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While it’s good for locals supporting local restaurants, the market is not saturated with restaurants nor is the population any smaller than some of the markets where major restaurants concepts (ex: Chattanooga, Des Moines, Shreveport, etc) are located. The main problem with the Little Rock market is over saturated with multiple shopping developments (ex: Promenade At Chenal, Pleasant Ridge Shopping Center, the failed Shackleford Crossing, Park Avenue, and Gateway Town Center) across the city. That’s too many shopping centers for a mid-size market and is confusing companies who is still trying to find a site in the Little Rock area. I remember when Belk was originally supposed to go where Walmart now stands at the Shackleford Crossing site, but Belk bought Parisian, who was at the Pleasant Ridge Shopping Center for a short time, and have decided to cancelled plans for the Shackleford Crossing site. Others smaller retailers (ex: Rack Room Shoes) have closed shops in older shopping development in favor of newer development such as the Outlets of Little Rock in the Gateway Town Center development. I have spoken with several major restaurant chains and non- chain restaurants who all said they are unwilling to open a location in LR due to lack of sites available or the fact the shopping area is not in a dense area of town. Even some local restaurants have closed over the past few months due to poor location in the city (ex Sharks Fish and Chicken is over saturated the market). As mentioned previously, had Little Rock build one major shopping center (ex: the failed Simon’s Summit Mall, Hamilton Place Mall in Chattanooga, TN; Pinnacle Hills Promenade in Rogers, AR; or Jordan Creek Town Center in Des Moines, MA) rather than these mini strip centers that has been constructed over the years, I guarantee a million dollar that the Little Rock restaurant and retail market will be so much better. I bet Apple Store, J. Crew, and some of the other Promenade At Chenal tenants would have located at Simon’s Summit Mall along with other companies not presence in the market.

The Shackleford Crossing shopping center was marketed and design poorly. The middle part of the shopping has been vacant for years and the space where Gordman’s and Babies r us once occupied (though both companies filed for bankruptcy which led to store closures) has yet been filled. Where Walmart now sits was originally supposed to be Belk department store but those plans fell through when Pleasant Ridge Shopping center open around the same time Shackleford Crossing opens and Belk move in to what used to be Parisian department store. I think the current developers of Shackleford Crossing needs to redevelop the middle section of the property into mixed used space similar to Park Avenue. I also wish the city would allow Simon to build the failed Summit Mall plan on the site where we could have seen stores and restaurants on our wishlist. I remember that even Neiman Marcus was considering open a store there at one point.

Competition is always good because it encourages existing restaurant to step up their game in providing excellent food and serve along with value prices. Cajun Wharf, who has been in LR for more than 30 years, has been doing great despite new restaurants opening around the city. With that being said, there’s still plenty of good restaurant brands (not including Cheesecake Factory) that is worth coming to LR. The real question is where should they open in the city and will people continue to dine at their restaurants after a couple of months. I have spoken to numerous companies about the possibility of opening a LR area location and they all said they have issues with finding the right property for their establishment.

Who thinks Little Rock restaurant market is declining? There’s been too many restaurants, even local establishments, shut ting down this year than restaurants opening. Not a good sign for other restaurants (including local establishments) looking to open up shops in the metro area.

That’s true but it’s less populated out there than in the middle part of the city.

Sounds like a wonderful development, however, I much rather see it in a more dense part of town such as the former Sears site on University than in a rural part of the city.

Glad to see the space will be occupied by a decent restaurant and not just another Mexican and Chinese restaurants the area don’t need. I’m still hoping the former Mimi’s Cafe and Macaroni Grill space be filled with decent restaurants such as Grub’s Bar and Grill or a new to the market restaurant chain.

A lot of it has to do with the right development and visibility to a major freeway. Many companies who are looking to expand to LR said there’s no available space for them to locate in the city which is why they pass LR for other cities. The Promenade At Chenal is a great development but is in a less dense part of town as well as lack of visibility from a major highway.

It does seems smaller than the current one but I think the existing location would been better than new one due to their close proximity to a major highway.

The former Mimi’s Cafe location can be demolished for a Red Robin Location just like the former Luby’s Space demolished to make way for a new Chili’s. I don’t believe Little Rock is too small for a Joe’s Crab Shack with the city proper population close to 200,000. There are Joe’s Crab Shacks in much smaller market than Little Rock such as Branson and Shreveport. It is possible that Little Rock could possibly get one either at the former Macaroni Grill space or near Outlets of Little Rock. One of the reasons why the chain have not locate here was due to the former parent company (Ignite Restaurants) of Joe’s Crab Shack having financial issues before eventually filing bankruptcy and closes half of their locations. The chain has since been sold back to their original owner (Landry’s, Inc) and is slowly expanding to new markets according to what a manager at the Memphis location stated recently. Landry’s want to turn Joe’s Crab Shack around by returning the chain to what it once was such as improving the menu, quality, and atmosphere. With two Saltgrass locations currently in Arkansas (both performing well above expectations), it wouldn’t surprise me if Landry’s decides to open another concept in the market such as Joe’s in the future.

I wonder if the former Mimi’s Cafe location on Chenal can be reworked into a Red Robin location and the former Macaroni Grill space can be remodeled as a Joe’s Crab Shack?

