Rogue?s Reaches Repeat Visitors With Artistic Aura

Though there might not always be many similarities between the world of fine art and the business of advertising, for one Eureka Springs business owner, they are part and parcel.
Rogue’s Manor at Sweet Spring is a luxury hotel and fine dining restaurant located in an area that is flush with many similar outfits. But one factor that makes the downtown establishment stand out from the competition is something that is a matter of both business and aesthetic.
By displaying paintings of local personalities, commissioned from area artists, owner Smith Treuer said he has generated that highly coveted, yet often elusive commodity: word of mouth.
“Often, it’s hard for a business of our size to advertise in print media,” Treuer said.
So he has worked to create an experience that fosters repeat business. And the artwork is an integral part of that plan.
The paintings, which serve as a sort of upscale advertising, also “bring a human interest quality to the fine dining experience,” he said.
Of course, atmosphere alone can’t keep cash registers ringing, and a primary element that sustains the buzz about Rogue’s Manor is the food.
“We buy high-quality steaks and seafood and fly in oysters from the Northwest, which are a very popular item,” Treuer said.
Diners can choose from an extensive menu, including a seafood and lobster dinner, barbecued pork, braised lamb shank, poultry, pasta and vegetarian fare. The restaurant seats 100 guests in six dining areas, each of which features a different motif. It is a trait that echoes the unique themes of the four hotel suites. The lounge features plush décor, with velvet drapery, leather chairs, a view of the small waterfall outside and a bar stocked with fine wines and spirits.
The emphasis on providing a quality experience has led to a return-guest rate that Treuer estimates to be about 60 percent. Rogue’s Manor has been around for 14 years, and it was about halfway through that he realized the “formula was working, and our return guests made up a solid percentage our business,” Treuer said.
Although the tourism trade in Eureka Springs is largely built around the summer crowds, spring and fall are also busy times, and the last part of the year is actually when the hotel and restaurant does most of its trade.
Treuer estimated that Rogue’s Manor brings in about $1 million in revenue each year, half of which takes place between the beginning of fall and the end of the holiday season.
The fact that Eureka Springs is a wedding destination doesn’t hurt either. Last year the county clerk’s office issued more than 3,900 wedding licenses, said deputy clerk Lana Gordon.
That equates into quite a few people looking for a special place to dine, stay or both. And those looking for an overall unique experience might find it at Rogue’s Manor.