Wright’s Tavern, Louie owner opening Box Hill Grocer in Clayton in September

When we tell you Matt McGuire – epicurean brainiac behind Wright’s Tavern and Louie – is opening a  “grocery store,” definitely don’t go thinking Schnucks. You’ll be way off. Box Hill Grocer, directly next door to Wright’s Tavern at 7628 Wydown Blvd., will open around the first week in September and will be as far from Schnucks as McGuire’s pomme purée is from Stouffer’s mashed potatoes – i.e. there’ll be very little resemblance.

This new venture makes a lot of sense for McGuire. He has the grocery business in his bones, because – over many childhood summers spent in Southwest Michigan’s Fruit Belt – a store called The Shopping Center, which happened to be owned by his grandfather, was a home away from home. “I’ve always had an overly romanticized view of small markets,” said McGuire, who went on to remember the high jinks he got up to in the candy aisle.

While his grandfather’s shop sold everything from soup to nuts (including toilet paper and floor cleaner), McGuire will be sticking to “nuts and soup”: In addition to a nice range of ready-made, grab-and-go meals (sandwiches, salads, heat-up meats and seafood), Box Hill will sell breads and cheeses, and loose seasonal local produce. “It’s about connectivity; being mindful of the food we eat,” McGuire said. “Food that’s connected to the seasons, not just ‘local’ to be ‘local.” There will also be “dry goods” – olive oils and vinegars, seedy Scandinavian crackers, etcetera – with an overall intention to support other St. Louis businesses by stocking their wares.

As of this writing, the enormous wooden counter, custom-made by David  Stine Furniture out in Dow, Illinois, was about to be moved into the 1,200-square-foot space. To start, Box Hill’s hours will be from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday.