Retail and restaurant additions continue in Northwest Arkansas

Retailers and restaurant chains continue to invest in new locations in Benton and Washington counties, according to permits on file with the Arkansas State Health Department. Big Lots will open a new store in Rogers on May 12 at 210 S. Promenade Blvd.

The new Rogers store, the second for Big Lots in Northwest Arkansas, is in the previous location of Stein Mart, which closed in 2020. Big Lots is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, and employs about 24,000 in more than 1,400 stores across the U.S.

Store manager Brad Littrell said the second location will be unlike typical Big Lots stores. The Rogers store is a pilot store that will feature 9,000 square feet of furniture and home furnishings including outdoor patio items. He said there will be no consumables or health and beauty items as it will totally cater to the home. The Rogers store employs 25 and will have its soft opening on May 12 with the grand opening set for May 17.

Texas-based Whataburger has staked out a location in Bentonville at 1404 S. Walton Blvd., where Pizza Hut was located near 14th Street and Walton Boulevard. Whataburger came to Northwest Arkansas in 2015 and opened four locations, two in Fayetteville and one each in Springdale and Rogers. The hamburger chain said at the time it wanted to have several more locations in the region. The Bentonville restaurant will open later this summer.

Another hamburger chain is setting up shop near the planned Bentonville Whataburger. Lorton, Va.,-based Five Guys will occupy the space – 1401 S. Walton Blvd. – vacated by Flying Burrito in Bentonville. Five Guys said the Bentonville restaurant will open this summer.

Schlotzskys is looking at two new Benton County sites, one at 1626 East Centerton Blvd. The other site is at 400 W. U.S. Highway 412 in Siloam Springs. Shredders Pub is moving into the former American Legion building in Bella Vista at 1889 Bella Vista Way.

In Fayetteville, Austin-based Chuy’s will open its second eatery in the region. The location is uptown at 642 E. Millsap Road, near the Whole Foods Store off the Fulbright Expressway. There is no timeline yet for when the restaurant will open, but city leaders expect it will be open in time for Razorback football games this fall. Colton’s Steak House currently operates at 642 E. Millsap.

Girls Gone BBQ will set up shop at 2630 E. Citizen Drive, near the Walmart Neighborhood Market at Mission and Crossover in east Fayetteville. Dana Neely is the pit boss of the new eatery and she hails from Des Arc (Prairie County). After some time in Seattle, she relocated to Northwest Arkansas in 2020. She said the restaurant will be open early this summer.