Extraordinary Restaurant Partnership Opportunity

Missouri Botanical Garden's Sassafras Restaurant & The Bellwether Café

Transform a stunning garden setting into your next culinary success story. The Missouri Botanical Garden invites experienced restaurateurs to operate our flagship dining destinations within the Garden's Jack C. Taylor Visitor Center.

A Thriving Culinary Destination

• Sassafras Restaurant: An architectural marvel featuring biophilic design and panoramic Garden views
• Indoor seating for 100 guests, plus seasonal outdoor dining for 100+
• The Bellwether Café: Adjacent grab-and-go concept with proven success
• Established annual revenue of $2.6 million across standard operations and special events (cash bars, pop-up food locations, and more)

Unique Business Advantages

• Year-round operation (362 days)
• Built-in customer base from hundreds of thousands of daily Garden visitors and 250+ daily staff
• Premium evening service opportunities during special exhibitions
• Additional revenue streams through pop-up retail during major events
• Prime location within the renowned Missouri Botanical Garden

Operating Details

• Core Hours: 9 a.m.–5 p.m. daily
• Extended evening operations during special exhibits
• 45+ nights of holiday season operation during Garden Glow (Mid-November through Early January)
• Flexible opportunities for additional revenue through mobile retail locations
• Operation of Garden's private dinning room to host distinguished guests and board meetings

Growth Potential

• $1.2 million proven annual revenue from core business hours
• $1.4 million additional revenue from evening and special events
• $50,000+ in staff dining revenue
• Multi-year partnership agreement beginning January 2026

Application Timeline

• Application Deadline: April 11, 2025 at 5 p.m.
• Interview Period: May-June 2025
• Final Selection: July 2025
• Operations Begin: January 2026

Ready to bring your culinary vision to one of St. Louis's most beloved destinations? 

Apply Now