State Sees Job Growth in Hospitality Sector

The leisure and hospitality sector produced more new jobs in Arkansas during the second quarter than any other sector, according to a report from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.

The number of leisure and hospitality jobs grew 4.9 percent over the second quarter of 2010, the report states.

Nationwide, that sector grew only 1.6 percent in the same period.

In Northwest Arkansas, a number of new restaurants have opened or are slated to open soon.

One in the pipeline is a Bob Evans restaurant that will be built at 4200 W. Walnut St. in Rogers, near Red Robin. The large-scale development plans for the restaurant were presented to Rogers planners Oct. 18.

Parent company Bob Evans Farms Inc., which also owns the Mimi’s Café chain, has nearly 600 Bob Evans restaurants in 18 states.

The Rogers restaurant will be the first Bob Evans in Arkansas.