7/17 & 7/18

Chris' Birthday Block Party at Bobaque

Chris Alexander has spent much of his life bringing people together. As a professional basketball player, the 7-foot center competed across four continents, won championships, and traveled so extensively that he filled multiple passports during his playing career. Today, Alexander is bringing people together in a different way.

The owner of BobaQue Kitchen & Cocktails is preparing for a two-day birthday celebration July 17-18 at his New Town restaurant, an event expected to draw visitors from across the St. Louis region and beyond for live music, food, cocktails, cigars, and community.

"This will be my third birthday here," Alexander said. The celebration comes just ahead of his actual birthday on July 20 and will feature live entertainment throughout the weekend. On Friday, July 17, BobaQue will host a block party featuring local favorite Just In Time. On Saturday evening, Robin and her band will take the stage after previously drawing one of the largest crowds Alexander has seen during one of the restaurant's popular cigar nights.

"We're going to have a weekend birthday bash," Alexander said. He's also considering adding a unique personal touch inspired by his late mother. "My mother was real big on luaus for birthdays," Alexander said. "I'm thinking it'd be nice to have a luau party."

While the birthday celebration serves as the immediate occasion, Alexander's story extends far beyond a single weekend event.

Born and raised on the South Side of Chicago, Alexander grew up as the youngest of six children. Basketball became serious during junior high school when a growth spurt and encouragement from family members helped point him toward the sport that would eventually take him around the world.

After attending Indian Hills Community College and Iowa State University, Alexander launched a professional basketball career that included stops throughout the United States and internationally. He played professionally across four continents and developed a reputation as a dominant big man wherever he landed.

Among his favorite stops was the Philippines, where basketball is treated with the same passion many countries reserve for soccer. "It was like none other," Alexander said.

His success overseas eventually opened additional doors, including opportunities with the Oklahoma City Thunder organization before another lucrative contract overseas pulled him back to international basketball.

Yet despite his accomplishments on the court, Alexander always envisioned something beyond basketball. Back in 2009, while still playing professionally, he began talking with his wife about opening a sports bar and barbecue restaurant.

"I wanted to open up a barbecue house back when I was playing basketball," he recalled. That vision eventually evolved into what is now BobaQue Kitchen & Cocktails.

The concept itself came from an unexpected source. While spending time in New Town years ago, Alexander shared his business idea with two women who were visiting the area. He planned to combine boba tea and barbecue under one roof, and when he asked what he should call it, the women suggested "BobaQue."

Years later, Alexander still hopes those women might someday return so he can thank them.

Today, BobaQue has become one of New Town's most recognizable destinations, drawing visitors not only from St. Charles County and the St. Louis region, but occasionally from much farther away.

Alexander says he regularly meets visitors from other states and even other countries who have heard about the restaurant and entertainment venue. "We've had people from the UK and Spain come in," he said.

What makes BobaQue different, according to Alexander, is that he never wanted to build a traditional restaurant experience. "It's not a restaurant," he said.

Instead, he describes it as an entertainment destination that combines food, drinks, live music, cigars, sports, and a unique atmosphere designed to encourage people to stay and enjoy themselves.

Unlike many restaurants that focus on turning tables as quickly as possible, Alexander welcomes guests to settle in and spend the evening. "I'd rather you stay and the tables are occupied than not," he said.

That philosophy has helped fuel the venue's growth and contributed to the large crowds that frequently gather for concerts, cigar nights, and special events. Those crowds can sometimes number in the hundreds, creating an energy that has become part of BobaQue's identity.

For Alexander, those visitors represent more than customers. They represent an opportunity for New Town businesses as a whole. When BobaQue hosts larger events, Alexander says he enjoys seeing visitors explore the rest of the community, visiting neighboring businesses and supporting other local establishments.

"If we don't have what you want, I encourage customers to go," he said, referring to guests seeking food or experiences not offered by BobaQue. “Come on back and eat it here, that's fine with me, I want you to enjoy the ambiance.”

He frequently directs visitors to nearby businesses and encourages guests to support the broader New Town community. "We're all on one team," Alexander said.

That team-first mentality, he says, comes directly from basketball. While he remains intensely competitive, he also believes success is best when shared.

"It's like basketball," he said. "If I throw you the ball, I want you to win." That perspective has helped shape both his business philosophy and his vision for New Town as a destination.

As he approaches his 46th birthday, Alexander says he remains grateful for life, family, and the opportunity to continue building something meaningful.

He is the father of four children, including a daughter preparing to attend Saint Louis University and a son who recently earned recognition through the National Honor Society.

Asked what he hopes people take away from the birthday weekend celebration, Alexander's answer was simple. He wants people to leave feeling like they experienced something memorable. "I want them to say, 'Man, that was an amazing night,'" he said. If recent weekends are any indication, there will be plenty of opportunities for exactly that.

For two nights in July, one of New Town's busiest destinations will celebrate the birthday of the man who built it — and the community that helped make it possible.