More restaurants, retail stores planned in Northwest Arkansas

More than a handful of new eateries and retail establishments have scoped out new locations in Northwest Arkansas despite a rise in bankruptcies and uncertainty in the retail sector.

The recently shuttered Apple Blossom Brewing Co. in Fayetteville will soon be home to North Little Rock-based Flyway Brewing. Flyway Brewing owner Matt Foster confirmed he’s expanding into the building at 1550 E. Zion Road in Fayetteville, the first location outside of Little Rock. Foster said Flyway would use the brewing system and full kitchen to bring its ale and cuisine to Northwest Arkansas. He said there is no timeline yet for the opening.

Tulsa-based RibCrib BBQ is also coming to Fayetteville with a third restaurant in the region. The company plans to locate at 2190 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in the former site of Dairy Queen. The restaurant plans to open by early fall. RibCrib also operates restaurants in Springdale and Centerton.

Crepes Paulette is also expanding to Fayetteville and plans to locate in the former Snack Lab space at 2341 N. College Ave. Owner Paula Jo Chitty Henry expects to be set up by mid-summer. Crepes Paulette also operates a restaurant at 100 S.W. 8th St., in Bentonville.

Two new retailers are coming to the Pinnacle Hills Promenade in Rogers this summer, according to permits filed with the Arkansas State Health Department. Eyewear retailer Warby Parker plans to locate at 2203 Promenade Blvd. Apparel retailer J. Crew has picked out a location at 2203 Promenade Blvd., Suite 20320, next to Party City. J. Crew will offer off-price apparel and fashion at that location by mid-summer.

The Party City location in Rogers will remain open. The retailer filed bankruptcy earlier this year and has said it plans to close just 30 of its locations, none of which are in Arkansas. The same is true for off-price retailer Tuesday Morning, who also filed for bankruptcy in February. The Tuesday Morning store in the Scottsdale Center in Rogers remains open.

Trash Creamery is setting up shop at 312 S. First St. in downtown Rogers. The ice cream shop also has a store in downtown Bentonville. Permits were filed with the health department earlier this month for the second location in Rogers.

Chipotle Mexican Grill will open a store at 5761 W. Sunset, Suite A, in Springdale. The fast-food eatery also operates locations in Fayetteville and Bentonville. The restaurant is expected to open later this year.

The Botanical at 8th & A will open this summer in Bentonville. The sports bar is under construction next to Heroes Coffee. Owners Alex Thaley, Alan Gooding and Raj Suresh plan to offer beer on tap, wine, ciders, mocktails, deli sandwiches and a food truck.

The recent bankruptcy of specialty retailer Bed Bath & Beyond will mean the stores on Mall Avenue in Fayetteville and Pinnacle Promenade in Rogers will close. The retailer is shuttering all of its stores and online business over the next several months. David’s Bridal in Fayetteville remains open following a bankruptcy filing last month. The retailer said it is looking for a buyer with the help of the bankruptcy court. The stores are expected to remain open.