× Expand Google image Brennan's will relocate to the double storefront on Euclid Ave., just north of Sub Zero Vodka Bar

Brennan’s has confirmed plans to relocate from its present space in the Central West End— and the good news is that the long-running bar is not going very far.

Brennan’s will move to a new space, at 314–316 N. Euclid, which is expected to open sometime in late spring. That’s just around the corner—and part of the same building—as the bar’s current location, at 4659 Maryland. In December, news broke that Brennan’s (along with nearby Culpepper’s) was set to close, with the St. Louis Chess Club buying the building to expand its facilities.

“I just did the walk—it’s literally 45 steps and 28 seconds from the old location,” owner Kevin Brennan said in a statement. “I was walking cautiously, too, due to the slippery conditions from the snow, so imagine if you run!”

Brennan’s has been a fixture in the Central West End since opening as a cigar and wine shop in 2003. It's picked up numerous awards and a loyal fanbase along the way. Brennan said the move is a welcome opportunity to double the bar’s footprint, expand the bar’s offerings, and make all-around improvements.

“Though the original Brennan’s space has treated us well over these last 17 years, the current layout limits our abilities as a bar and restaurant,” said Brennan. “The new Brennan’s space will increase square footage in areas that are important to the customer experience and allow us to improve food and drink service.”

Kevin Brennan told St. Louis Magazine that because the building’s layout is “like a mirror image of itself,” Brennan’s was able to find a new space that preserves the feel of the original bar while also leaving room for enhancements.

“We looked at other locations, but at the end of the day, we wanted to stay at this intersection. And the building made sense because a double space on the ground floor was available,” Brennan said. “It allowed us to take a double space or two individual ground floor spaces and connect them, but to create a different looking space in each of those spaces. One of the things people have liked about Brennan’s over the years is that there's different rooms and a different look and feel to connect them.”

The new bar’s ground floor will be twice as large as the original, and Brennan said that will give logistical advantages for service. “The cigar and bottle shop was in a different space than the bar and restaurant,” Brennan said. “In the new space, all those elements will be put into the same room. So it doesn't require us to have somebody leaving a station when they are in the restaurant space to help someone.”

The move will call for an overhaul of every aspect of Brennan’s offerings, including food, service, and the bar program. The ground floor bar will feature a solid ash wood bar top designed by Goebel & Co. Furniture, and the message board will remain (as will the snark that caused some hurt feelings in Boston during last year’s Stanley Cup Finals). An adjacent library room will offer a space to retreat “designed for cocktails, small plates, and more conversation.”

In the basement, The Sneaker Room will be a late-night “hi-fi bar and lounge” for cocktails and eclectic music. Upstairs, The Cigar Club will be a redesigned upgrade on the existing smoking lounge—larger, better appointed but still with a soundtrack of jazz, blues, and bossa nova played on vinyl.

Brennan’s said business will continue at the original location until at least April 15, 2020, but the bar may seek approval to extend its stay to minimize disruption to business as the transition takes place. For the latest news, keep an eye on @brennansstl on social media.