Team behind Republic gastropub to transform St. Paul's Ristorante Luci into French tavern

Well, that was quick.

The former Ristorante Luci space (470 Cleveland Av. S., St. Paul), dark since the Smith family closed their nearly 30-year-old restaurant on Dec. 31, will be coming back to life.

Republic owner Matty O'Reilly and chef J.D. Fratzke — he of the Strip Club Meat & Fish and Saint Dinette — will be joining forces to open Bar Brigade. Soon.

"We don't have an exact date," said Fratzke. "But it's going to be in the next month, or two."

The two longtime friends collaborated last summer on O'Reilly's seasonal Red River Kitchen at City House (it's opening again around May 1) and Fratzke is now the company's culinary director; he's retaining his involvement with the Strip Club — which is closing this summer — and Saint Dinette.

The fare? "Straightforward French tavern food," said Fratzke. "It's a concept that Matty and I have been kicking around for years. Nothing close to Italian. No Italian wines, no pasta, no pizza. We want to honor the heritage of what the Smiths did there, but do it from a different locale than Italy."

(The Smiths continue to operate their Luci Ancora across the street).

"Nothing pretentious," he said. "It's going to be a homey, simple place that people can rely upon. I've vowed to keep tweezers and squeeze bottles out of there."

Expect beer and wine, with spirits to follow. "We're waiting for our full liquor license to come through," said Fratzke.

For those unfamiliar with the Luci space, it's a tiny storefront, with seating that tops out somewhere in the 30s. It'll receive a remake before the doors reopen.

"Think 'exposed brick' and 'hardwood,'" said Fratzke. "We'll also be hanging a lot of greenery. It's going to be cozy, and simple."

Fratzke has very fond memories of Luci.