THE WIRE

Nami Chinese Buffet Set for October Opening Near St. Louis

The new buffet will take over a former Red Lobster in Maplewood.

September 16, 2026 • Missouri • BY BUFFET AUTHORITY

Nami Chinese Buffet is expected to open in October at Maplewood Commons in Maplewood, Missouri, according to St. Louis Magazine.

The restaurant will occupy the former Red Lobster at 2381 Maplewood Commons Drive, along South Hanley Road. Leasing materials from Pace Properties identify the approximately 8,000-square-foot restaurant space as “Nami Buffet,” indicating the project had been in development before its appearance in the magazine’s September restaurant-opening roundup.

Red Lobster left the location during the chain’s 2024 bankruptcy contraction. The Maplewood restaurant was among the leases the company planned to exit by Aug. 31, 2024, leaving the freestanding restaurant building vacant for roughly two years before Nami’s anticipated opening.

Few other details have surfaced publicly. An exact opening date, menu and pricing have not yet been announced.

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