Arts District Taking Shape In Downtown Bentonville

Plenty of progress has been made since the city of Bentonville last December announced a plan to establish an arts district downtown, the city’s community and economic development director said.

The city recently completed a sidewalk that connects the neighborhood to another key district created by the redevelopment, the market district, and businesses are sprouting up in and around what used to be an old warehouse and lumberyard but is now called The Hub, at 410 S.W. A St. 

Bike Rack Brewery opened in early November and a popular food truck, Kind Kitchen, has set up shop in the parking lot.

Downtown Bentonville Inc. also moved its office to The Hub this year, and Bike Bentonville, a local nonprofit, opened an office in August.

The neighborhood starts near the Bentonville Public Library and extends southwest, covering several blocks, with Southwest Fourth and Southwest Sixth streets forming the west and south perimeters, respectively.

 “At its core, the arts district is economic community development,” Galloway said. “We’re hoping to attract a segment of our economy that had not been reached before, with the exception of [Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art], and we also want to take advantage of and capitalize on what Crystal Bridges brings to the area.”

Thrive, a 44,000-SF, mixed-use development at the intersection of Southwest A and Southwest Fourth streets, is set for completion in early spring. ERC Companies in Fort Smith is developing the project.

In October, the city completed a downtown trail that runs through the art district, connecting the Wal-Mart Stores Inc. home office to the Razorback Greenway.

Pedaler’s Pub, which opened in The Hub in July, is among the businesses making the most of its proximity to the trail.

Owners Kevin and Leslie Bennoch were drawn to the area because it was adopted by the city for development and also because, being off the square, they allowed more space for a large patio.

The restaurant’s offerings include wood-fire pizzas, salads, desserts, six local beers on-tap, full bar and wine on-tap.