Bistro Market closes food bar, could take on new name

The bistro is leaving the market.

At downtown’s Bistro Market, the salad bar and grill have been removed from the Price Cutter-owned store, with a lounge to go in its place as early as tonight for First Friday Art Walk, said Jessica Diamond, store manager.

Diamond said the former salad bar and grill area on the east side of the store is being replaced with couches and chairs for the in-store Starbucks and drinking bar customers.

On the grocery and liquor side of the store, groceries will be pared down to the essentials - such as bread, milk, eggs and grab-and-go sandwiches - with an expanded section for spirits. Diamond said the store is training some current employees and bringing on additional workers who would be trained and knowledgeable about the products, similar to the Brown Derby International Wine Center on South Glenstone.

“The majority of the groceries will be gone, it will just be that must-have stuff,” she said.

Down the road, Diamond said Bistro Market might take on the Barrels Fine Wine & Spirits name, Price Cutter’s liquor store concept.

Price Cutter is relocating the salad bar and grill to its new store at St. Louis Street and National Avenue, the former Dillons location the company agreed to purchase late last year when Dillons announced its Springfield exit. The new store, expected to open in mid-March, also would include additional seating, an expanded hot food menu, made-to-order sandwiches, pizza and Chinese food.

“Because we’re limited on space down here, having that store so close will give the customers who were shopping here a lot larger variety and a lot better options,” Diamond said.[[In-content Ad]]