× Expand Rendering by SPACE Architecture + Design

The city of Kirkwood will soon be home to more bells and whistles.

Mission Taco Joint has just announced plans for a 12,000-square-foot restaurant with an adjoining amusement arcade. The project, Mission Taco’s seventh and most ambitious undertaking to date, will open in the former Kirkwood Station Brewing Company (105 E. Jefferson) which closed in February of this year. SPACE Architecture + Design will be the architect and general contractor.

Mission Taco's other locations include four in metro St Louis (the flagship in the Delmar Loop, Historic Soulard, Central West End, Streets of St. Charles) and two in Kansas City (East Crossroads and South Plaza).

× Expand Photo by George Mahe

The Webster-Kirkwood Times reported that Mission Taco had petitioned Kirkwood City Council to give the green light for the new branch. At that time, owner Adam Tilford was reluctant to give away too many details. With the lease on the space now signed, Tilford revealed what’s in store at the Kirkwood Mission Taco.

× Expand Rendering by SPACE Architecture + Design

The restaurant’s most distinctive feature, at least in comparison with the other locations, will be the amusement arcade. Tilford said diners will be able to choose from over 25 arcade games, mostly featuring titles from the 1980s and 1990s.

The idea for the arcade came about as a solution for what to do with the enormous space previously occupied by Kirkwood Station’s brewing operation. Tilford said the arcade will use around 1,900 square feet of the total 12,000-square-foot space.

The Kirkwood Mission Taco will be the concept's most experiential to date. A release explained that the space will be divided in half, the left side featuring a 132-seat main dining room/bar and a 60-person event space. The right side will include the arcade plus a production line where diners can get a behind-the-scenes look at staffers grinding corn into masa and making tortillas. In another first for the company, the right side includes a walk-up test kitchen for potential grab-and-go items as well as a smaller bar where Beverage Director Kyle Harlan will tinker with experimental cocktails.

Chef/Co-Owner Jason Tilford says to expect Mission's normal roster of favorites in the main dining room but the test kitchen menu "will change frequently, focusing on masa-centric items such as empanadas, tamales, sopes, and Mexico City-style quesadillas," dishes designed to be portable and easy to eat while meandering the space, which should be completed by early 2020.

Let the games begin.