The Family Sports Bar & Scratch Kitchenin St. Charles
Our Story
Between the two of us, Jim and I have spent nearly 50 years in this business. Half a century of kitchens, late nights, packed houses, early mornings, wins, losses, and everything in between. We’ve worked in the highest highs of the industry and the toughest lows, but through it all, hospitality has been in our blood.
One day, I asked Jim a question that stopped him in his tracks.
“When in your career were you happiest? When did you truly love this work?”
He didn’t talk about the big restaurants, or the money, or the awards. He didn’t talk about the pressure or the grind. He looked back to a simpler time, when food was fun, when it was about making something, people craved when the kitchen was alive with joy, and when guests left not just full, but smiling.
And in that moment, I realized something: that’s what I wanted for him again. That’s what I wanted for myself again. That’s what I wanted for all of us.
That’s where Simple EJ’s was born.
This isn’t just another sports bar. This is our love letter to the craft that gave us everything. It’s our chance to strip away the noise, the politics, the overthinking, and return to the heart of why we started: to bring people together, to make them happy, to build community one plate, one pint, one moment at a time.
At Simple EJ’s, food is simple, but it’s done with excellence. Hospitality is genuine because it comes from a place of love. The energy is electric, because we believe a great night out should feel like you were part of something bigger.
This place isn’t about us. It’s about you. Your family. Your kids’ team after the big game. Your friends on a random Tuesday. Your coworkers blowing off steam after work. Your neighbors. Your community.
Our Why is simple: to bring back the joy.
Every dish, every shift, every smile is our way of saying: this is what we were put here to do.
And if you feel it when you walk in the doors, if you laugh louder, cheer harder, eat better, and leave happier, then we’ve done our job.
Simple EJ’s isn’t just our restaurant. It’s our story. It’s our purpose. And it’s the reason we fell in love with this industry in the first place.
Chef Jim and Erik Baylis