A Visit to The Billy Goat Chip Company

By Mary Miller Cullins

Lately, I have been seeing bags of Billy Goat Chips everywhere.  The local tavern, delis, markets, and grocery stores.  I heard they had a shop at 4993 Loughborough and decided to pay a visit.  I was greeted by Corrie, a friendly gal who has been employed a few months as a customer service rep.

Bags, boxes, and crates of chips were stacked on a shelf from floor to ceiling.  Billy Goat Chips are hand sliced, packaged, seasoned, and delivered fresh all from right here in St. Louis.  There are no preservatives or MSG, and the chips are gluten free.  Heart healthy canola oil is used.

In 2002, The Billy Goat Restaurant & Bar opened in St. Louis over on Vandeventer.  They were the first gastro pub producing hand crafted, house made food, using locally sourced products whenever possible.  The chips were served there and quickly became a signature item.  The demand for the chips led the owners to where they are today.  It was decided to close the restaurant and create the best potato chips in the Midwest to be produced and distributed.  Although the restaurant is missed by many, their chip company is growing.  In February 2009 potato chip production began at the Billy Goat Chip Company located in south St. Louis.

The Billy Goat Chip Company is owned by Rob Lyons, Brian Roth, and Theresa Rein.  I spoke to Rein who stated they use 160 fifty pound boxes of raw potatoes a week.  That comes out to about 3,000 pounds of potato chips.  You can check out their website or call to place orders.  They ship all over the United States and chips are delivered the same day they are made.

They are also taking orders for business events, holiday parties, and gift ideas for baskets.  You can find Billy Goat Chips in many stores, local markets, and bars. These are some of the best potato chips I’ve ever had, and well, that’s saying alot!