When New Day Gluten Free opens at 15622 Manchester Road, in Ellisville, those who suffer from celiac disease will finally have the option to dine in a gluten-free (and peanut-free) environment.

New Day is the brainchild of Kelly Patrick, who was diagnosed with celiac disease five years ago. “It was a long road to my diagnosis,” explained Patrick, who suffered for seven years before being told by her doctors the nature of her disease. “When a gluten-free diet immediately made me better, it was a life-changing experience,” she said. But while the change in diet brought Patrick better health, it also induced feelings of isolation and frustration for not being able to eat like the rest of her food-loving Italian family. “When I try to go out to eat, I must be the most tiring customer ever,” she said. Patrick, who has worked at several restaurants including her most recent position at Citizen Kane’s Steakhouse, noted that living with such food limitations is what inspired the concept for New Day. “I wanted a place where I can go where nothing is off limits,” she explained.

Patrick and her fiancé and business partner, Garrett Beck, began developing the business plan for New Day two years ago, but the dream finally came to fruition when the owners of the now defunct Beck’s Gluten-Free offered to sell the couple their existing gluten-free facility in Ellisville. And though New Day opened for business two weeks ago, it is currently only selling its baked goods, pizza crusts, prepared pizzas and prepared entrées to wholesale accounts and for carryout at the store. Among the restaurants who carry New Day’s gluten-free pizza crusts are Cecil Whittaker’s locations in Valley Park and Ellisville and Bono’s Pizzeria on Watson Road. New Day is also in negotiations with Straub’s and expects its pizza crust to debut at the grocer’s Clayton location within two to three weeks.

New Day is awaiting permit approval from the City of Ellisville that would enable diners to enjoy breakfast pastries and other baked goods, entrées and pizzas at the 20-seat café. The approval would make New Day St. Louis’ first gluten-free restaurant, according to Beck’s research. He expects approval to come in mid-June and estimates opening day to be Friday, June 17.

New Day is currently open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and on Saturdays until 6 p.m. When dine-in counter service begins, close time will be extended by one hour.

By Ligaya Figueras

Tags: Beck's Gluten Free, Bono's Pizzeria, Cecil Whittaker's, Garrett Beck, Kelly Patrick, New Day Gluten Free, Straub's, The Scoop

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