With the UA students heading back to town soon, and Razorback football season just around the corner, August is always a busy time for restaurant openings in Fayetteville.
Also this time of year, unfortunately, a few places don’t make it through the dog days of summer.
Here’s what we know about several restaurants opening, closing, or coming soon to Fayetteville.
Bouchee French Bistro
Bouchee now open at Yacht Club on College
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Former La Maison Des Tartes chef Vince Pianalto and partners Sammy Townsend and Justin Calvert recently opened a new food trailer called Bouchee French Bistro at the Yacht Club on College.
The new restaurant serves breakfast and lunch, and specializes in French tartine sandwiches, pastries, quiches, and other dishes.
Bouchee is open 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.
Fayetteville Pastry Shop
Future home of Fayetteville Pastry Shop
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Pastry chef Robyn Bowen is planning a new venture called Fayetteville Pastry Shop at 6315 Wedington Drive, near Penguin Ed’s Wedington location.
According to their website, Bowen specializes in gourmet edible art, hand-crafted chocolates, fresh gelato “catering to dietary restrictions.”
She has served as pastry chef at Bordinos since 2010. Fayetteville Pastry Shop also appeared at Springfest earlier this summer.
The new shop will be open in the next month or so.
Berry Natural
Berry Natural is now open at Fiesta Square
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A new juice cafe called Berry Natural recently opened in Fiesta Square.
The new cafe, owned by husband-and-wife team Chris and Ashli Curry, specializes in organic, whole food juices and smoothies.
Berry Natural is located at 3059 N. College Ave., and is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Native Nectar
The bottling facility for new juice company, Native Nectar
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Speaking of juice, a new company called Native Nectar has launched at 1442 N. College Ave.
The project, created by Fayetteville resident Wilson Wood, is bottling “100% organic, cold pressed, and non-pasteurized” juices in a facility at Evelyn Hills Shopping Center.
Wood said his juices will be available at the Fayetteville Farmers Market, Clubhaus, and Soul Yoga Lounge.
Larry’s Pizza
Larry’s Pizza appears to have closed their MLK location
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It appears as though Larry’s Pizza has closed.
We noticed over the weekend that a “For Lease” sign has appeared in front of the building, located at 2050 W. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., and that the phone number associated with the business is “not accepting calls at this time.”
This would mark the second Larry’s Pizza to give it a go in Fayetteville. The company operated a restaurant briefly in north Fayetteville a few years ago.
The Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard Larry’s location opened in September 2012.
Lyn D’s Cajun Gypsy
A sign outside Lyn D’s Cajun Gypsy indicates that Friday, Aug. 9 will be their last day at their current location.
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Lyn D’s Cajun Gypsy, located at 535 W. Poplar Ave. in Fayetteville, will close on Friday, Aug. 9.
Owner Lyn DeFalice told the NWA Business Journal in May that the restaurant’s future was up in the air due to the pending sale of their building by long-time landlords, Heckathorn Holdings LLC. DeFalice also said that she was seeking investors to help keep the business alive.
According to a Facebook post that appeared on the restaurant’s page Tuesday, the sale is a factor in the closing of the business.
“Hopefully if and when we find the allusive partner, we will open at a different location,” the post states. “Until then, we have appreciated your business and friendship.”
DeFalice was not available for comment when we stopped by for lunch earlier today.
Flying Burrito Co.
Future home of Flying Burrito Co. on Dickson Street
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The Flying Burrito Company announced plans earlier this month to move its 10-year flagship Spring Street restaurant to 540 W. Dickson St. across from George’s Majestic Lounge.
The restaurant closed its Spring St. store on July 13, and plans to be up and running in the new location in early September.
Here’s our full story about the move.
Coco’s Lebanese Cafe
Future home of Coco’s Lebanese Cafe in the Metro Building on Spring Street.
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Coco’s Lebanese Cafe announced last month that they plan to soon move into the former Flying Burrito location at 509 W. Spring Street.
The move will allow the restaurant to expand its hours, menu, and add “a greater taste of Lebanese culture.”
If all goes well, Coco’s will be open in the new space sometime this month.
Arsaga’s / Onyx Coffee Lab
A painter applies a fresh coat of black paint to the Arsaga’s location on Gregg Ave. The coffee shop will soon be rebranded as a Onyx Coffee Lab.
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Arsaga’s owners Andrea and Jon Allen plan to rebrand their location at 2418 N. Gregg Ave. as an Onyx Coffee Lab.
The Arsaga family sold the Gregg Avenue and Crossover Road locations to the Allens in 2009. Since then, the couple has begun roasting their own coffee as Anonymous Coffee Roasters at a warehouse in Springdale. The Allens opened a Springdale Arsaga’s in Harber Meadows in 2010, a location they would eventually rebrand as the first Onyx Coffee Lab in October 2012.
The transformation to Onyx was already underway when we stopped by the coffee shop on Tuesday and noticed a painter applying a coat of black paint to the building. Andrea said that for now, the plan is to only rebrand the Gregg Avenue location.
