Sad News: Missouri's Oldest Restaurant has Closed

An icon of the Missouri food scene that has been open for 190-plus years, has officially closed. Here are the details...

According to AOL, the oldest restaurant in Missouri has closed. That restaurant is the J. Huston Tavern which has been famously known as the oldest continually operating restaurant west of the Mississippi River, closed its doors last month.

The article goes on to mention how there is no official word yet on if the restaurant will reopen, or if this is the official end of the legendary spot. If you don't know, J. Huston Tavern is located in Arrow Rock, Missouri, which is just west of Columbia and is well known for its pan-fried chicken. For more information on J. Huston Tavern closing its doors, click here!

A small glimpse at a larger problem

The article goes on to mention that at this time the state will try to look for a buyer for J. Huston Tavern, and it would be really great to see some new owners keep the historic restaurant alive. But this closure is a small glimpse at a bigger problem we have in our country right now. If the oldest restaurant in Missouri can't be financially stable in 2024, that isn't the restaurant's fault, that's 2024's fault. We have an economy that is no longer friendly to small local restaurants, most restaurant owners would tell you that in today's economy, they struggle to keep food costs down, and are desperate to find good help. It seems the world passed by J. Huston Tavern, and hopefully, we can change things fast so we don't lose more iconic businesses like it in the future.