James “Jimbo” Sinovic, founder of restaurant and bar Big Daddy’s, along with partners Jeff Buttzinger, Ryan Loeffer and Jon Vieluf, has some big plans for Belleville. Sinovic, who opened the first Big Daddy’s location 11 years ago in Soulard, will be opening The
Silver Creek Saloon at 2520 Mascoutah Ave., in the space formerly occupied by Caddy Shack Sports Bar & Grill.
Sinovic told The Scoop that the 7,000-square-foot interior of the building will be transformed into a multi-purpose entertainment and dining venue with three bars, a dance floor, a banquet room and a dining room. Plans also call for the construction of a 5,000-square-foot outdoor patio complete with a bar, a pizza bar, a small stage, multi-level seating and volleyball courts. The outdoor patio will seat 120 people. The menu, Sinovic noted, will be focused on steak, fish and blue plate specials. Doors at Silver Creek Saloon, where live music and DJ spins will lean toward country and rock music, will open the second weekend in May.
Another business that has moved into the Belleville area is the recently opened Sushi Thai by Samran. Located at 229 N. Illinois St., the lunch-and-dinner spot serves both sushi and Thai cuisine. Sushi Thai joins two other new Metro East restaurants, Catch 22 and Yamato.
Sadly, The Scoop has received confirmation that Oregon Trail Roasting Co. at 201 W. Main St. in Belleville has closed its doors permanently. A letter posted on the front window states: “For three years we have offered Belleville a vibe it was missing, not to mention great music, art and the best coffee in town. Alas, the demand for what we offered was not strong enough to sustain us.” The notice directs holders of gift cards to the coffee shop to send an email to David@oregontrailroasting.com.
This article appears in March 2011.