Looks like the new Chili’s location is almost done. I still think this is a wrong business decision to relocate from their existing location on Rodney Parahm as the new location is far away from the freeway.

There’s many places in the LR area that have pictures on the wall (Grampa’s in Maumelle, Eat My Catfish), however, it is not a unique theme resturant such as All Aboard restaurant where a model train deliver customer food below. I’m referring to restaurant like this as a creative kid theme restaurant rather than just a picture on the wall.

Urban Air trampoline park is coming to the former Savers space in West Little Rock’. There was a sign that said coming soon on top of building and provided a website listed below: https://www.urbanairtrampolinepark.com/locations/arkansas/little-rock-west While another trampoline park is nice, I really wish places like Main Event would took over the space though the space is too small for them.

Maybe an upscale restaurant such as Houston’s or a seafood restaurant can open in the former Del Frisco Grille space. Pappadeaux is not coming to Arkansas anytime soon. I’ve contact their headquarters in Houston and been told that Arkansas is not in their construction plan within the next five years which is disappointing.

Arkansas Burger has won several awards in the past for one of the best burgers in town and I can see why. While everyone taste bud is different, the Box hamburger was greasy the last time I went. Also, I wouldn’t consider Flying Fish, Soul Fish Cafe, and Bruno’s kid friendly based on the atmosphere. David Burgers is aimed more towards family dining as well as All Aboard train theme restaurant located on Cantrell near Stein Mart. I would like to see more kid friendly places in the downtown area such as those two. There can be a local tourist theme restaurant in the Rivermarkert area whose theme is centered around Arkansas (the natural state) with faux trees, a replica of the iconic Broadway Bridge in LR, as well as other parts of Arkansas even though this could be expensive to construct and operate.

Arkansas Business reports that Whole Hog Cafe on Cantrell Rd (one of the newest location in the metro) has closed. While not surprised, it still concerns me about the Little Rock restaurant market (chain and local) lately with all these closures that happened these past couple of months.

Everybody got their opinion on taste bud, but Whole Hog Cafe is one of the best barbecue restaurant in town. Lost Forty is ok in my opinion, however, it is definitely not geared towards family like David’s Burger or Purple Cow which has a diner theme look to it and theme food options like Purple milkshake. Most breweries and bars have typical bar food like burgers, pizzas, and sandwiches which is pretty good but nothing creative. There have been people (out of state visitors) actually complaining about lack of family friendly restaurants in the downtown area (specifically the River Market area) and dont want to bring their family to a place known for its booze despite dining at these restaurants. Not everybody goes out to drink alcholol or being surrounded by drunk people all the time. Sorry, but I would not want my child to be around that type of atmosphere when dining out. I hope Cathead’s Diner will be more family friendly along with the rest of the dining options in the newly developed East Village District.

Arkansas Burger had some delicious burger in my opinion (even better than David Burger) and sadly it closed. If you look at the River Market District, it is noticeable that all you find is mostly bars and breweries that sells overpriced bar food (Big Whiskey has some horrible food the last time I went). There were even a couple of tourists who asked me where is a nice family friendly place to take their kids because there was so many adult restaurant. So yes, there needs to be more diverse in food types (seafood, African cuisine, Southern cuisine)and atmosphere (family oriented for sure) especially in the downtown area. I even propose to the developers of the planned marina development to have a family style boardwalk fill with boutique shops, dining, and a Ferris Wheel overlooking downtown LR.

There were some local restaurants that closed as well. Dixie Cafe, Mexico Chiquito, Arkansas Burger, Southern Gourmasian, and some other local restaurants also closed this year which is why it’s questionable about the local restaurant market in a recession. Even though I do support local restaurants, the most important thing these chains and locals bring is jobs and progress. Personally, there are too many breweries and adult based restaurants popping up around downtown and not enough true local family dining restaurants (ex: All Aboard Restaurants and Purple Cow restaurants to name a few) that have open. No parent will not take their children to a restaurant aimed more for adults and around booze while they are eating. That is not a way to represent our city in my opinion. There needs to be some more true local family restaurants around town besides Purple Cow, David Burger, and All Aboard Restaurant. Also, there needs to be more true seafood restaurants around town besides Cajun’s and Red Lobster. Thank goodness Juicy Seafood Restaurant open in the former Johnny Carino’s Building in West Little Rock.

It seems like a lot of restaurants in Little Rock has been closing lately which makes me wonder if Little Rock is in a restaurant recession. There were very few restaurants that open in LR (other than the ones at the Gateway Town Center) so far this year. This is not a good sign for restaurants not presence in the market looking to open a location in the LR area.

Mexico Chiquito on Highway 10 has closed. The phone number is disconnected. It really doesn’t surprise me consider the last experience I had with them. The location on W. Markham in Little Rock and North Little Rock remain open at this time. Also, Juicy Seafood will open in the former Johnny Carinos location on Highway 10 next Monday.

I wonder what will replace the existing Chili’s location?

I wonder if it’s another chain restaurant such as TGI Friday’s or a similar chain? I agree. I understand they want a bigger space but I think they would be much better at the former Sears site on University than on W. Markham across from Home Depot. That’s not a good location for a restaurant like that.

The former Luby’s building has been demolished to make way for the new Chili’s that will relocate from the current location on Rodney Parahm.