Ah-Ha!

Whispers finally figured out who’s behind the pending purchase of the San Jose Manor and the old Ryan’s Clothing store in the 200 block of east Emma Avenue in Springdale: Tom Walton, grandson of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. founder Sam Walton.

Walton, mind you, is the man who, along with his brother Steuart Walton, backed the successful effort to bring liquor to Benton County. If that’s any indication of the kind of “jam” he has, then it should be safe to assume the sons of Jim Walton can do something others have not — lead a downtown revival that’s been on life support for a couple of decades.

Though Whispers isn’t sure of what Walton’s plans are, a source said, “They will do a high-quality development.”

News of Walton’s arrival comes as Springdale — an economic powerhouse on one hand and an ugly duckling on the other — finds itself at the center of what’s shaping up to be an epic era of improvement.

Groundbreaking on the town’s leg of the 36-mile Razorback Regional Greenway will take place May 23, and the announcement of a major funding gift is expected to be made at that time.

Parsons Stadium, home of the venerable Rodeo of the Ozarks, which along with the Jones Center for Families forms the eastern terminus of the Emma Avenue corridor, recently announced a $17-million upgrade to its facility. Tyson Foods Inc., George’s Inc., Arvest Bank and doubtless others that have yet to be publicly identified are all expected to chip in to rescue the stretch of road between Arkansas Highway 265 and U.S. 71B.

Downtown Springdale has plenty of bricks and mortar to handle an influx of merchants, and Whispers is convinced the dual presence of the big corporations and the Greenway will encourage them to come in droves.