Gordon’s Cheese Steaks opened for business this morning (Feb. 28) at 518 Bailey Road in Crystal City, and by early afternoon, the restaurant was drawing a line of customers.
“We opened about 11 a.m.,” said manager and co-owner Chris Grass. “They’ve been trickling in.”
At 1:15 p.m., a steady stream of people showed up at a walk-up window at the restaurant, a new business affiliated with Gordon’s Stoplight Drive-In, 500 Bailey Road. Both are owned by the Grass family.
Gordon’s Cheese Steaks is in a small building the Grass family is leasing. The building has housed a number of different restaurants over the years.
Grass said his interest in sandwiches gave him the idea for the restaurant.
“I’m a sandwich enthusiast,” he said. “I thought this might be perfect for us. The opportunity came up here and we’re renting the building.”
He said the name of the business indicates its menu.
“(The cheese steaks) are pretty traditional,” Grass said. “Our Original comes with Cheez Whiz and onions, like the Philadelphia cheese steaks. We offer the option of provel. We also have a Steakhouse with A-1 Sauce and onions. Our Spicy comes with jalapenos, onions and a creamy horseradish. Very good.”
He said the sandwich bread comes from Fazio’s on The Hill in St. Louis.
“We’re bringing it in fresh every day,” he said.
The menu also includes hot dogs, chili, French fries and tater tots.
“We’re all carryout,” Grass said. “Call-in orders are really welcome.”
The restaurant is open from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday through Friday and from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday. Its phone number is 636-933-9192.