Forty Under 40: Mark Henry

Mark Henry, 32, has been in the food business since graduating from the University of Arkansas in 1990. Henry, a Springdale native, received a bachelor’s degree in communications from the UA.

After graduation, Henry worked for Cafe Santa Fe in Fayetteville, first as a waiter and later as manager. He then helped Cafe Santa Fe open restaurants in Rogers and Fort Smith and served, at different times, as manager of those franchises.

In 1994, Henry and a partner bought Jake’s Grill in Springdale, but Henry sold his investment to his partner a year later.

Henry began working at AQ four years ago, first for owner Ron Palmer and later for Dick Bradley, who bought the business last year.

In addition to overseeing the Springdale restaurant and AQ Outback, Henry is in charge of marketing, advertising, accounts receivable and accounts payable for the company. The Fayetteville AQ has a separate general manager. The company is constructing a third restaurant, which should be open in Bentonville by spring.

Henry says “responsibility” is the key to success in the restaurant business.

“The restaurant business seems to be an industry, as a whole, that’s a resting place for people until they find a real job,” Henry says.

Henry’s father told him responsibility is essential even in transitional jobs, so he tries to hire hard-working, responsible people, but they’re in “short supply,” he says.