Photography by Kevin A. RobertsPhotography by Kevin A. Roberts
K9 Garden (4565 McRee) opened last month at the former Bar K space in Forest Park Southeast, just east of The Grove. The large, membership-based indoor/outdoor dog park allows dogs to run off leash while their owners relax. The facility includes a multi-concept restaurant and bar, two outdoor satellite bars, a live music stage, several rentable event spaces, and a separate area for small dogs. “Nothing like it exists in St. Louis or Missouri,” says Chuck Schoene, corporate director of operations. K9 Garden operates five days a week (closed Tuesday and Wednesday), opening at 6 a.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. on weekends, and closing at 9 p.m. Here’s what to know before you go.
The Facility
Five months after Bar K, a similar membership-based dog park and restaurant, closed all three of its locations, including in St. Louis, K9 Garden took over the Forest Park Southeast property. The owner is Seneca CRE, who also owns 9 Mile Garden and the retail center where that property is located. K9 Garden opened January 16 and secured its liquor license February 13.
The locally owned and operated concept is the city’s only full-service indoor/outdoor dog park and social space. “We are a dog park, first and foremost, but it’s a full-service dog park with a lot of amenities,” Schoene says. Those amenities include a restaurant and bar, two satellite bars, a covered patio equipped with radiant heaters, a live music stage, and multiple rentable indoor and outdoor spaces for private events, markets, and meetups.
Photography by Kevin A. RobertsPhotography by Kevin A. Roberts
The overall capacity is 500 people and 200 dogs. Indoors, the restaurant and a private meeting room—accommodating up to 30 people and 15 dogs—are available to rent. Outdoors, Petfinder Park can host 80 people and 25 dogs. Additional outdoor areas are also rentable, and the team plans to expand event programming with a series of dog breed meetups, pop-up markets, beer festivals, St. Louis CITY SC watch parties, yoga sessions, and adoption events in partnership with Stray Paws, Needy Paws, and Speak! Rescue.
Access to the park is membership-based, though only dogs are charged admission. Pricing is as follows:
Weekday day pass: $12 per dog (additional dog $5)
Weekend day pass (Sat & Sun): $16 per dog
Monthly memberships: $30–$65
Annual memberships: $300–$650
Past Bar K members receive 25 percent off a yearly membership. Households with more than one dog receive 75 percent off subscription plans for each additional dog, with up to two dogs per household. The park uses the BarkMembership app to securely store vaccination records and streamline check-in.
Dogs must have up-to-date Bordetella (kennel cough), rabies, and DHLPPC/DHPPC vaccinations and must be spayed or neutered by 1 year of age. “Our main focus is safety first above all else—for the dogs, guests, and staff,” Schoene says, “and the company policies and procedures reflect that. Consequently, we can’t do a one-offs. We can’t make exceptions. All dogs are equal here. Our customers need to understand that.”
Dog-tenders supervise the play areas and complete a dedicated training course, and ancillary staff undergoes dog safety training in order to recognize aggression and behavioral patterns.
The Dog Wizard is a partner in the project, offering group, individual, and puppy training, boarding, and day camp. Additional amenities include a self-service dog spa for washing and drying.
Photography by Kevin A. RobertsPhotography by Kevin A. Roberts
Physical updates are underway as well, including collaborations with Una Vida Tequila, an outdoor service area operated by Bold Spoon Creamery offering Chauvin Coffee, a planned mural for the Seresto stage, and one sponsored by 3 Floyds Brewing. “The label on one of their beers—an American wheat pale ale called Gumballhead—shows a cat detective with a pet dog, so Floyds fits in well here,” Schoene says.
The Menu
The kitchen features a rotating mix of local restaurant partners, effectively serving as brick-and-mortar outposts for three popular food trucks. Picture Perfect Panini, Taste-D-Burger, and Kanoa’s Hawaiian Grill share the kitchen space, with two of the three on site at all times for lunch and dinner service. The park is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner from 6 a.m.–9 p.m. Thursday through Monday (opening at 8 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays).
