Community Stories with Curtrell Curtis McCann

When Yesterday’s Bar & Grill closed in May 2023, another longtime St. Louis establishment went dark. For nearly ten months, a restaurant that had been part of the community since 1982 remained closed, leaving its future uncertain.

But two familiar faces weren’t ready to let Yesterday’s become just another memory.

Michael and Melissa Feger had been customers since 2006. After years of enjoying the restaurant from the other side of the table, they made the decision to take ownership, reopening Yesterday’s in March 2024.

What began as a favorite neighborhood hangout became a personal commitment to preserving a piece of St. Louis history.

From Customers to the People Behind the Counter

For Michael, running Yesterday’s is only one part of an already demanding schedule. A Marine Corps veteran, he teaches mathematics at the University of Missouri–St. Louis during the day before heading to the restaurant to work behind the bar at night.

Melissa brings her own hospitality experience, including time at TGI Fridays, a restaurant where I also worked. That shared background gave us something to connect over while discussing the food and the realities of restaurant operations.

Taking over an established restaurant, however, came with challenges neither could ignore.

The Fegers described navigating insurance requirements, vendor relationships, rising expenses, and the complicated process of reopening a business. Their experience is a reminder that purchasing a restaurant is one thing; keeping it operating is another.

Familiar Flavors With a Homemade Touch

My visit included a chance to explore Yesterday’s bourbon-inspired menu, influenced by the familiar flavors of TGI Fridays.

The chicken and shrimp came with green beans prepared with smoked turkey and macaroni and cheese that I personally complimented Melissa on.

There was something familiar about the meal, but the homemade touches gave it its own identity.

That approach extends throughout the menu.

Yesterday’s serves pizza, burgers, roast beef sandwiches, chili, and pork steaks smoked for 18 hours before being finished on the charbroiler. Much of the food is prepared in-house, with recipes shaped by family traditions and years of experience.

Then came dessert.

I sampled both versions of their fried gooey butter cake: the traditional St. Louis favorite and a seasonal pumpkin variation.

Both were pretty damn good.

It’s a dessert that fits the restaurant’s identity: familiar, comforting, and just creative enough to give customers something new to enjoy.

The Cost of Keeping the Doors Open

Behind the food and familiar atmosphere is a reality many independent restaurant owners know well.

During our conversation, the Fegers discussed insurance, utilities, food costs, and the difficulty of maintaining a business while trying to keep prices reasonable for customers.

Their concerns raise a larger question about the future of neighborhood restaurants: How do independent establishments remain affordable to the communities they serve while managing the increasing cost of doing business?

For the Fegers, the answer begins with consistency, quality, and relationships.

They want Yesterday’s to remain an inclusive, wheelchair-accessible gathering place where people from different backgrounds can enjoy a meal, share conversations, and feel welcome.

And on the difficult days, they remember the employees and customers who depend on them.

Keeping Yesterday’s Part of Tomorrow

When asked about their proudest moment as owners, the Fegers pointed to the day they reopened.

After nearly ten months of closure, Yesterday’s had another opportunity to serve the community.

Their hopes for the future aren’t centered on becoming a national chain or reinventing the restaurant. They want to continue serving quality food, building customer relationships, and keeping the business operating for years to come.

When asked what they hoped people would remember about Yesterday’s, their response came down to quality and passion.

For me, that’s what makes their story worth telling.

St. Louis has no shortage of places to eat, but restaurants with decades of history carry something that cannot be recreated overnight. They hold memories of celebrations, friendships, conversations, and ordinary afternoons that become part of people’s lives.

Michael and Melissa Feger spent years making memories at Yesterday’s before becoming responsible for its future.

They didn’t create Yesterday’s in 1982. But when its doors closed in 2023, they chose to help give its story another chapter.

And perhaps that’s the most fitting thing about a restaurant called Yesterday’s: its owners are working to make sure it still has a tomorrow.