Retail restaurant expansion continues in Northwest Arkansas

At least 10 new eateries and beverage establishments are adding new locations in Benton and Washington counties according to recent permits filed with the Arkansas Department of Health filed.

Weinerschnitzel will add its third location in the region in the next few months. The hot dog restaurant plans to locate at 850 W. U.S. Highway 412 in Siloam Springs. The restaurant chain also has stores in Springdale and Bentonville.

Also in western Benton County, Chipotle is adding a third location. The TexMex chain will be located at 1710 Centerton Blvd., and plan to open by summer. Chipotle runs restaurants in Bentonville and Fayetteville which have been open for several years.

Also in Benton County, Townies Burgers & Bevs will set up shop at 217 S. Main St., in downtown Bentonville. On the other side of I-49, Kung Fu Tea is set to open a beverage store at 2822 W. Walnut St. in Rogers. It will be the first location for the New York-based company in the region.

Near downtown Rogers, Lasang Pinoy Restaurant has filed for permits with plans to open in June. The eatery will feature Filipino and Asian fusion cuisine. The restaurant will also feature karaoke.

Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream is opening a new franchise store at 1904 W. Pleasant Grove Road in southwest Rogers. The Rogers Lowell Chamber said the ice cream store will be locally owned. The parent company is based in Youngstown, Ohio, and claims to have made ice cream daily in each store since 1945. This will be the first Handel’s store in the region.

Several new eateries are also opening in Washington County in the next few months. Panera Bread has eyed a new location at 471 W. Sunset Ave., in Springdale. Panera operates restaurants in Bentonville and Fayetteville. Also in Springdale, the beverage store Utah-based Swig has staked out its second location in the region. Swig will open soon at 4914 Elm Springs Road near the Walmart Supercenter. The soda beverage store also operated in Rogers near the Pinnacle Hills Promenade.

FlavorSmith’s Craft Barbecue will soon open in Fayetteville in the former bar located at 50 E. Township St. The restaurant is locally owned by Billy Ray Smith and will feature a barbecue that is a mix between Kansas City and Texas.

Missouri-based frozen dessert chain Andy’s Frozen Custard has a new location in the works at 272 E. Joyce Blvd. Boss Man Taco and Taco Bueno formerly occupied the space. That will be the second Fayetteville location for the frozen treat chain. Andy’s also operates two stores in Rogers, one in Bentonville and one in Springdale.

Tuskers Tavern is a restaurant and bar that recently opened at 1830 N. Crossover Road in east Fayetteville. The eatery is owned by locals Todd and Marti Martin, along with partners Zack and Natalie Wakefield. The lounge concept is open evenings from Wednesday through Sunday and offers a limited menu of pizza, paninis and appetizers.