Tyson Considers Corporate Expansion

Emma Avenue, Springdale’s downtown business district, has enjoyed a facelift over the last couple of years. But unless new businesses move into the stretch from Thompson Street to the railroad tracks crossing Emma, the plastic surgery will have a fruitless impact on the city.

A Fortune 100 company, Springdale’s Tyson Foods Inc. is the world’s largest producer of protein. Springdale officials were hoping Tyson might provide just what Emma Avenue needs by expanding its corporate offices into an existing building downtown.

Since acquiring meatpacking giant IBP Inc. in September, Tyson Foods President, Chairman and CEO John Tyson has bounced around the idea of expanding its corporate offices. Tyson Foods’ headquarters are in south Springdale near Johnson.

Tyson’s retail offices, one of the segments that might be expanded, are currently in Fayetteville at what is known as the IBM building across College Avenue from the Northwest Arkansas Mall. IBP brings even more specialty food products to the Tyson cupboard, and therefore will likely bring more retail personnel to the corporate office.

The latest speculation is that Tyson is interested in leasing the former StaffMark Inc. building on Millsap Road in north Fayetteville. The other StaffMark Inc. building is now occupied by Staffmark (with a lowercase “m”), the commercial staffing division that StaffMark Inc. sold to Stephens Inc. of Little Rock. Tyson is also reportedly considering leaving the offices it currently has in the former Consumer’s Grocery building on Sunset Avenue in Springdale.

If Springdale officials get their wish, Tyson will keep any expansion in their city.

The Bank of America building on Emma Avenue is 28,000 SF with two main levels. It also has a wing with a third level. Craig Hull, principal broker for Hull & Co. in Springdale, is the leasing agent on the building and said that officially he only has 5,500 SF on the east side for lease.

“The rest of it is occupied right now,” Hull said.

Bank of America is still using much of the building. There is also ample parking space, which is a rarity for downtown businesses. The parking lot was used for the concert stage during the Featherfest events in April.

“Any company coming in would have a tremendous impact on downtown Springdale,” said Perry Webb, president of the Springdale Chamber of Commerce.

Tyson Foods had shown some interest in the Bank of America building, but it appears that is no longer an option.

“The more people we have downtown, the more stable it becomes and the more it attracts other businesses to support the kind of services we need here,” said Patsy Christie, director of planning and community development with the Springdale Planning Commission. “You’d see [Springdale officials] do whatever needs to be done to have to get businesses to come to downtown Springdale.”

Webb admitted that he has had conversations with Tyson Foods officials concerning their possible interest in expanding, but he added, “I don’t know what that status is right now.”

“I think [Tyson officials] are still evaluating what kind of need they have for additional office space,” Webb said. “They have many possibilities. When you’re a company as big as they are, you can do whatever you want to do.”

Webb echoed Christie’s sentiments with the revitalization Emma Avenue would experience should any business indeed come to downtown Springdale.

“This area would have even more good paying jobs and make for a strong economy,” Webb said. “There’s no question that if we could put 200 to 300 people downtown, regardless of whether it’s Tyson or someone else, it’s going to help. A service-type company would bring a lot of opportunities. And a lot of service-type companies would likely locate next to an area with a lot of employees.

“A corporation like a Tyson Foods has an obligation to do what’s best for its company’s long-term interests. But if anything plays out for [Springdale], we will be tickled to death. That’s a no-brainer.”