It’s a new year, and we’ve noticed recently that several new restaurants have either opened, or are preparing to open in Fayetteville over the next few weeks. That’s the yin.
The yang is that a few local places have also closed up shop recently as well. Stupid yang.
Here’s a brief overview of what we know has opened or closed, and what’s coming soon to Fayetteville.
Z’s Brick Oven Pizza
Z’s Brick Oven Pizza, a new restaurant by former Razorback defensive back Zac Painter and his girlfriend Kelsey McClain, looks to be close to opening in the space formerly occupied by Tim’s Pizza at 2730 N. College Ave.
A new pole sign is up, the paper has been removed from the windows, and a “coming soon” now hangs on the door.
When we talked to Zac about the concept back in Oct., he said the restaurant will focus on “fresh ingredients, good service, and cold beer.”
The Taste
The Taste Bar & Grill is now open in the space formerly occupied by Wing Stop at 2630 E Citizens Dr. in Fayetteville.
The restaurant opened officially on Friday, Jan. 18, and specializes in burgers, Philly cheese steak sandwiches, subs, and steaks.
Parks Purity Pie Co.
There’s a new pie restaurant opening soon at The Yacht Club on College (617 N. College Ave.).
It’s called Park’s Purity Pie Co., and according to owner Shannon Strickland, it will be open to the public this week.
The restaurant will serve a different fruit, cream and savory pot pie each day by the slice, and to fulfill special orders of any type of pie as well.
Legacy Blues
Legacy Blues closed on Jan. 20 after about 18 months in business at 401 W. Watson St. in downtown Fayetteville.
According to the owners, the restaurant has sold to the group behind Table Mesa in Bentonville, and the new owners plan to take the club in a new direction.
Gusano’s Pizza
Gusano’s Pizza moved from their original Fayetteville location into the shopping center next to Harps at 1267 N. Steamboat Drive over the Christmas holiday.
The new restaurant is about twice the size of the original location, owners said.
Rowdy Beaver
Rowdy Beaver at 550 W Dickson St. has closed for good.
The owners of the chain confirmed that their licensee behind the location has chosen to close the restaurant, citing parking challenges in the private lot adjacent to the building among the reasons for the closure.
Rowdy Beaver also operates restaurants in Eureka Springs, Ark. and Branson, Mo.
Ay Caramba
Something’s cooking, or at least it soon will be, in the space formerly home to Elenita’s Mexican Cafe at 1120 N Lindell Ave. in Fayetteville.
The building has a new coat of paint, and a sign that reads “Ay Caramba coming soon. Now hiring” is visible from the street.
We haven’t been able to reach the owners yet, but if we had to guess, we’d wager they’re gonna serve some type of Mexican food.
The Burger Patti
The Burger Patti, located at 3327 W. Wedington Dr., has been open since late October 2012.
The restaurant focuses on burgers (obviously) and hand cut fries, and is open primarily for lunch, although they have recently expanded their hours to serve dinner on Friday and Saturday night until 8 p.m.
Burger Shack
Speaking of burgers, it looks like there’s a new burger joint opening soon in the space formerly occupied by Razor’s Edge at 1163 W. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Extensive renovations are underway on the space, and signs that reads “Burger Shack Coming Soon” are visible in three of the front-facing windows. That’s all we know about this place for now.
Apple Blossom Brewing Co.
Staff photo
In case you missed our story from a couple weeks ago, there’s a new restaurant and brew pub called Apple Blossom Brewing Company coming soon to North Fayetteville.
The new place is the brainchild of Smoke & Barrel Tavern founders Evan McDonald, Sammie Stephenson, Joe Utsch, Al Schaffer, along with brewery partners Ching Mong and Daniel Smith.
According to the owners, they’ll start with 3-4 of their own beers, and will serve in-house prepared soups, sandwiches, salads, focaccia pizzas, among other items.
If all goes well, the owners are hoping to open the brewpub at 1550 E. Zion Rd. sometime this summer.
Thanks for the updates, Some of my favorite flyer posts are restaurant updates. I guess I am fat.
