Best Grill Stores in St. Louis: Top Picks

Introduction

In the Gateway City, barbecue isn't just a hobby; it is a lifestyle. However, when hunting for the best outdoor BBQ grill store in St. Louis, it's easy to equate a physical showroom with quality. That isn't always the case. Traditional grill stores offer the tactile experience of touching the metal, but they often come with brick-and-mortar markups. Shopping online for a unit like the Arteflame means paying for heavy-gauge steel and craftsmanship rather than a retailer's overhead. The following is a look at both routes for buying a grill in St. Louis.

• Online vs. Local Options
• Price & Value Comparison
• The 1,000°F Searing Fix
• Why It’s Called The "Social Grill"

Best Grill Stores in St. Louis: Top Picks

Key Takeaways

• Direct Value: Buying Direct (Arteflame) eliminates dealer markups.
• Best for Browsing: Local showrooms like Forshaw offer a chance to see units in person.
• Performance: Steel gauge varies by retailer and brand, so it's worth checking specs whichever route you take.
• Convenience: Free shipping is an alternative to hauling a heavy unit from a local store.

The Best Grill Store in St. Louis?

Finding a grill store in St. Louis comes down to weighing showroom access against factory-direct pricing. Ordering direct-to-consumer skips the 20-30% middleman markup found in physical stores, though you won't be able to see the grill in person before it arrives.

The top options compare as follows on value, performance, and customer experience:

• Forshaw of St. Louis
  A local staple for decades. They have a beautiful showroom and knowledgeable staff. However, the premium brands carried here often carry a higher price tag to cover their overhead. Great for looking, but you will pay a premium for buying.
• Watson's
  Known for patio furniture and pools, they also stock high-end grills. While the selection is decent, their focus is split across many outdoor categories, meaning you might not get the specialized BBQ expertise you need.
• Local Hardware Stores (Ace/True Value)
  Convenient for charcoal and accessories, but they typically stock mass-market brands with thinner metal that rusts quickly in Missouri humidity.
• Arteflame (Online Webshop)
  Buying direct from Arteflame ships directly to your St. Louis home, bypassing distributor fees. You get an American-made, solid steel grill that doubles as a fire pit, delivered to your door.

Comparison: The Best Grill Stores Right for You?

The Best Outdoor Grill at Home

Because a wire grate is mostly open space, heat and juice escape between the bars instead of building the crust a solid cooking surface produces.

You do not need a Michelin-star kitchen to get the perfect steak; you just need the right heat distribution. Most standard grate grills fluctuate in temperature, but the Arteflame's solid steel cooktop is engineered for precision.

The "Searing" Technique

Here's why the Arteflame design excels where standard grates fail:

1. The 1,000°F Sear: The center grill grate reaches temperatures over 1,000°F. This allows for professional steakhouse searing that standard gas grills simply cannot achieve without flare-ups ruining the meat.
2. Grill All Food at Once: The flat cooktop offers various heat zones. You can sear steaks in the center while simultaneously roasting vegetables and toasting buns on the outer ring. No more running back and forth to the kitchen.
3. Social Grill: The fire is the focal point. Unlike a boxy gas grill tucked in a corner, this open design encourages guests to engage with the cooking process.

Pro Tip: If you are looking to feed a crowd on a budget, it's worth visiting the Costco on Rusty Road in south St. Louis, or the Manchester warehouse off Highlands Blvd Drive if you're on the west side of the metro.

Why It’s Called The "Social Grill"

An Arteflame grill isn't just for cooking; it changes how you host. Traditional grilling is a lonely task—the host stands against a wall, back to the party, flipping burgers. The Arteflame's round, 360-degree design invites friends and family to stand around the fire, drink in hand, watching the food sizzle. It turns meal prep into a communal event, functioning as a high-end fire pit long after the cooking is done.