Step Inside Siam

A sneak peek into The Grove's newest Asian-inspired restaurant and bar

Written by Andrea Piamonte

Photography by Steve Truesdell

Published in Vital VOICE Magazine, May 2014 Issue

Spring has sprung in St. Louis and after a grueling winter, The Grove was left without an anchor establisment on 4121 Manchester Avenue. Rumors surfaced on what would fill the void; the only thing that was clear was it would be called Siam.

With Siam’s upcoming opening, everyone is buzzing about The Grove’s newest addition. Much of the speculated talk is leaving most stumped on what to think about the restaurant/bar replacing St. Louis’ lesbian landmark Novaks. What is Siam anyway? Is it a gay sushi bar? How do you even pronounce “Siam”? Well, we’re here to give you a sneak peek and — hopefully — answer those painstaking questions you’ve all been dying to ask.

An Alternative Bar to The Grove

The grand opening is projected to happen sometime in May, but no official date has been set. Along with the fact of the opening date remaining debatable, there are still many misconceptions about Siam.

“People have heard for a long time that this place is going to be a ‘gay sushi bar,’” owner Steve Preston says. “Well the answer is, yes we are going to be serving sushi, but that’s not all that is on our menu.”

The Asian-inspired restaurant and bar will feature cuisine fused with American, Thai and Japanese, but Siam is certainly not married to strictly following these food styles. The restaurant’s non commitment to a stringent theme holds true to the meaning of Siam, “I am, who I am,” with the “S” standing for Steven.

Because of its prime location in The Grove and history of the space, it’s greatly and falsely assumed that Siam is a gay bar.

“Just to clarify, we are not a gay bar,” Preston says.

“It’s definitely in a gay friendly area,” general manager Kelly Washam adds. “So I think we are more interested in not labeling ourselves or limiting ourselves to just that audience. We want to make it just this broad space where everyone feels welcome.”

After some research, the owners found out that the name “Siam” actually reinforces their philosophy of being an alternative, inclusive bar.

“It goes behind the name of Siam, which also means ‘the kingdom where everybody comes together.’ And it really does — it was created because of that. It’s open to all,” Washam explains.

In addition to the approach of not limiting themselves to a certain audience, Siam is determined to create their own unique identity with renovated, modern furnishings and Asian-inspired cuisine.

“We’re not trying to take over the identity of what it was,” Washam says. “We have created our own identity and it just so happens to be in this space.”

Versatile Atmosphere

Siam underwent a huge facelift to fulfill Siam’s desire for a different aesthetic and ambience. With Creative/Marketing Director Ron Bray spearheading the design, the space has been dramatically renovated to increase flow and functionality.

“We wanted to be able to open it up so that people can get around easier in the space,” Bray explains. “We tried to address all the issues that were previously a problem, like traffic flow.”

Walls and obstructions were demolished to create a more open concept. The existing front bar is refurbished with sleek metal and wood surrounding. The floors are sanded, stained and refinished throughout. Modern lighting décor is added to give an upscale feel.

The new design divides the space into sections that increase the utility of the 10,000-square-foot space.

“You can also breakaway if you don’t want to be around a large mass of people,” Washam says. “If you want to have a quiet, comfortable conversation with somebody in the back [lounge area], you will have that option.”

Siam has also added four stages that will feature live music and entertainment, an expanded dance floor, several 60-inch flat screen displays targeted to attract the sport fanatics and a polished patio included with one of the stages. The owners emphasize that the new space will be focused around versatility.

“We put a lot of thought into the sound and lighting systems that we’re installing in there,” Bray says. “It’ll be very versatile, changeable. So you may walk down the street and it may look completely different when you come back in.”

The biggest change would be the spacious unisex bathroom complete with nine stalls, two enclosed urinals and two deep trough sinks. The owners wanted to make a bold statement with tiled charcoal walls and accent woods.

“The unisex bathroom kind of goes with the whole theme of the place,” Washam says. “Everybody will come together. There’s not a particular area that’s designated for one or different types of people. Everybody is welcome everywhere.”