Trolley's expands vertically downtown

Ryan MacDonald, Aaron Buerge, Rich Branham and Steve Warlich, owners of Trolley’s Downtown Bar and Grille, are gutting one of three second-floor lofts at 107 Park Central Square. They’re turning the 1,400-square-foot space into a lounge and banquet room.

“It’s going to be extremely upscale,” said MacDonald, also the restaurant’s general manager, adding that the remodel is purely a matter of money.

Trolley’s co-owner Branham leased the loft above his restaurant for $1,200 a month, and MacDonald said the lounge/banquet room should earn about $10,000 per month. The partners own the building.

Branham moved across the hall into the loft that Buerge occupied. Buerge just moved into a new house.

“The restaurant is definitely a much more viable business than a residence,” Branham said.

Lofts remain on the third floor and the east side of the second floor.

Branham’s former loft was chosen because it provides a view of Park Central Square. “Nobody has that in Springfield,” MacDonald said.

MacDonald said the $300,000 project began in December and should be complete by June.

When open – hours are not yet determined – the room will feature full-menu capabilities, banquet space for 50 people, a seafood and raw oyster bar, and a martini and wine menu.

MacDonald said the Frank Sinatra-inspired area wouldn’t have a cover charge or dress code, but he expects it to attract couples and business crowds.

“It’ll be a little more higher end,” he said. “You’re not really going to feel comfortable in sweatpants … up there.”

Midwestern dreams

MacDonald and partners have even bigger plans brewing.

They hope to open Trolley’s restaurants in several Midwestern cities, with St. Louis being their first target.

A meeting is scheduled with representatives from St. Louis’ planned Ballpark Village, a $646 million mixed-use development adjacent to St. Louis Cardinals’ new Busch Stadium.

MacDonald said no plans are set, but he and his partners have talked to Branson Landing developers and officials from Memphis, Tenn., Little Rock, Ark., Oklahoma City and Tulsa, Okla., Wichita, Kan., Dallas and Kansas City.

He said they would like to open up to four more Trolley’s under their ownership before franchising.[[In-content Ad]]