Tower Grove South burger staple The Dam is closing permanently

The Dam will close on Saturday, May 14, after nine years at 3173 Morgan Ford Road in Tower Grove South.

Citing ongoing staffing struggles and the demands of her growing catering business, owner Michele Coen said she has decided to transition away from The Dam’s brick-and-mortar operations. Coen will focus solely on her catering and event production company, Michele C. Catering & Events, which was based out of the kitchen at The Dam. 

The Dam, which opened in 2013, established a reputation for serving some of the best burgers in town, using premium black Angus beef. The Belgian-style fries were a must-order, paired with a variety of sauces made in-house. 

The Dam had a symbiotic relationship with the neighboring Amsterdam Tavern (Coen leased the space from Amsterdam Tavern). Where The Dam was short on seating options, Amsterdam Tavern lacked a kitchen of its own, and ordering a burger and fries from The Dam became an essential part of the experience at the soccer pub. 

Michele C. Catering has relocated to the kitchen at The Dark Room in The Grandel Theater. “I'm excited to be part of the Kranzberg Arts Foundation,” Coen said. I worked out a kitchen with them, so I'm going to move forward and focus on just my catering and event planning.”

Customers at The Dark Room can also enjoy Coen’s menu during shows, including Wednesday’s Jazz Jam events from 6 to 9 p.m. and any shows on Friday through Sunday, as well as pre-show and late-night dining. That means fans of The Dam will still be able to seek out a few of their favorite items, although they’ll have to settle for musical entertainment in place of soccer, hockey or baseball. Coen’s menu at The Dark Room will feature sliders, burgers, fries and some of those well-loved sauces. 

Coen said while she’s sad to leave The Dam and Tower Grove behind, she’s eager to see what the next chapter brings for Michele C. Catering & Events. “I loved being part of Tower Grove South and obviously being part of the Amsterdam family,” Coen said. “But I'm very excited on my new adventures and my new growth with my catering and my event planning.”

The Dam’s last day of business will be Saturday, May 14. They’ll be open from noon until the food is sold out. Coen thanked all Dam customers past and present and is hoping to see everyone for one last burger and to say farewell.