Lounge Becomes Zooloo?s; Buster Belly?s For Sale

Cheryl Wahl of Rogers took over ownership of The Liquid Lounge on July 11 and changed the Dickson Street bar’s name to Zooloo’s. The Liquid Lounge was known as a martini lounge, but Wahl plans to change that reputation to a more mainstream bar serving a variety of drinks and finger foods.

Zooloo’s is about 1,000 SF in size and seats 38 people. Wahl plans to build a patio behind the business to allow for another 25 seats. The building is owned by Michael Taylor of Springdale.

This is the first time Wahl has owned a bar or restaurant. She also owns a health club, 24-Hour Freedom Fitness at 1665 College Ave. in Fayetteville.

The Liquid Lounge was previously owned by Tony Mallean, Mike Troute and Billy Porter. Troute and Porter live in Manhattan, Kan. Mallean lives in Fayetteville but plans to move back to Manhattan, Kan., after he sells his other Dickson Street business, Buster Belly’s Bar & Deli.

Buster Belly’s is a 1,300-SF bar that has a seating capacity of 50 inside and another 36 on the patio out back. The sale includes the business but not the building, which is owned by Lazenby Real Estate.

Although Buster Belly’s isn’t currently serving lunch or dinner (just late-night bar food like pizza), Mallean said the buyer will get the sandwich steamers and other restaurant equipment so that it could serve a wider variety of food.