New eateries, retail stores continue move to Northwest Arkansas
by January 21, 2016 9:58 am 1,575 views
For years there were none and now a fourth Whataburger restaurant is planned to open in about six weeks, weather permitting.
The newest restaurant in the popular chain is going up at 4030 N. College Avenue, the northeast corner of Joyce Boulevard and College Avenue. The target opening date is March.
The retail and food businesses also continue to expand in Benton County with the return of Stein Mart, an upscale discount clothing store, another CVS Pharmacy and Foghorn’s Restaurant expansion – all opening in Rogers later this year.
Whataburger is hiring for up to 130 positions for the new restaurant which will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, according to Rob Rodriguez, senior vice president, for Whataburger Restaurants. The new restaurant will have 3,583 square feet and the building permit shows a $1.3 million construction value.
“We can’t say enough how much we appreciate the warm welcome we’ve received in Northwest Arkansas. While we don’t have any other new locations planned at this time, we’re always looking for new opportunities to expand and look forward to continuing to serve all of our great customers in the area,” Rodriguez said.
The newest restaurant joins three other Whataburger restaurants, which opened last years – on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in Fayetteville; on Elm Springs Road in Springdale: and in the Pleasant Grove shopping area in Rogers.
A popular eatery in Fayetteville will open in Rogers this spring. Foghorns, known for its wings, burgers and 50 different sauces, will open in the former Mazzio’s location at 2221 W. Walnut St. Owner Jeff Hodges purchased the building and is now renovating the interior with new flooring and ceiling as well as adding a covered patio. “It’s a total remodel,” he said.
His investment in the new location is “north of $1 million,” he said, including the price of the building. It will be his first venture in Benton County. Foghorns has two locations in Fayetteville and a third in Springdale, which opened last year.
“This will be a good move for us,” Hodges said. “We’re excited and look forward to being a good community citizen.”
Stein Mart is returning to Northwest Arkansas after an absence of 15 years with the opening of a new store at 210 Promenade Parkway in the Scottsdale VI shopping strip, which also features Jo-Ann Fabrics, Shoe Carnival, Marshall’s and Home Goods. The building is under construction by Nabholz Construction Services, according to Tom Hopper of Crafton Tull, a Rogers engineering firm. The 31,970-square-foot store is planned to open this fall, Hopper said.
Stein Mart did have stores in Fayetteville and Fort Smith until both were closed about 15 years ago. There are two Stein Mart stores in the Little Rock area.
Details on a new CVS Pharmacy at4 1749 W. Walnut St. in Rogers are sketchy. Attempts to reach officials with the company or the developer were unsuccessful.
The 13,225-square-foot building will be constructed on the site of a former EZ Mart on the northeast corner of Dixieland and Walnut Street, according to information in the City of Rogers Planning Department. The City Planning Commission approved the plans last month. The site is across Walnut from Walgreen’s.