What began as a pop-up in the parking lot of a Maryville hotspot is now taking on an identity all its own. From Susan Smith, owner and the health-conscious and flavor-forward mind behind Plan Shop Live Kitchen, comes Speakeasy Parlor. Located at 2713 N. Center St., Speakeasy Parlor will open in August just three doors down from Plan Shop Live Kitchen.
Speakeasy Parlor is an expansion of Smith’s passion and dedication to the pursuit of balanced healthy living, which she said begins with fresh and nutritious food. All the meals from Plan Shop Live Kitchen are made without processed sugar or preservatives and are full of fresh, nutritious ingredients. Smith describes the food and philosophy as an aspiration to make healthy eating accessible and delicious for all: “Healthy food doesn’t have to taste ‘healthy’– it should taste good … that’s the ‘live’ part of Plan Shop Live,” she said. With the success of a pop-up cocktail bar in the parking lot of Plan Shop Live Kitchen and a long-held passion for mixology, Smith decided to expand her vision.
With 1,300 square feet and about 40 seats (the same size as Plan Shop Live), Speakeasy Parlor will be a gathering place designed for high-quality drinks, tasty snacks and great company all in the elegant atmosphere of a modern speakeasy. The new venue will house a full bar, along with six slot machines to start, though more games may be added later. Food will be made in the Plan Shop Live Kitchen and brought over to Speakeasy Parlor.
The full bar will feature a variety of beer, wine and craft cocktails, including a strawberry cabernet and peppercorn-ginger mule, a twist on an Aviation, a smoked orange Old-Fashioned, a smoky Paloma with mezcal and more. They’ll also served Old Herald Brewery & Distillery products.
From the kitchen, the mission of fresh, healthy and delicious food is set to continue. An evening menu will be available Thursday through Saturday featuring small bites and appetizers like hummus and tzatziki dips, pizzas, a burger, a salad, truffle fries with garlic aioli, and a burrata toast made with Parmesan and black pepper bread topped with pickled tomato, fresh basil and drizzle of basil oil and finished with crispy pepperoni.
Rest assured if you are stopping by during the day throughout the week you will still have plenty of delicious options as lunch will be available for order from Plan Shop Live Kitchen and can be delivered to Speakeasy Parlor. Diners can also look forward to a Saturday and Sunday brunch menu, which is expected to be available shortly after the grand opening.
When asked about the choice to open her businesses in Maryville, Smith said proudly that she sees the location and community as a unique opportunity for concepts like Plan Shop Live and Speakeasy Parlor to stand apart from the rest of the dining landscape. “There is really nothing like it here. You know people say, ‘Well, why not St. Louis? Or why not Edwardsville?’ We wanted it to be a place for people to come and relax and enjoy each other’s company with an elevated experience,” she explained. The intimacy of the community has been an essential element of the success that Smith has found in Maryville. “We have grown a lot; each month we’re growing,” Smith said. “And it’s really all by word of mouth. People have been very responsive to us by sharing their experience with their friends and family.” Beyond nourishing the health of her customers, Smith also supports other local businesses through her work. Diners can find a seven-grain bun from Kruta Bakery on many of the sandwiches at Plan Shop Live Kitchen, and Speakeasy Parlor’s pizzas will feature a specialty dough from 222 Artisan Bakery & Cafe. The burrata toast also uses 222 Artisan Bakery bread.
Speakeasy Parlor will be open from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and from 9 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday. Follow the Plan Shop Live Facebook page to stay up to date on all of the latest offerings and find details on the grand opening of Speakeasy Parlor.
This article appears in June 2023.