Smith

Good. The last time we went, it was gross. Sticky floors, ripped wall paper. It was awful. That place isn't that old. Rave's renovations I'm sure had taken a lot of their business too.

It says 6040 Warden Road. On the Border is 6000 with an empty lot next to it so that would be my guess.

The Indian restaurant is called Tour of India. Red Robin is still slated for Lewis Crossing but I don't think the exact parcel has been announced. Freddy's Frozen Custard has a permit for Oak Street but the address is the Economy Inn so not exactly sure where it will be. Burge's Deli has a permit for Dave Ward near Acxiom. I don't know if it is related to the LR Burges.

As mentioned, Hooters has applied for an alcohol permit for an address on Bass Pro Drive. I would prefer a new to market Red Robin, Joe's Crab Shake, etc but it will bring some traffic hopefully. I was out at Bass Pro this last weekend and trees are being cleared behind the building. Construction has also started on the Movie Tavern.

Red Robin has been announced for the Shoppes at Benton. It will be located next to the currently under construction Texas Roadhouse.

Hawgz Blues Cafe is now open on JFK. http://www.hawgzbluescafe.com/

The last remaining LR KFC near Markham and Bowman burned the other night and is being considered a total loss. It was just recently renovated.

The former Adeylotte's (sp?) and very short lived US Pizza on JFK now has signage up for Hawgs Blues Cafe. There has been several people there working inside and updating landscaping outside. Just down from there next to the Kum & Go is a restaurant going in the former Blockbusters. Jacob's Wings and More or Jacob's Wings Cafe or something like that.

I also read that Simmons will be keeping their headquarters in Pine Bluff. Is there that many employees down there or is there some sort of tax benefit by not moving it to LR?

The H&M announcement is officially here. No exact location given but it will be 29,000 sqft so I think the previously discussed cluster of empty storefronts is a good bet.

AR Business 1/22/17: There’s a target opening date of April 3 for the IHOP at the corner of Markham and University, which was razed only so a newer, better IHOP could arise. That’s according to Susan North, who with her partner, Marty Gunaca, owns Golden Cakes Inc. of Little Rock, the IHOP franchisee in Arkansas. Golden Cakes has 10 IHOP locations in the state. North says they plan to start hiring March 13, employing 50 to 60 people. The reborn IHOP will have 4,805 SF, will seat 164 and will be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The dining room will be one big room instead of three separate rooms, making the restaurant more efficient.

New IHOP

Anywhere? Holiday Capri Motel in Booneville is on Hwy 10. I know you meant in LR but I wanted to see how far your would actually have to go.

There was talk sometime back about a Popeye's going in across from War Memorial Golf Course on Markham. It fizzled out but there was obviously some thought of a fast food outlet near the stadium/UAMS. In between St. Vincent and UAMS, there are a handful smaller lots that are open and ready to go.

Interesting find today, I was looking for some Toyota truck parts online and searched for the nearest dealer that had the part in stock. It pulled up Mark McLarty Toyota. Checked and it has a website. Is McLarty taking over North Point Toyota? They already renamed the Nissan, Mazda, and Volkswagen lots a little while back.

David's Burgers is now open in the River Market. Hours are: 10:45 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 10:45 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday. Nice to have another night time option on the strip.

Andy's has a plumbing permit for the closed Chips BBQ place on Markham. It is moving from around the corner on John Barrow. Freddy's Frozen Custard is putting a store in the parking lot of the Bowman Walmart, very near the Taco Bell from what I can tell.

For something like Urban Outfitters or any set of stores to take off downtown, it would need an atmosphere like Country Club Plaza in Kansas City. 3 or 4 blocks of retail, restaurants, and hotels in a downtown urban setting. East Village maybe once it gets up and going or even along 3rd/4th streets with the mini hotel boom. SoMa might just slightly be too disconnected to get the right kind of foot traffic.

We just ate at Menchie's this last Saturday. The sign on the door I'm pretty sure said closed to some kind of work/renovation. It did not sound permanent. EDIT: It is no longer listed on the Boneheads website I was also not impressed. We ate there the first week it was open and thought maybe the kinks had not been worked out yet but it did nothing to bring us back.

GLO is stopping its seasonal route to Destin until 2017 and Allegiant is dropping their flight to LA per DemGaz.

Tazikis has plans on opening a location around there. I wonder if that could be it?

Driving by this morning, I saw the entire backside of the Tandy 10 theater is being demolished. Have not seen anything about redevelopment of the space but somebody is doing some work.

Tacos4Life appears to be opening a stand alone store on Alcoa next to the new Slim Chickens and Kroger Marketplace.

That's a good move for them. The current location is so hard to find if you don't know where to turn. Behind Walmart and buried between hotels.

McLarty Auto Group has announced a new dealership, McLarty Nissan of Benton. It will be situated somewhere between Congo Fireplace and the large (yet somewhat empty) Landers used car lot. Address is 19960 I-30. LR and NLR already have a McLarty Nissan but I guess the area needs another one.