady foot traffic back on a tricky corner where neighbors still have plenty of questions about parking and deliveries.
Clayton’s Plan Commission and Architectural Review Board have signed off on a conditional-use permit for Gigi’s Cafe, according to St. Louis Public Radio. Plans prepared by Link Architecture show about 2,200 square feet of renovated space with a bar and dining room, roughly 45 seats inside plus patio seating, daytime counter service, host-seated service and limited reservations in the evening. McGuire told commissioners he is aiming for an October 2026 opening if construction and permitting stay on track.
From Vacant Corner To New Spot
The corner has been mostly idle since the Starbucks shut down in 2021, a vacancy that local reporting and property records have been noting for years. The St. Louis Business Journal has detailed previous attempts to land another coffee operator there, while city meeting records show residents repeatedly flagging delivery trucks and curbside congestion on the narrow block. Those worries resurfaced during the latest round of city review.
McGuire’s Local Track Record
Gigi’s would be the newest venture from McGuire, the owner of Louie and Wright’s Tavern who also opened Box Hill Grocer in Clayton last year. Sauce Magazine and other local coverage have traced his growing cluster of neighborhood spots, which he has said makes it easier to juggle hours, deliveries and staffing across locations.
Hours, Service And What Comes Next
Under the approved plan, Gigi’s would run roughly 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. Monday through Saturday, with McGuire open to adding Sunday hours after feedback from commissioners, St. Louis Public Radio reports. With the Plan Commission and Architectural Review Board sign-off in place, the conditional-use permit now heads to the City Council for a final vote. If council members approve the permit and construction stays on schedule, McGuire’s team is still targeting an October 2026 debut.
For now, the Gigi’s proposal is part of a bigger conversation about what to do with long-vacant storefronts in downtown Clayton and how to balance neighborhood livability with another late-night dining option. City review sessions and the upcoming council vote are expected to be the forums where neighbors, business owners and officials hammer out delivery schedules, trash service and other operational details before the cafe officially opens its doors.
