Strange Donuts team opens late-night restaurant concept Up Late in World’s Fair Donuts space

Up Late, a late-night spot co-owned by Nathan Wright and Jason Bockman of Strange Donuts, opened Feb. 18 at 1904 S. Vandeventer Ave. in St. Louis. The takeout-only restaurant operates out of World’s Fair Donuts four nights a week, while the doughnut shop remains open for business in the mornings. 

Wright had always wanted to start his own business but didn’t see it happening until much later in life. Over the past few years, he’s been a baker at Strange Donuts and, with Bockman’s encouragement and partnership, he’s now the owner-operator of Up Late.

Wright and Bockman wanted to fill the void of late-night food options in St. Louis with good, quality food. The menu is simple: two breakfast sandwiches, a carne asada taco, doughnuts and a few beverage options. The breakfast sandwiches are bacon, egg and cheese; and sausage, egg and cheese, both served on Companion sourdough bread with housemade jelly and late sauce, a chile-habenero aioli. The taco’s ingredients are sourced from local Mexican grocery stores like El Torito and Carniceria Latino Americano. For now, the doughnut options are a few of Strange Donuts’ classics: gooey butter, glaze and chocolate cake. Guests can order coffee, plain milk and chocolate milk from Rolling Lawns Farm, water and a 4 Hands Brewing Co. American Lager made especially for Up Late, simply called Beer.

Because of the comradery already present among many St. Louis restaurants, Wright said he hopes to run special collaborations with other local restaurants. “Everyone in the food industry in St. Louis is incredibly helpful and super nice … being able to go to different restaurants and talk to people who have done this before has been so refreshing. I love the St. Louis food scene,” he said.

Up Late is open from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. Thursday through Sunday. Orders can be placed either online or via a QR code at the restaurant and then picked up at the to-go window. Eventually, they plan to add a bar on the outside of the building for customers to stand at and enjoy their food. Follow Up Late on Instagram for further updates.