luvhotsprings

I went driving around after dinner today, and there is a new bank next to Java Primo, called Citizen's Bank. Also, CVS put up their signs in front of the old Shell and Perkin's restaurant. On Malvern, a new strip center called Hite Plaza is almost completed. There's also a new strip center going up next to Dollar General at the corner of Carpenter Dam and Shady Grove Road, called Shady Grove Plaza. Edit to add: It also looked like Debra's Restaurant is almost open in the old Nom Nom's location.

Kilwin's Chocolate Factory is opening a franchise at 264 Central Avenue, which is set to open April 2015. This is Arkansas's second location. Also, according to the plumbing permits, another Dollar General is being built at 830 Mountain Pine Road.

Not exciting news, but Hot Springs Flea Market is moving locations. The new location is going to be in the old Lakeside Supermarket on Malvern Avenue - in the industrial area of town.

Hot Springs Mall has a new owner - a company from New York. The last owners left the mall in really bad shape and store barely hanging on. The new mall owner has plans to revitalize the mall and lower the rent for the current tenants. I wonder what renovations could be happening. Dillards, JCPenney, and Sears are going to be the three anchors still, but there's a lot of stores that closed that people used. List of closed stores; Body Shop Wet Seal Christopher & Banks Game Stop Guest Services PacSun Toys & Hobbies Hallmark I personally think they should turn it into an outdoor mall with a food court and try to get some of the tenants they lost over the past few years, but get a couple of new ones like Hollister, Sephora, Lids, and Forever 21 (which is probably a long shot for Hot Springs.) I'm hoping the new owners are more successful than Aranov because without the mall, everyone has to shop in Little Rock.

From today's Sentinel Record; Two boutique hotels are going to open downtown in the Dugan-Stuart and the Thompson building in the 200 & 300 block of Central Avenue, respectively. The plans for the Thompson building are going to have medium priced rooms but with high-end service. The rest of the rooms will be king suites. There will be a restaurant and a rooftop terrace. The Dugan Stuart building has secured a national franchise from a high-end chocolate company, being ran by a Garland County couple. A small fruit-and-wine-tasting shop will open being ran by a couple from Amity, and a man is looking to put in an IMAX type of attraction. Both of these hotels will be nationally branded.(I'm expecting to see a Marriott or Hilton-like hotel brand associate themselves with these hotels.) Also, a plaza is wanting to be built on the former site of the Baxter Hotel that burned down shortly after the Majestic. This will expect to help revitalize the neighborhood, and this site will commemorate the Baxter hotel.

It looks like Gamestop has closed it's mall location today,as well as Pacsun closing. The toy store there has also closed, if I'm not mistaken of the location. While I was there today, it looked like Sears is about to close due to the lack of merchandising and empty shelves. Also, it looked as if Wet Seal is on it's way out. You could see the empty walls by just walking by. Also, with the seasonal stores, the mall's occupancy will be very low. With that, there will only be a Dillards, JCPenney and Goodys - which are running themselves out of business- and a few others like American Eagle, Victoria Secret,and Bath & Body works. I possibly see Hibbett Sports closing their mall location, like Gamestop did because of a more central location in Cornerstone Marketplace.

Megan's Diner is now open at 1105 Albert Pike - in the old Jack's and is ran by the granddaughter.

Debra's Restaurant is going to go in where Nom Nom's used to be. First Security Bank is going to build a bank on Central, between Riser Nissan and Mapco.

Walmart Neighborhood Market is going on Malvern Ave., across the street from Sonic and King Kone. Also, an upscale consignment shop is opening up where Save-A-Lot used to be.

CVS is going where Perkin's and the Shell Station used to be. The Courtyard: Marriott is going in between Hank's and Ruby Tuesday's with an entrance from Central and Files Road. Jimmy John's, Atwoods, and Holiday Inn Express just opened. Alco and Save-A-Lot are going out of business. Rumors are Walmart bought land to the right of the shopping center.