City Taco Shack, Chela Tapas and more join City Foundry STL food hall vendors

City Foundry STL has added more vendors to its food hall, which is now at 80% capacity. The multimillion dollar, 15-acre mixed-use development of the former Century Electric Foundry in Midtown plans to open in spring 2020, and four new concepts are joining the growing list of food hall vendors:

• Buenos Aires Café, traditional Argentinian food from Oscar and Ainara Farina, owners of Los Gauchos Parrilla Argentina in O’Fallon, Illinois

• Chela Tapas, small plates highlighting Spanish ingredients from chef Grace Dinsmoor

• City Taco Shack, Asian-Mexican fusion from Sue Wong-Shackelford, owner of Kalbi Taco Shack

• Murf’s Deli, handcrafted sandwiches with international inspiration from St. Louis native Maher David

Oscar Farina said he’s excited to reach a wider audience with Buenos Aires Café. “We want to show more people our culture. Expanding to midtown St. Louis comes with the excitement of sharing Argentinian food with more people,” he said.

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Dinsmoor said Chela Tapas is about reconnecting with people who know her for her Spanish food. She spent several years at the helm of Spanish tapas eatery Modesto on The Hill.

“The thing that I’m really passionate about is Spain and sharing Spanish culture, and you’re definitely going to see that educational part of it in my food,” she said.

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The new vendors join a growing list of locally owned eateries set to open in the food hall, including CropCircle from Farmtruk chef-owner Samantha Mitchell, Sumax: Hummus & Wraps from Layla owners Jason and Maria Sparks and many others.

Wong-Shackleford said the presence of so many other well-known eateries was a big draw when deciding to sign the contract for City Taco Shack.

“We know it’s going to be a happening thing with all the other chefs in the food hall,” she said. “We’re proud and humbled to be a part of it.”

David did not return an email request for comment.

James Boeckmann is an editorial intern at Sauce Magazine.