St. Louis Bar & Grill has expanded its presence in the Greater Toronto Area with the opening of three new locations.

Toronto-based franchisor Aegis Brands announced the openings in a news release. The additions bring the chain’s total restaurant count to 82 across Canada.

The new locations are part of the company’s second-generation restaurant strategy, designed to minimize build costs and maximize returns for franchisees.

“In our continuous efforts to provide superior return on investment, St. Louis has adopted a second-generation restaurant strategy,” said Steven Pelton, president and CEO of Aegis. “Converting existing restaurants to St. Louis allows our franchisees to open much more quickly and with much less capital. This strategy creates a much better return on investment for our franchisees. This also allows for the opening of more restaurants in the near future.”

The three restaurants are located in Thornhill, Ont., at Promenade Mall; Yonge and St. Clair streets in downtown Toronto; and Burlington, Ont., at Walker’s Line. Burlington now and two St. Louis Bar & Grill locations.

Early results from the three locations have been promising, showing strong traffic and a shift in the sales mix that suggests a new menu is resonating with a diverse customer base. The updated menu will roll out to all St. Louis restaurants in spring 2025.

Founded in 1992, St. Louis Bar & Grill is a 100% Canadian-owned chain known for its signature chicken wings, pizzas, and garlic dill sauce.

Photo: St. Louis Bar & Grill