Restaurants open, close, make palns for 1999

Because of changes in our columns during the holiday season last month, we haven’t published a food column since Dec. 14. So, now it’s time to try to catch up on a lot that’s happened since then.

• Doe’s Eat Place will replace Play It Again Sam’s at 318 W. Dickson St. in Fayetteville. Jim and Teresa Huson bought the building, furnishings and restaurant equipment that had comprised Play It Again Sam’s from Tom Pearson. Huson’s son, Nelson Huson, will run the new restaurant, which Jim Huson says should be open by Feb. 15. Nelson had previously operated Chili Red’s Coney Island hot dog eatery at 2334 N. College Ave. in Fayetteville.

Jim Huson says his son will probably close the Chili Red’s location on College Avenue and move some of those items to Dickson Street to serve on the lunch menu at Doe’s. Doe’s specializes in steaks, tamales and shrimp — basic Southern cooking, says Jim Huson.

The Fayetteville restaurant will be the fourtPinnacle market may serve as prototype

If things go well at The Market at Pinnacle Point in Rogers, the owners may open similar stores in cities such as Tulsa, Springfield, Mo., and Little Rock.

Rich Donckers said the 15,800-SF Rogers store is a test concept. Donckers owns the $8 million business – a combination restaurant, upscale food store and coffee shop – along with Collins Haynes and Gary Clay.

“We’re going to be tinkering with it within the next six months – the items and placement ofin November. All four of the Domino’s Hardison now owns were purchased from Duane Williams of Springdale. Hardison began working at the Rogers’ Domino’s in 1989 as a driver.

Domino’s, based in Ann Arbor, Mich., was founded in 1960. The company had $3.2 billion in sales in 1997. Domino’s has more than 1,700 franchisees operating more than 6,100 stores throughout the United States and in 64 international markets.

• Noodles Italian Kitchen opened at 3155 N. College Ave. in Fayetteville. The 7,500-SF restaurant is operated by Kirby Walker, who ran Kirby’s Grill & Bakery for several years before closing that restaurant — with locations in Fayetteville, Rogers and Little Rock — in November 1997. Noodles can seat 185 people. It’s open only for dinner during January but will be open for lunch and dinner starting Feb. 2.

• On Dec. 7, Ruby Tuesdays opened a 4,977-SF restaurant at 1402 S. Walton Blvd. in Bentonville, only half a mile from the headquarters of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. Ruby Tuesday Inc. is a chain of casual restaurants based in Mobile, Ala. The company has more than 400 restaurants (including Mozzarella’s American Cafe and Tia’s Tex Mex) across America.

• Suzie Stephens, who owns Nibbles Gourmet Catering and Nibbles Food Emporium in Fayetteville, plans to open Cafe Nibbles in the building that also houses Nibbles Food Emporium. Stephens goes before the Fayetteville Planning Commission in February. She plans to have the new, upscale eatery open by May. The retail shop was named the best gourmet shop in Arkansas this year by readers of Arkansas Times magazine.

• In early January, Tangos, an upscale restaurant at 31 E. Center St. in Fayetteville, has hired a new chef, Colin McKaharay. McKaharay previously worked for Bordino’s and Ghazi’s Pesto Cafe, both in Fayetteville.

• In mid-December, North Forty Bed & Breakfast at 40 Crossover Road in Fayetteville closed its restaurant. The business will still serve food for receptions and special events and will remain open as a bed and breakfast, says Dave Mersky, one of the owners.