ST. LOUIS — Dallas Holland-Mims is still overcoming the shock of Friday’s deadly tornado, but she is already making plans to find a new home for her devastated restaurant.
Holland-Mims opened Beyond Sweet Kitchen + Bar in December 2023 at 5143 Delmar Boulevard. The restaurant showcased swanky cocktails and a photo gallery of St. Louis celebrities.
The tornado demolished most of the building’s top floor.
Holland-Mims was not at her restaurant when the storm hit. Frantic employees called her.
Aside from minor cuts and bruises, her staff was OK.
As for Beyond Sweet’s building, Holland-Mims said, “It’s a total loss.â€
Beyond Sweet was one of several restaurants in the path of the May 16 tornado, which left five people dead and damaged thousands of buildings. Not one week later, however, some of the hardest-hit restaurants are vowing to reopen and rallying support for their employees during indefinite — but not permanent — closures.
People are also reading…
As they are able, some of these restaurants are also doing what they can to help other storm victims throughout the metro area.
“My biggest concern is my employees,†Holland-Mims said.
Beyond Sweet has five full-time employees.
Meanwhile, Holland-Mims is not waiting on insurance as she searches for a new location.
“Insurance is kind of a joke right now, being able to get through to people and talk, so I’m just, you know, doing what I can do to keep it moving on,†she said.
Over the past two years, this stretch of Delmar Boulevard between South Kingshighway and Union Boulevard has welcomed multiple new restaurants. The area is touted as the Delmar Maker District, a hybrid entertainment corridor and artisan incubator.
The acclaimed chef Ben Poremba opened three restaurants here in 2024: Esca, Florentin and Nixta. The tornado damaged all three.
“Everyone was safe and unharmed,†Poremba said.
Even with his restaurants temporarily closed, he said, “We dodged a bullet.â€
High end restaurant, Esca, sustained heavy damages during the tornado on May 16, in St. Louis, Mo.
Two houses immediately east of Esca on Delmar received catastrophic damage. Across the street, employees of Florentin sheltered in the employee restroom. On the other side of that restroom wall, in the adjacent Craft Alliance, part of the ceiling caved in.
Poremba and Esca employees rode out the storm in that restaurant’s basement. When they emerged, he said they found “a lot of broken glass, a lot of damaged furniture, damaged equipment, that sort of thing. A lot of debris.â€
One of Esca’s HVAC units flew off in the tornado. Another flipped over.
Despite the damage, Poremba is optimistic about reopening his three restaurants. Nixta, which took the least damage of the trio, could reopen within a week once its power is restored.
He is uncertain, however, about the fate of his Delmar Maker District project that is still under construction. The new location of his restaurants Olio and Elaia (previously located in Botanical Heights) suffered extensive damage. He said he will reassess that project once his other restaurants in the district have reopened.
In the meantime, has already raised nearly $50,000. In addition to lost wages, Poremba said several employees’ cars were damaged in the storm, some total losses.
“A lot of our employees live in in that neighborhood,†he said. “We have one person that went back to an uninhabitable apartment. No car, no apartment. So, you know, that’s the kind of stuff that we want to try to help with as much as we can.â€
Steve Ewing, owner of Steve’s Hot Dogs, prepares food outside his Delmar location on May 21, 2025. HuSTL Hospitality Group, Steve’s Hot Dog’s, and several other businesses and organizations mobilized to give away food and offer resources to the community impacted by a tornado that decimated areas of St. Louis last week.
HuSTL Hospitality Group opened both the Fountain on Delmar and a location of Steve’s Hot Dogs last July in the same Delmar Maker District development where Poremba operates Nixta. The tornado tore up the two restaurants’ gas and electric lines, among other damage.
“We’re being told a month or more for electricity, longer for gas,†co-owner Danni Eickenhorst said. “So we’re actually in a room right now just kind of hammering out, ‘How do we save our employees hours?’â€
HuSTL has raised more than $14,000 so far through .
Yet even with its own restaurants closed HuSTL is organizing to help others in need after the tornado.
On Wednesday afternoon, HuSTL was serving hot meals, distributing nonperishable food and hosting disaster-relief assessments at Steve’s Hot Dogs at 5242 Delmar Blvd. On the day of the storm, Steve’s and the Fountain on Delmar together gave out some 500 meals.
Eickenhorst used to work for the Salvation Army. She served as the organization’s public information officer in Joplin during the recovery from the devastating 2011 tornado.
“One of my coping skills, because it was really hard for me to be telling stories about (the Joplin effort), was I had to find ways to do good in my disaster work,†Eickenhorst said. “And so I came at this (tornado) sort of with that same thinking. I’m just, like, we’ve got to find a way to give back as we’re dealing with our own hurt.â€
Other restaurants lend a hand
The broader St. Louis restaurant community responded quickly to the need for help after the tornado. Numerous restaurants are raising money for relief efforts or preparing meals for those in need.
Nick Bognar raised $15,000 on Saturday and Sunday at his three restaurants, Sado and Pavilion on the Hill and Indo in Botanical Heights. The restaurants donated 100% of their profits those days to the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, the United Way of Greater St. Louis and other charities.
Bognar said the decision to donate was a “no-brainer.â€
Immediately after the storm, he said, “We just thought, you know, if we’re able to do what we usually do (at the restaurant), we might as well put it to a good cause.â€
After being contacted by community leaders, Grace Meat + Three served some 200 meals from its food truck to residents without power.
Now, the Grove restaurant is preparing 500 meals a day for storm victims in coordination with World Central Kitchen, the international organization led by renowned chef José Andrés that delivers food to areas affected by war, natural disasters and other catastrophes.
