Tom & Chee closes in O’Fallon, Missouri

The Tom & Chee location at 1280 Highway K in O’Fallon, Missouri, has closed. The chain specializes in custom grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soups, as well as gluten-free and vegetarian fare.

The closing was announced on the location’s Facebook page yesterday, Jan. 9, citing “circumstances beyond our control.”

According to franchisee Doug Mating, those boiled down to parking. Mating said the 2015 addition of Monical’s Pizza to the shopping center that Tom & Chee was located in caused a shortage of parking that adversely affected businesses there.

“It just got too crowded,” he said. “People aren’t going to park behind a strip center and walk.”

Tom & Chee’s last day of business was Sunday, Jan. 8. Mating said he donated all of the remaining food to Messenger Worship Center in Fenton. He has no plans to reopen in a new location.

Matt Sorrell is a staff writer for Sauce Magazine.