That long-empty Red Lobster on Watson Road in Crestwood is finally headed for the wrecking ball, with a Dutch Bros Coffee drive-thru lined up to take over part of the site. The plan carves the former seafood spot into two separate lots, handing the eastern half to the coffee chain while leaving the western side open for a future tenant. It is the latest in a string of quick-service players, banks and convenience stores flocking to this busy stretch of Watson.
According to City of Crestwood materials, the Planning, Zoning and Architectural Review Commission has already approved a major site plan and recommended a Conditional Use Permit for the Dutch Bros project. The Board of Aldermen took up a minor plat and the CUP at its May 26 meeting. The city notes that Dutch Bros now has final development plan approval, with building permits from Crestwood and St. Louis County listed as the next hurdles. City records also show that a tenant for the newly created western parcel has not yet been identified.
Documents reviewed by KSDK indicate the Dutch Bros layout calls for two drive-thru lanes and a separate walk-up window, with no indoor seating included in the filings. A leasing brochure for the property lists 9838 Watson Road as a former national-restaurant site and actively markets the parcel for lease, underscoring that the owner is still hunting for a second tenant to fill out the balance of the lot.
Lot Split And Site Details
According to City of Crestwood planning documents, the existing 200.3-foot-wide lot will be split into two pieces. At the Watson Road right-of-way, the east parcel will measure about 85.51 feet and the west parcel about 114.52 feet. The plan designates Lot B for Dutch Bros, with Lot A held out for lease. The split is designed to maintain traffic circulation and parking on the site while allowing two independent developments to rise where the single Red Lobster building once stood. The Board of Zoning Adjustment agenda and accompanying technical drawings spell out the exact measurements and site plan notes.
Timeline And Next Steps
Per KSDK, demolition of the long-vacant restaurant and filing for construction permits are expected to come first, although officials have not released a firm construction start date. Before any dirt actually moves, the developer must secure St. Louis County building permits and button up the site work plans.
What This Means For Watson Road
A leasing brochure from Pace Properties describes the site as roughly 1.75 acres with an existing 6,625-square-foot building footprint and highlights strong traffic counts along Watson Road, which helps explain why national chains are circling the corner. Local commercial listings show the parcel is being actively marketed even as Dutch Bros moves its portion of the project forward, signaling more change on the way for the corridor.
For nearby residents, the shift means trading a shuttered Red Lobster that has sat as a visible reminder of better days for a high-volume coffee pickup spot, with a second build-to-suit parcel likely to follow. Anyone who wants to dig into the details can review the city’s public meeting materials and the property leasing brochure, which include technical drawings, measurements and leasing information for both lots.
