Friday, June 23, 2006

Nelly and the St. Lunatics Open New Restaurant in August

St. Louis rapper Nelly and his St. Lunatics crew will open a new bar and grill in August in Hazelwood.
The new restaurant, called Mack's Bar and Grill, was originally slated for an April opening but was pushed back because the rappers were waiting for Mack's manager, Tony Powell, to finish his work as a chef and manager at Azio, an Italian restaurant in Atlanta.
As a result of the delay, the Hazelwood City Council is expected to extend a special land-use permit for Mack's next month, according to city officials.
The restaurant, which takes its name from the first letters of theowners' names - Murphy Lee, Ali, Slodown, Kyjuan and Cornell, Nelly's first name, is now scheduled to open August 10 at 6827 Howdershell Road.
Powell is confident Macks's will become a staple in Hazelwood's food community.
"I am very excited about this," Powell told the St. Louis Post Dispatch. "I am pretty sure this will go smooth. St. Louis seems to support bars."
Mack's is the latest nonmusical venture for Nelly, who also owns a clothing line and is part owner of the NBA's Charlotte Bobcats basketball team.
The 3,500 square foot eatery will hold 150 people and seat 74. It will also contain several televisions that will mostly show sports programs, said Powell, who expects Mack's to become a popular establishment because of its high-profile owners.
The group got the idea to open the restaurant from St. Lunatic member Ali, said Mike Chaffin, Nelly's business manager.
The facility's walls will be decorated with items and pictures of the Nelly and the St. Lunatics as well as items from St. Louis sports teams - the Cardinals, Rams and Blues.