Our History

Gaming Development Entertainment established Growlers Pub in March 1996 with the opening of its first restaurant/pub in Creve Coeur, Missouri. The purpose of Growlers Pub was to create an establishment that combines the characteristics of a European Pub and a neighborhood bar that we are so accustomed to in the United States. We do not consider Growlers Pub to be a specific English or Irish Pub it is essentially universal. Much like the European Pubs, Growlers Pub is a place where friends and neighbors come to meet and share conversations over great food and beverages.

At Growlers Pub, conversations are the entertainment, friends entertaining friends. Growlers Pub offers televisions to show all major sporting events. The televisions are a supplemental form of entertainment, not the main attraction. Growlers Pub does not market itself as a sports bar.

Growlers Pub lives by the philosophy "It is more fun to eat in a bar, rather than drink in a restaurant." The restaurants are laid out so the bar is the "heart of the restaurant." The restaurant/pub has antique lighting, wooden walls, beer memorabilia, fireplaces, and animal "trophies" to create the pub atmosphere.

The traditional term "Growler" derives from a European Pub term used for a wooden bucket used to transport beer, before the invention of bottles or cans. Often, fathers would come home from a hard day's work and send their children to the nearest brewpub to fill the "Growler." Since then, the "Growler" has transformed into a 64oz. glass jug. Growlers Pub uses a logo with a very eye-catching bulldog, named Churchill, with this ever-famous Growler (wooden bucket) in his mouth.

In December 1998 Growlers opened its third location in Sunset Hills. This location is very different in that it is a freestanding building with an outdoor biergarten, which holds up to 250 people. Growlers' biergarten is a very popular spot during the spring, summer and fall months. Since this location had been a German restaurant since the early 30?s the exterior design made it ideal for a pub.

Even though relatively new Growlers has etched itself in the restaurant business by winning numerous awards. In 1999 Cheers Magazine recognized Growlers as having The Best Beer Program in America. This award was earned because of Growlers Royal Order of Tasters Beer Club. Growlers has also been recognized by the readers of the Riverfront Times for having the best beer selection in St. Louis not only once but in 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002,2003,2004 and 2005. The awards don?t stop there; the food critics of the Riverfront Times have also recognized Growlers as having the best happy hour in St. Louis. The readers of Sauce Magazine, a local magazine on the area?s restaurant, bar and entertainment industry voted us for having the best beer selection. All of these awards are excellent because our guests at Growlers make the food an award winner, since our food sales account for 60% of our total sales.

Growlers gives back to the communities that have given us so much by participating in many events and fundraisers. We have raised money for Tour De Cure, Zoofari, the Kirkwood Lions, the Lindbergh High School Band and many more...