Balaban's Adding Space for Private Events and Wine Tastings

Balaban's Wine Cellar and Tapas Bar is expanding this fall with the addition of a new a private event space and walk-in wine cellar. 

Retail Wine Manager Scott Krietemeyer showed Chesterfield Patch around the new space Friday, which is expected to be finished around Nov. 19 and opened the week after Thanksgiving. 

The expansion will add around 2,000 square feet and will have two main components. The first part is a walk-in wine cellar to be used for tastings and displaying the rest of their Library Wines, a special collection from the original Balaban's holdings. 

The second, larger portion is a new dining area exclusively for private gatherings, which will be also be furnished to have a wine-cellar feel. Krietemeyer said it's in response to what their customers have been asking for. 

"There have been too many corporate events, wedding rehearsals, that type of thing, that we have had to turn down," he said. 

The construction work is not expected to disrupt the cafe and retail wine shop side of the business. The addition of the dining room also means an expansion of their current kitchen facilities, which Krietemeyer estimated will grow by 70 percent. 

Balaban's is located at 1772 Clarkson Road near in the Dierbergs shopping center. For more information, call 636-449-6700.