Drew Brees-owned sports bar will open Rogers location March 9

Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux is targeting March 9 to open its Northwest Arkansas location in Rogers.

The Baton Rouge, La.-based company, owned in part by New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, will open its doors at 11 a.m. at 4050 S. JB Hunt Drive.

Walk-On’s founders Brandon Landry and Jack Warner were both “walk-on’s” for the basketball team at Louisiana State University. They introduced their Walk-On’s restaurant concept in 2003. In May 2015, the company’s most famous investor, Drew Brees, and his wife, Brittany, became co-owners of parent company Walk-On’s Enterprises, according to the company’s website.

Warner is no longer associated with the business.

Walk-On’s has coined the phrase “Sports Bistreaux” as a new restaurant category. Restaurant signage changed from Bistreaux & Bar to Sports Bistreaux, starting with its newest opening earlier this month in Conway at 955 S. Amity Road.

“We’re always looking for ways to improve and zero-in on what’s most important for our fans,” Landry said in a statement. “In talking with our team, it became clear to us that we don’t really fit neatly into the category of a bar, nor do we fit into the mold of a traditional restaurant — we’re truly an elevated version of both. When asked to explain the Walk-On’s concept to someone that isn’t familiar, none of our team members felt comfortable calling it a sports bar or casual dining spot, so we decided to create a restaurant category of our own: Sports Bistreaux.”

Walk-On’s has roughly 35 stores with another 150 in development. The company signed a franchise agreement with Chris McJunkins to open three locations in Arkansas. The first store in Conway opened Feb. 3.

“It’s been exciting to bring such a fun and energetic brand like Walk-On’s to Arkansas — first in Conway and now in Rogers,” McJunkins said. “I was instantly blown away by the food, service and atmosphere of Walk-On’s when I first tried it, and I can’t wait for those in Rogers to experience the new, unique Sports Bistreaux as well.”

The initial investment for a franchisee is between $1.2 and $3.9 million, according to the company’s website.

The Rogers restaurant will employ up to 200 people, representative Emma Vandermark said in a news release.

Walk-On’s is one of several out-of-state companies — including Saltgrass Steakhouse, Torchy’s Tacos and Topgolf — who are investing millions in Rogers’ growing Pinnacle Hills area.