FLORISSANT, Missouri – In less than a week, the new Sugarfire Smokehouse in Florissant has made a splash.
On Sunday afternoon, the line at the barbecue joint and the dining room were packed as people headed out to try the familiar cuisine.
“Today is day five… it's been very crazy. We have been very busy trying to maintain food supplies,” said Montana Patterson, operations manager and co-owner.
Patterson noted that she and her co-owners of Sugarfire have already started socializing in and out of the kitchen.
“We're really trying to embrace the more personal side of things than what you get at a lot of fast food and chain restaurants, and I think that's what Florissant was missing a little bit,” she added.
This “small business” journey is the charm that people want and depend on Yolanda Warren.
“It helps a lot because we don’t have to leave our neighborhood and put money into other people’s neighborhoods,” said Warren, who has lived in North County for more than 10 years. “We’ve also seen an increase in many different restaurants and other small businesses.”
Stories like Bath and Body Works and Ollies have filled vacancies in smaller malls, leading to more workers and shoppers.
In addition, around 100 new single-family homes will soon be built near Koch Park.
“Not only do they have restaurants, they also have other businesses. Hobby Lobby. Fresh thyme,” Warren said when asked what else she would like to see in the area.
The business owners are equally dedicated to serving their customers and helping each other.
“We’re really looking forward to forming these partnerships and figuring out how we can give back more to this community in the ways that they need,” Patterson said.
Mayor Tim Lowery and the city of Florissant said in a statement they are “pleased to see the new businesses moving to Florissant and North County, and Florissant's Economic Development Department will continue to work aggressively to attract more retailers and jobs while continuing with our long-standing businesses.” “To work together with existing companies to help them succeed.”
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