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Big Bowl Chinese Express, a quick-service concept modeled after the Big Bowl casual restaurants in Chicago, Minneapolis and the Washington, D.C., area, is opening this week in Creve Coeur, Mo., inside the West Oak Dierbergs.

It is the first of several Big Bowl Chinese Express locations to open inside Dierbergs stores as part of an exclusive partnership in St. Louis with the family-owned grocery chain.

“Dierbergs’ focus has always been to give our customers fresh, made-from-scratch options that answer the question, ‘What’s for dinner?’” said David Calandro, Dierbergs director of food service. “Big Bowl Express complements that thinking; it’s a fresh, creative and delicious concept that will have considerable appeal to our customers.”

Big Bowl Chinese Express features smaller versions of the most popular stir-fry dishes from the Big Bowl menu, such as kung pao chicken, Mongolian beef, orange chicken and sesame chicken. Hot and spicy favorites such as Sichuan cashew chicken and Thai hot pepper chicken will also be available as well as signature Big Bowl egg rolls, pot stickers and hibiscus iced tea. Specials, including other gluten-free choices, will be featured regularly.

Stir-fry dishes range from $6.99 to $7.99, with the option of family style dining (three stir-fry choices accompanied by jasmine or brown rice and an appetizer serving three to four people) for $24.99 ($19.99 on Fridays).

“We’re a great match with Dierbergs,” said Big Bowl President Dan McGowan. “We share a similar philosophy about quality food and the importance of the local community.”

Additional Big Bowl Chinese Express locations are slated to open in other Dierbergs markets later this year.

Dierbergs Family Markets employs nearly 4,500 associates in 23 St. Louis-area stores.

Source: Progressive Grocer