New Braum’s store, distribution center planned for Fort Smith
by May 19, 2025 2:00 pm 8,038 views
Fort Smith is getting a new Braum’s Ice Cream and Dairy Store. A building permit for construction of a new store for the Oklahoma City-based company was issued by the City of Fort Smith on May 6.
The 6,152-square-foot store will be located at 8001 S. Zero St., near the intersection of Massard Road and Zero Street. The complete project is estimated to cost $800,000. Noble Construction Management LLC of Longview, Texas, is listed as the general contractor for the project.
Amanda Beuchaw, public relations manager for Braum’s, said the company is just adding a new Braum’s in Fort Smith. None of the other stores in Fort Smith will close, she said.
“We do not have an exact date yet, but we hope to have the store completed before the end of the year,” Beuchaw said when asked about a planned opening of the new store.
Fort Smith has three Braum’s locations: 4418 Rogers Ave., 7701 Rogers Ave., and 1500 Zero St. The company has more than 300 locations in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas.
“I believe we have more (new stores) to follow in Arkansas,” Beuchaw said. “I am not sure on exact locations yet. We are in the process of ironing out build and permitting schedules.”
All locations are a “three stores in one” with a grill, an “old fashioned ice cream fountain,” and a fresh market grocery, according to the website. All the stores are located within 330 miles of the Braum’s dairy farm and processing plant in Tuttle, Okla., the site notes.
DISTRIBUTION CENTER
Fort Smith also has issued a $14.917 million building permit for a project at 4300 Geren Road, which is south of Rheem’s Fort Smith facility on Arkansas Highway 45 and north of the Silgan manufacturing plant.
The permit was issued to Brighton, Mich.-based BC Construction Group, which specializes in building large facilities for warehouse use, distribution centers, advanced manufacturing, and charter schools. BC clients include FedEx, Hyundai, American Tire, the U.S. government, and Loomis.
Sources have told Talk Business & Politics the facility will be around 72,000 square feet and will be a distribution and logistics center for a retail operation.
Matlock Electric and Northwest Arkansas Sheet Metal were listed as subcontractors. The size of the facility was not listed on the permit issued by the city. The facility is to be built on property owned by Stephens Land Holdings LLC.
