Coastal Bistro & Bar closes in Clayton

The tide has gone out for good as Coastal Bistro & Bar closed its doors Saturday, Jan. 23 after five years in business, as reported by St. Louis Magazine.

Co-owner Frank Schmitz, who also owns Barcelona Tapas in Clayton and Indianapolis, cited the ownership’s desire to change direction and increasing competition from newly opened 801 Fish.

“My sister, Ellen (Schmitz), is the principle owner and ran the day-to-day operations. She got married, and she and her husband are looking to do something different,” Schmitz said. “Coastal has been popular and had a great reputation. Competing with seafood is difficult anyway. We wanted to end on a high note, so we did (Clayton) Restaurant Week and closed on Saturday night.”

Schmitz will continue to invest his time in Barcelona, which he said is “doing well as always and has a long life.”

Outstanding Coastal Bistro & Bar gift cards will be honored at full value at Barcelona. “We want to thank our customers that have supported us over the last five years and hope to see many of them back (at Ellen and her husband’s) new concept,” Schmitz said. He could not comment on the future plans at this time.