With the University of Arkansas students back in town, and football season just around the corner, it’s time for another roundup of all the recent movement in the bar and restaurant world.
Here’s what we know about the new places.
The Stolen Glass
Locals Thea Morrill and Paul Baldwin plan to open a new bar called The Stolen Glass Friday night (Aug. 31.) at 40 E. Center Street.
The new place will open with live music Friday night from A Good Fight, and Saturday night from Revolution Butterfly and The Town that Dreaded Sundown.
Kobe
Kobe Hibachi Grill and Sushi will move from their current location near Target into the space formerly occupied by Northern Exposure at 643 E. Van Asche Dr.
Panda Express
Texas-based firm Bannister Engineering has submitted preliminary plans for a Panda Express restaurant at 2111 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
From the plans, it appears as though the restaurant will replace the USA Drug store next door to Taco Bell.
The restaurant plans also call for patio seating, and a drive-thru lane.
El Matador
Bentonville-based Morrison Shipley Engineers have submitted preliminary plans for a 6,000-square-foot restaurant called El Matador adjacent to Walmart Market at the corner of Wedington Drive and Salem Road.
The plans call for a large patio overlooking Wedington Drive.
Crazy Hibachi Sumo
Sources tell us the owners of a North Little Rock restaurant called Crazy Hibachi have leased the space formerly occupied by Posta Plata.
We haven’t been able to reach the owners for confirmation yet, but Arkansas Business reports that a Japanese Steakhouse is coming to that location, which goes along with what we’re hearing.
Update: A banner that appeared on the building indicates the restaurant will be called Sumo. Also, apparently, it will open Sunday, Sept. 16.
AquaFire
Aquafire, the new restaurant by former Basil’s chef Randy McGuffin, is now open on Dickson Street.
The restaurant replaced 1936 Club after owners Peter Steinhart and his wife Nancy Meyer decided to retire earlier this month.
Has anyone tried it yet?
Wheels Cafe and Kind Kitchen
There appears to be some action in the Yacht Club mobile business park at College Avenue and Trenton Street.
Wheels Cafe, the taco trailer that moved off the lot last spring, plans to come back in September.
Also, Kind Kitchen, the vegan food trailer that has been a fixture at First Friday in Bentonville, also plans to set up shop at the Yacht Club in September. Kind Kitchen was a big hit during this year’s Block Street Block Party at the north end of Block Avenue.
Union Kitchen + Drinks
Union Kitchen + Drinks is set to open inside the new Chancellor Hotel on Friday, Sept. 14.
The restaurant will feature a New American menu from local restauranteur Scott Bowman, who owns two Theo’s locations in Northwest Arkansas and East Side Grill in Fayetteville.
Willy D’s
Willy D’s Dueling Piano Bar has been hinting that they are close to re-opening on Dickson Street.
Owner Don Rey told us in April that he hoped to open back in June, but construction on the project has been moving pretty slowly over the summer.
The bar installed new doors at the new space at 230 W. Dickson St. today, and whoever runs their Facebook page has been teasing piano bar fans quite a bit about a re-opening date.
Bugsy’s
Bugsy’s, the new Razorback-themed bar located in the former Flying Possum Leather space is now open on Dickson Street.
The bar will have its own food truck on the patio called Taste Buds, and according to owner Travis Smith, it will be open and serving barbecue sometime next week.
Larry’s Pizza
Larry’s Pizza is set to soon open in the building formerly home to a Shake’s Frozen Custard at the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and South Sang Avenue.
Owner Bob Albright left a comment on the Flyer last weekend saying the restaurant will focus on pick-up and delivery, and will be open by Sept. 1.
Cool! Thanks for the updates, guys. Y’all do awesome work.
I hope El Matador turns out to be something good and not just another Mexican place that serves the same thing. We need more good sit down type places in the Wedington area, not just fast food.
With Willy D’s reopening (as they have always intended), perhaps what’s-his-face will finally stop complaining that paid parking on Dickson Street killed Willy D’s.
Or maybe not. He’s a bit slow.
It appears that the Wingstop at Mission and Crossover is no more. Mrs. IO is inconsolable.
Innnnteresting.
Always good to see new businesses opening in town but the building that the Stolen Glass is in has to be the ugliest in town. I realize we all like different looks but the rock work looks like they used whatever they could find on the ground. Paint on native rock looks hideous. I keep hoping someone will buy that lot, tear it down, and start over. Oh yeah- just because something is old doesn’t mean that it is necessary to call it a historic treasure that has to be preserved.
Did wingstop shut down or move? They always seemed really busy.
Wingstop Bentonville says that Wingstop Fayetteville shut down a few weeks ago. I have bought a lot of wings there, although markedly less often after they wanted to charge 50 cents for a cup of water and blamed the students for that policy.
I heard Larry’s is terrific. Its going to be a late night hot spot.
Thanks for all the updates. This is all great news as far as I’m concerned. Especially replacing that USA drug with a Panda Express with a patio, and the Kind Kitchen truck. And filling up some empty buildings. Good work business folk, good luck to you.
Good story Dustin. Thank you for keeping us up to date!
Do you guys know what is being built on Salem across from the new Wal-Mart?
I wonder that every time I go to the Wal-Mart market.
Gym/ fitness center
YO & Lexi:
MAYBE IT’S THE NEW WHOLE FOODS!
Settle Ozark natural Feuds once & for all…
Nope. It is Planet Fitness
But will Planet Fitness be competition for the gym next to property owner ONF?
Yup.
I doubt many people on the west side use the gym next to ONF. Planet Fitness will primarily attract west-siders.
planet is a no frills, rent a treadmill, key card gym. no classes, no trainers, low service… very low price point.