How Many Sweetie Pie Restaurants Are There? Still Open Locations
When I first heard about Sweetie Pie’s, it wasn’t the soul food that grabbed my attention—it was the heart behind it. Seeing Robbie Montgomery share her love, legacy, and recipes at Welcome to Sweetie Pie’s made me appreciate what a restaurant can truly be. It wasn’t just about fried chicken or mac and cheese—it was about family, second chances, and building something real from scratch.
That said, one question kept simmering in my mind: how far has this little soul food empire actually spread? Is Sweetie Pie’s just a local gem, or has it grown into a nationwide staple with locations peppered across the map?
In this post, we’ll take a closer look at the Sweetie Pie’s journey—from its humble beginnings in St. Louis to its current status. By the end, you’ll know how many Sweetie Pie restaurants are still serving soulful meals and sweet memories.
How Many Locations Do Sweetie Pie’s Restaurants Have?
Sweetie Pie’s is a chain of soul food restaurants founded in 1996 by Robbie Montgomery. As of 2019, the company had 97 locations.
Sweetie Pie has most of its locations in the Midwest and South. It also has several spots in California, Nevada, Arizona, and Texas.
Sweetie Pie’s menu offers more than just traditional soul food like fried chicken and collard greens. It also includes health-conscious choices, such as grilled chicken and salmon.
Who Owns These Restaurants?
Sweetie Pie’s is a chain of soul food restaurants founded by Robbie Montgomery. Montgomery is the CEO and owner of the company.
She owns and runs the restaurants. She also stars in the reality TV show Sweetie Pie’s, which shows the business’s daily operations.
Montgomery became interested in cooking at a young age, and she learned many of her recipes from her mother and grandmother.
After working as a backup singer for artists like Ike & Tina Turner and Stevie Wonder, she eventually opened her nightclub in St. Louis. The nightclub was a success, and it helped Montgomery to launch her restaurant career.
Today, Sweetie Pie’s is a top soul food chain in the country. Montgomery is famous for her signature dishes, such as fried chicken and peach cobbler.
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How Did Sweetie Pie’s Restaurant Start?
The story of Sweetie Pie’s Restaurant begins with its founder, Robbie Montgomery. A native of St. Louis, Missouri, Montgomery began her career as a singer in the city’s clubs and bars.
She met Andre Williams during this time. He was a musician and later became her business partner. They fell in love. Together, the couple started Sweetie Pie’s in 1996, with Montgomery cooking and Williams performing music.
Montgomery’s tasty recipes made the restaurant a hot spot for soul food fans. In 2005, the pair opened a second location in Los Angeles, and today Sweetie Pie’s has grown into a nationwide chain with over 20 locations.
Montgomery’s story is about entrepreneurship, creativity, and hard work—a true American success story.
Is Sweetie Pie Restaurants Still In Business?
Sadly, the well-liked restaurant is shutting down its last location. This comes after the owner’s son was found guilty of conspiracy in a murder-for-hire scheme.
Sweetie Pie’s has been featured on several television shows, including The Oprah Winfrey Show and The Steve Harvey Show. In 2017, the restaurant was the subject of a reality TV show on OWN called Welcome to Sweetie Pie’s.
The show followed Montgomery and her family as they tried to expand the business while dealing with personal drama.
Why Did Sweetie Pie’s Close?
In February 2020, Sweetie Pies, a restaurant chain based in St. Louis, Missouri, abruptly closed all locations. The company had been in business for over 20 years and, at its peak, operated 19 stores in nine states.
So what led to the sudden downfall of Sweetie Pies?
Several factors likely contributed to the closure of the restaurant chain. First and foremost, the COVID-19 pandemic [1] dealt a major blow to the food service industry.
With dining rooms closed, customers stayed home. Many restaurants had to focus on take-out and delivery. These options are usually less profitable.
Also, Sweetie Pies faced more competition from other soul food spots. Many had lower prices and better locations.
Sweetie Pie’s Restaurant Current Locations That Still Open
As of May 2025, Sweetie Pie’s is poised for a significant comeback in St. Louis. The beloved soul food restaurant, made famous by the reality series Welcome to Sweetie Pie’s, is preparing to reopen under the name “Sweetie Pie’s 2nd Act” at the intersection of Dr. Martin Luther King Drive and Kingshighway Boulevard in the Kingsway East neighborhood. Founder Robbie Montgomery is spearheading this revival, investing nearly $4 million into the project, which includes plans for an adjacent event space and additional community-focused developments.
While the exact opening date has not been announced, “Coming Soon” signs have been spotted at the new location, indicating that preparations are well underway. Montgomery’s commitment to revitalizing the area and continuing her culinary legacy is evident in these developments. https://www.firstalert4.com+2St. Louis Magazine+2STLPR+2
Previously, Sweetie Pie’s had multiple locations, including the flagship Upper Crust on Delmar Boulevard, which closed in 2022 following personal and legal challenges within the Montgomery family. The upcoming reopening signifies a fresh start and a renewed dedication to serving the community with the comfort food that made the restaurant a household name.
FAQs
What is Sweetie Pie’s real name?
The real name of Sweetie Pie is Robbie Montgomery, an American singer popular for being one of the Ikettes in the Ike and Tina Turner Revue.
How much is Sweetie Pie worth?
Sweetie Pie’s Restaurant is worth about $10 million. They’re mostly known for their barbecue and soul food, and they have several locations throughout the US.
Key Takeaways
Sweetie Pie’s restaurant is famous for its comfort food, including such items as catfish, ribs, and chicken. The restaurant has many southern-style pies. You can find sweet potato pie, peach cobbler, and banana pudding.
However, you won’t find any branch open in the state of Missouri following the controversial conviction of Robbie Montgomery’s son.
Reference:
- https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus
