Former Bank is Future Home of Bagels

The former Bank of America building in front of the Evelyn Hills Shopping Center in Fayetteville is getting an extreme makeover for its new tenant, popular bagel and coffee chain Einstein Bros. Bagels.

Workers have just started gutting the 1,950-SF building, which will get a whole new “footprint” and gain some square footage, said Matt Dearnley, a leasing agent with Flake & Kelley Commercial.

The building, at 1500 N. College Ave., has been vacant since 2009. The property was listed at $22 per SF.

The bank’s drive-thru and ATM lanes will be removed, Dearnley said, but the new eatery will have a single drive-thru lane.

This will be the chain’s second Northwest Arkansas location. Its Rogers store opened in 2008 just off Interstate 540, and more can be expected.

Franchisee Mike Philip of Philip Enterprises Inc. in Springdale signed an agreement with Einstein Noah Restaurant Group in August 2007 to open four locations in Benton and Washington counties within four years.