Grace has paused its regular lunch service to accommodate its efforts. Owner Rick Lewis said he saw how dire the situation is as he drove the restaurant’s food truck through areas in the tornado’s path.
“The photos that you see online just don’t even do justice to the devastation,†he said.
Poremba is eager to salute the efforts of his peers in the restaurant industry.
“It’s super humbling and just heartwarming, really, to see the generosity and support of the community, but especially of my colleagues,†he said.
Even as Poremba and his team deal with three damaged restaurants, they are reaching out to the community.
Deli Divine, Poremba’s restaurant at 5501 Delmar Boulevard just west of the Delmar Maker District, will be offering free warm meals to those in need. The meals are available 3-5 p.m. daily (except Monday, when the restaurant is closed).
St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer discusses the damage across parts of north city on May 20, 2025. Video provided; edited by Beth O'Malley
High end restaurant, Esca, sustained heavy damages during the tornado on May 16, in St. Louis, Mo.
the under construction Olio restaurant was damaged in the May 16 tornado in St. Louis, Mo.
Residents and volunteers receive food and other items outside Steve’s Hot Dogs along Delmar Avenue on May 21, 2025. Steve’s Hot Dog’s, along with other businesses and organizations mobilized to give away and offer resources to the community impacted by a tornado that decimated areas of North St. Louis last week.
Jacobi McDaniel, 8, receives a comic book while being accompanied by his grandmother, Helence McDaniel of north city outside Steve’s Hot Dogs along Delmar Avenue on May 21, 2025. Steve’s Hot Dog’s, along with other businesses and organizations mobilized to give away and offer resources to the community impacted by a tornado that decimated areas of North St. Louis last week.
A volunteer replenishes bags of supplies and toiletries outside Steve’s Hot Dogs along Delmar Avenue on May 21, 2025. Steve’s Hot Dog’s, along with other businesses and organizations mobilized to give away and offer resources to the community impacted by a tornado that decimated areas of North St. Louis last week.
Christopher Simpson, right, receives information about assistance from St. Louis Development Corporation outside Steve’s Hot Dogs along Delmar Avenue on May 21, 2025. Mr. Simpson, a small business owner of Roth Blend Custom Apparel, saw his offices completely destroyed. Steve’s Hot Dog’s, along with other businesses and organizations mobilized to give away and offer resources to the community impacted by a tornado that decimated areas of North St. Louis last week.
Local displaced residents and volunteers along received food from Poochie-Que’s restaurant outside Steve’s Hot Dogs along Delmar Avenue on May 21, 2025. Steve’s Hot Dog’s, along with other businesses and organizations mobilized to give away and offer resources to the community impacted by a tornado that decimated areas of North St. Louis last week.
Delores Smith, a local resident of nearby Winter Garden Senior Living packs her car after receiving food outside Steve’s Hot Dogs along Delmar Avenue on May 21, 2025. Ms. Smith, displaced by last weeks tornado, is currently living in her car with just a suitcase and clothes hamper that she was able to retrieve from her facility. Steve’s Hot Dog’s, along with other businesses and organizations mobilized to give away and offer resources to the community impacted by a tornado that decimated areas of North St. Louis last week.
Ward 10 Alderwoman Shameem Clark-Hubbard, speaks with a resident outside Steve’s Hot Dogs along Delmar Avenue on May 21, 2025. Steve’s Hot Dog’s, along with other businesses and organizations mobilized to give away and offer resources to the community impacted by a tornado that decimated areas of North St. Louis last week.
Valerie Williams serves food along with staff from Poochie-Que Barbecue outside Steve’s Hot Dogs along Delmar Avenue on May 21, 2025. Steve’s Hot Dog’s, along with other businesses and organizations mobilized to give away and offer resources to the community impacted by a tornado that decimated areas of North St. Louis last week.
Delores Smith, a local resident of nearby Winter Garden Senior Living receives food outside Steve’s Hot Dogs along Delmar Avenue on May 21, 2025. Steve’s Hot Dog’s, along with other businesses and organizations mobilized to give away and offer resources to the community impacted by a tornado that decimated areas of North St. Louis last week.
Tasha Holbrook arrives with supplies outside Steve’s Hot Dogs along Delmar Avenue on May 21, 2025. Ms. Holborook, a North County resident, was compelled to help on her day off by dropping off supplies to various relief spaces in North City. Steve’s Hot Dog’s, along with other businesses and organizations mobilized to give away and offer resources to the community impacted by a tornado that decimated areas of North St. Louis last week.
Kaitlyn Harlow, right, Growth Operations Manager with Steve’s Hot Dogs, loads a vehicle with food and supplies outside Steve’s Hot Dogs along Delmar Avenue on May 21, 2025. Steve’s Hot Dog’s, along with other businesses and organizations mobilized to give away and offer resources to the community impacted by a tornado that decimated areas of North St. Louis last week.
Brooklyn Brown, left, a displaced north city resident ,receives food and supplies outside Steve’s Hot Dogs along Delmar Avenue on May 21, 2025. Steve’s Hot Dog’s, along with other businesses and organizations mobilized to give away and offer resources to the community impacted by a tornado that decimated areas of North St. Louis last week.
Steve Ewing, owner of Steve’s Hot Dogs speaks with Felice McClendon of Delmar Main Street, community non profit organization helping small businesses, outside Steve’s Hot Dogs along Delmar Avenue on May 21, 2025. Steve’s Hot Dog’s, along with other businesses and organizations mobilized to give away and offer resources to the community impacted by a tornado that decimated areas of North St. Louis last week.