Rumor going around that a new Andy’s Frozen Custard will be opening around Razorback and MLK before summer. Do any of the Flyers know anything?
Hadn’t heard that, Mullva. We’ll keep our ears open.
Construction bids 1/29
They are suppose to be opening there in May! Was told that from an employee at the Rogers location! Can’t wait!!
I was wondering about Gusano’s: I drove by a couple weeks ago and they were moving everything out the door. I was afraid they had closed.
So allegedly Chuy’s is looking for a Fayetteville location.
I kinda hope they are buying the OPO.
I heard this too – the OPO would fit their style of just outfitting a space (like they did with one of their locations in Austin) but it doesn’t fit the style of the franchises popping up. It’s all been new buildings or at least rehabbed modern restaurant space. Aside from something cool going into the OPO, I would like this to happen so that Chuy’s is here in Fayetteville, not Rogers or Bentonville. They have enough Tex-Mex with OTB and Abuelos. As much as I love La Hacienda and sometimes La Huerta (although, it’s not as good as it used to be) I really miss me some Chuy’s since leaving Austin. Chicka Boom Boom enchiladas anyone?
If Chuys comes here, I will be in heaven.
Dustin, google-fi the addresses in the article. I have no earthly idea where most of these places are.
wow that is very exciting news. Is there any level of trustworthiness to this rumor? The OPO would be absolutely perfect.
Chuy’s? YES!! I would be so happy to see a Chuy’s here in Fayetteville! :D
http://www.chuys.com/#/regions Chuy’s website says new location this summer in LR. No mention of NWA
They’re looking in Fayetteville, but not downtown.
One of our readers wrote Chuy’s and received the following response from Ann Cleator, the company’s real estate development manager:
“I’m happy to report that NW Arkansas has been on our radar for a while, and we are currently working on a lease with a property owner in Rogers. Though a few matters need to be wrapped up, we’re optimistic that a store will be open in your region early 2014. Hang in there, creamy jalapeno is coming your way!”
thanks, Todd! Obviously “2014″ and “Rogers” are disappointments, but at least it’s an official response and it’d be closer than Tulsa.
Hey guys,
Googling “1550 E. Zion Rd.” pushes google maps east of 265.
Although the brewery location might technically be 1550 E. Zion Rd., a link to 1550 Zion Rd. (sans E.) brings google maps to the correct location.
I saw that Gusano’s and figured they had replaced Pizza Hut, weird to see them that close. And Bariola’s is just across the street…
Anybody know anything on the status of CherryBerry? Looks like it closed without notice.
My kids loved the place.
They had posted on their Facebook page that they had closed for winter and would re-open sometime this spring
Its done-ski…signs are gone, and its not coming back.
Figured Rowdy Beaver would close soon. Place was always empty. That building could be a cool bar if done the right way
A really uncomfortable bar. The loft look is good for photo-shoots, but not conducive to hanging out pounding brews. Put some booths in it, and a comfortable seat or two. Also, don’t blare crappy butt-rock.
Done right = Dickson Street Strippers Club
Ha, “parking issues”. Rowdy Beaver simply just sucked.
yeah, but the private owner of those lots really does make parking a major issue for his tenants.
The Burger Patti has an awesome burger and fantastic fries. They should outgrow that space soon. I’d put it up against any burger in town.
Sigh, still no Indian restaurant. One of these days.
I agree! I Want a good Indian restaurant. Taj and Chutny’s are to far away.
rowdy beaver location would be a good spot for a Pita Pit
Had Pita Pit in Mammoth…great stuff, and they deliver.
It will be interesting to see what table mesa does to legacy blues considering their other locations arent even close as big as legacy blues location
.
What happened to the Mexican place out on Wedington and Salem….looks like it is a Planet Fitness instead??
Different sites…
My husband told me that someone at Chutney’s said that they originally looked at Fayetteville, but it was cheaper to start up in Rogers so that went with that location. :( Would looooooooove some Indian food in Fayetteville.