History

In 1927, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Kemoll (Vincenzo Camuglia) opened the doors to a new business that soon became a popular neighborhood eating place. Mrs. Kemoll (née Gaetana Danna) was taught to cook by her mother, learning authentic Sicilian recipes, which are still created today.

Frank Cusumano behind the bar of the "old" Kemoll's. The bar and booths were covered in off-white leather. The doorway led to the corner of North Grand and Penrose Avenues.

Initially, just a one-room confectionary, the Kemolls always insisted on quality ingredients and homemade menu items. In the early days, when it was a casual neighborhood spot, plate lunches, sandwiches, candies and ices were the proud favorites.

Located on North Grand Boulevard, just nine blocks from Sportman's Park (old Busch Stadium), Kemoll's was frequented by the sports crowd. Cannelloni and toasted ravioli are just two of the items that appeared on the Kemoll menu in the early fifties. By this time, the Kemolls' son-in-law, Frank Cusumano, had joined the Kemolls in the family business. Kemoll's earned a reputation for excellent cuisine, and soon became a destination restaurant.

In the sixties, it was the introduction of international dining with "Gourmet Nights." Derived from family and staff visits to Europe, Gourmet Nights whirled its diners on a weekly trip around the world. Patrons were treated to authentic foods, course-by-course, from some of the world's most famous eateries, without leaving Grand Boulevard!

Mr. and Mrs. Joe Kemoll in 1961 with son-in-law Frank Cusumano in their then newly opened Florentine Room. This was the last and largest addition to their North Grand restaurant. It had a hand-painted mural of the Piazza della Signoria (in Florence, Italy), a working water fountain and terrazzo floors.

In 1990, after sixty-two years in the same location, and under the guidance of the fourth generation family member, Mark Cusumano, Kemoll's moved to its present quarters at One Metropolitan Square in the heart of downtown St. Louis. And, in 2003, Kemoll's expanded their scope by opening the Top of the Met Banquet Facility in the same building on the 42nd floor. Here the Cusumano family offers the same fine food and friendly service that earned Kemoll's Restaurant its reputation, along with spectacular views of the city and riverfront.

Today, the Cusumano family, along with the assistance of many valued employees, continues the Kemoll tradition, offering its many friends a variety of authentic international food that is hard to match. So, wherever gourmets may meet, and discuss the fine Italian restaurants of the United States, you may likely hear the name "Kemoll's."