Indigo Road to operate Ropeswing’s restaurants, bars
by August 19, 2025 1:46 pm 3,809 views
Charleston, S.C.-based The Indigo Road Hospitality Group is the new operations partner for Bentonville-based Ropeswing Hospitality Group, the firms announced Monday (Aug. 18). Indigo Road plans to open a Bentonville office to support its area teams.
Ropeswing exists under the Runway Group umbrella and operates multiple restaurants and bars in Bentonville. Runway Group is a business team based in Bentonville led by Steuart Walton and his brother, Tom Walton. They are grandsons of Walmart founder Sam Walton and the sons of Jim Walton, chairman and CEO of Arvest Bank Group Inc.
Founded in 2009 by Steve Palmer, The Indigo Road Hospitality Group owns and operates restaurants and boutique hotels across the South.
“Northwest Arkansas is an enchanting place with an incredibly vibrant and welcoming community,” said Steve Palmer, founder and chief vision officer of The Indigo Road Hospitality Group. “We are absolutely delighted to partner with Ropeswing to uphold the legacy of these unique concepts and look forward to continuing to grow as part of the thriving hospitality community in Bentonville.”
Indigo Road entered the Northwest Arkansas market in 2024 with Junto, a Japanese and sushi restaurant at Motto Bentonville, and Bar Kapu, serving tropical drinks and a menu of Southeast Asian-inspired items. This summer, Indigo Road opened Oak Steakhouse Rogers atop the new six-story, 170-room Hotel Avail in the Pinnacle Hills area of Rogers.
According to the release, Indigo Road will assume operations for the hospitality portfolio managed by Ropeswing. This includes BlakeSt, Co-Op Ramen, Horseshoe Canyon Ranch, Lady Slipper, Louise, and The Preacher’s Son, along with its bars Undercroft and Celeste. Six-story, 142-room hotel The Compton in downtown Bentonville will be operated as planned by Practice Hospitality Group in collaboration with Indigo Road leading operations of the property’s three food and beverage outlets: Sestina, Field Notes and The Eddy.
Ropeswing retains full ownership of all the concepts, and restaurant staff have been offered continued employment under Indigo Road’s management.
“Ropeswing has been firmly committed to bringing high-quality food and beverage experiences to both visitors and residents who call Bentonville home,” said Katie Parsons, spokeswoman for Ropeswing. “Working with Indigo Road allows us to scale our hospitality operations while maintaining the elevated dining experiences that have become central to downtown Bentonville’s identity.”
The Indigo Road Hospitality Group has more than 1,900 employees, with 92 full-time and 56 part-time staff in Northwest Arkansas.