Mornings begin at the Canine Café, which offers eight kolache varieties from St. Louis Kolache until 11 a.m. Lunch fare includes a variety of burgers, chicken tenders, and fries from Taste-D-Burger; Hawaiian specialties from Kanoa’s Hawaiian Grill including tiki tacos, chicken katsu, shoyu chicken, and a “Kalua Pig Plate”; and paninis from Picture Perfect Panini.
Photography by Kevin A. Roberts
Shoyu Chicken: boneless chicken slow cooked in Kanoa’s homemade Aloha Teriyaki sauce with sides of jasmine rice, Hawaiian macaroni salad, and spicy teriyaki sauce
Photography by Kevin A. Roberts
Spam Musabi: seared spam in housemade teriyaki sauce, layered over rice and wrapped in nori
Photography by Kevin A. Roberts
Kalua Pig Plate: Hawaiian Style pulled pork, jasmine rice, and Hawaiian macaroni salad
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Shoyu Chicken: boneless chicken slow cooked in Kanoa’s homemade Aloha Teriyaki sauce with sides of jasmine rice, Hawaiian macaroni salad, and spicy teriyaki sauce
Photography by Kevin A. Roberts
Spam Musabi: seared spam in housemade teriyaki sauce, layered over rice and wrapped in nori
Photography by Kevin A. Roberts
Kalua Pig Plate: Hawaiian Style pulled pork, jasmine rice, and Hawaiian macaroni salad
Photography by Kevin A. Roberts
Courtesy of K9 GardenCourtesy of K9 Garden
Popular add-ons include the cereal shake (a vanilla milkshake blended with Lucky Charms, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, or Cocoa Puffs), along with smoothies and espresso lemonade (nitro lemonade topped with espresso).
A dedicated Sunday Brunch menu features a burger topped with bacon, eggs, and hash browns; loaded breakfast fries with sausage gravy, bacon, and cheddar; a breakfast panini layered with egg, white American cheese, and bacon or sausage on sourdough with hash rounds; and even chicken and waffles on a stick.
Indoors, guests can order through waitstaff or via a table-specific QR code, while pickup orders can be scheduled in advance. Outdoors, guests can order and dine alongside their dogs.
The newly acquired liquor license allows production of mimosas, margaritas, Irish coffee, and the Good Dog Mary, while the beer options highlight local breweries. Urban Chestnut Brewing Co. operates an indoor kiosk bar, while 4 Hands Brewing Co. will take over the outdoor bar beginning in April. Both beers are available at the main bar in the restaurant.
Photography by Kevin A. RobertsPhotography by Kevin A. Roberts
Rather than operating a single in-house kitchen, as its predecessor did, K9 Garden built a restaurant concept around the park, Schoene explains. “We made it appealing enough that people just looking for a great sandwich and a beer would want to stop by. The visual entertainment can’t be beat.”
The Team
K9 Garden is rooted in hospitality and community, with operational support from the seasoned 9 Mile Garden team. “The 9 Mile team has a proven track record, which is why they’re all contributing here,” Schoene says. Tanya Cox serves as a manager for both 9 Mile Garden and K9 Garden, while Briana Foltz oversees operations at K9 Garden. Kayla Buckowitz leads marketing efforts for both properties.
Schoene emphasizes that K9 Garden is locally owned and not a franchise operation. That local focus extends to its restaurant partners, brewery collaborations, and community programming.
A grand opening celebration is scheduled for April 24. It will be emceed by Julie Tristan of Y98, with a weekend of events including a costume contest, games, and other festivities.
Photography by Kevin A. RobertsPhotography by Kevin A. Roberts
Even more than its predecessor, K9 Garden aims to deepen its local ties through community-based events and partnerships while maintaining rigorous safety standards. With 700 members already enrolled and a steady calendar of live music, pop-ups, and dog-centered programming in the works for 2026, the team is betting that St. Louis dog lovers will once again make it their go-to destination for both socializing and off-leash fun.
K9 Garden
📍4565 McRee, Forest Park Southeast
📞314-530-9990
⏰6 a.m.–9 p.m. Mon, Thu, Fri; 8 a.m.–9 p.m. Sat & Sun
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