Brandt's Cafe in University City Goes Out of Business

, which has served up food and music in the Loop for 25 years, has closed its doors for good.

The closure was first announced on the venue's Facebook page. University City Patch was unable to access the site. According to The Riverfront Times the message read: 

Unfortunately ... Brandt's Café is closed.
The Loop has been declining steeply over the past two years, and has only gotten worse in recent months
"thank you for your years of patronage, we are grateful for your friendships and memories ...."

In an article in the St. Louis Post Dispatch, owner Adam Brandt  is quoted as blaming recent crime in the Loop for Brandt's demise.

"The people that have infested the Loop are not the clientele that Brandt's Cafe has had in the past," Adam Brandt told the Post Dispatch.

Brandt said "thuggish" young people had robbed his patrons while they dined at outdoor tables, forcing him to hire a bouncer on weekends just for safety. He blames the criminal element for killing his business.

However, Joe Edwards, owner of Blueberry Hill and several other Loop establishments rebuffed the idea that crime made Brandt's go bust.

"Adam just wasn't a restaurant person," Edwards told the Post." He didn't realize what it was all about. He didn't realize the long hours and how you have to pay attention to a lot of details."

Adam Brandt bought Brandt's from his uncle, Jay Brandt, five years ago. Jay Brandt had owned the business for 25 years.

In January, Brandt's attempted to relaunch itself after bringing on board a new chef and general manager.

In an interview with University City Patch in December of 2010, then General Manager Donell Moore said he was personally handpicking the staff and entertainment and rolling out a new menu. He parted ways with Brandt's Cafe shortly after the interview.