Soco’s Gyros, a local fast-casual Mediterranean/Greek-style restaurant, is one step closer to opening a second location following the St. Louis County Council’s June 2 meeting.

The location of the proposed restaurant — 2211 Lemay Ferry Road, a 2,510-square-foot vacant building sitting on a 0.40-acre tract of land approximately 150 feet southwest of Reavis Barracks Road — is currently zoned as a C-8 Planned Commercial District, which allows shopping, retail and other commercial uses, but does not permit fast-food restaurants. The petitioner is requesting a change in zoning from the C-8 Planned Commercial District to a C-2 Shopping District, with a subsequent request for a conditional use permit (CUP) authorizing a fast-food restaurant. An ordinance doing so was unanimously approved by the council during the perfection of bills section at its June 2 meeting. It was up for final passage at the council’s June 9 meeting and passed unanimously. The legislation will now be sent to the County Executive for signature or veto.

The C-2 Shopping District is meant for stores and service facilities providing a wide range of goods and services; there are regulations to facilitate conditions suitable for small businesses catering to the general public.

Prior to the bill being heard by the County Council, there was a Planning Commission Public Hearing held on April 13, in which this possible development was discussed. By a show of hands taken at the end of that meeting, there were three individuals in favor of the proposal and zero against or with concern.

Proposed parking areas include eight standard spaces in the rear, as well as two standard spaces and one Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) space in the front. Access to the site is proposed via a single existing curb cut along Lemay Ferry Road.

The proposed landscaping is shown mainly on the western property line, providing the required screening from the adjacent residential property. At the northern property line, similar screening will be required — at least two trees and four shrubs per 20 linear feet. The existing wooden site proof fence and existing landscaping will be reused to extend screening in the rear.

The now-vacant building and possible future site of a second Soco’s Gyros was previously home to a dry cleaner facility that shuttered in 2020. In 2024, there was a request for an amended development in the C-8 Planned Commercial District for a coffee shop and liquor sale use, but the petition was withdrawn with prejudice by the Planning Commission, thus permanently closing the case. The building remains empty today.