Bentonville Planning Commission to Consider Downtown Movie Theater

The Bentonville Planning Commission is expected to consider Tuesday night two new projects for downtown Bentonville, one of which is a six-screen movie theater.

The Northwest Arkansas Downtown Revitalization Fund (DRF), which is funded by members of the Walton family, is presenting plans for both projects — the movie theater and a mixed-use retail building. Both buildings would be built at the northwest corner of Southwest Fourth and A streets. A Walton-led entity bought the 1.44-acre site last summer for $1.57 million. The site is catty-corner from the new Thrive mixed-use development, and directly across Southwest Fourth from the site that’s being developed by First National Bank of NWA.

If approved by the planning commission, construction on both buildings could begin in June.

“Downtown Bentonville is exploding with new growth, and these two projects will be excellent additions to serve both businesses and visitors to the area,” Brenda Anderson, a spokesperson with the DRF, said in a statement.

According to the DRF, the 15,761-SF movie theater will include two large screens, four small screens and a full bar.

The second building will be a 16,230-SF, three-story mixed use building with retail space on the first floor and office space on the second and third floors.

The planning commission will be called to order at 5 p.m. at the Community Development Building at 305 S.W. A St.