Mango Peruvian Cuisine will shutter for good on Dec. 19

Mango Peruvian Cuisine has announced that it will close its doors at 1001 Washington Ave. in downtown St. Louis after service on Saturday, Dec. 19. The restaurant has been open for 16 years. 

“To the people of St. Louis and surrounding areas who kept an open mind and let us share our love of food, drink and family, you made our dream come true, and for that, we are forever thankful,” chef Jorge E. Calvo wrote in a press release.  

He cited a lack of convention and hotel business downtown as a reason for the closure, and encouraged diners to visit again before the restaurant closes for good. “Hopefully people that have patronized for a long time will be able to come back and dine more times before we close,” said Cinthia Calvo Larrew, Calvo’s daughter.  

“My family came here with the dream to open a restaurant. It came true after a lot of years of work,” she said. “St. Louis, at the time, we didn’t know if it would be ready for Peruvian food, but we were embraced with open arms."

While Mango is closing permanently, the owners are open to new ideas in the future, after the coronavirus pandemic ends. “My dad is very creative and he loves to work, so I don’t see him leaving the restaurant industry,” Larrew explained.  

Mango Peruvian Cuisine is open for dine-in, carryout and delivery, though Larrew recommended making reservations for dine-in due to limited capacity.