Transitions

Hillcrest’s Mylo Coffee Co. is selling coffee, tea and pastries, including the popular kouign-amann, at a mobile cart downtown in preparation of its second location opening at Capitol Avenue and Center Street.
Hillcrest’s Mylo Coffee Co. is selling coffee, tea and pastries, including the popular kouign-amann, at a mobile cart downtown in preparation of its second location opening at Capitol Avenue and Center Street.

The Melting Pot chain announced this week that it has agreed to develop its first fondue restaurant in Little Rock. Allen Hurst of Denver and his family will move to Little Rock, where he plans to open Arkansas' first Melting Pot by early 2016 and additional restaurants in the state and neighboring states over the next five years. No lease as yet has been signed. The Melting Pot has more than 130 restaurants in 35 states, Canada, Mexico and Southeast Asia, and more than 20 locations in development internationally.

Butcher & Public owner Travis McConnell has announced his departure from a partnership with Good Food by Ferneau. His craft butcher business will now be aligned with Arkansas Fresh Bakery, 304 N. Reynolds Road, Bryant.

Raimondo Family Winery has nixed plans to open a tasting room in the River Market District. The Arkansas winery, which operates a store in Mountain Home, was set to open a Little Rock location adjacent to the Marriott Residence Inn at River Market Avenue and Third Street, but it seems plans changed when the hotel came under new ownership. Owner Margie Raimondo says she still has her eye on downtown Little Rock for a tasting room.

In case you missed it, our friends in the Business section reported last week that a Dave & Buster's is likely headed for the Outlets of Little Rock shopping center after a bill passed the state Senate changing the monetary limit on arcade prizes in facilities that meet certain requirements. More information as it happens.

Little Rock's Lost Forty Brewing is expanding its reach by canning beer. The Yellow Rocket Concepts-owned venture has begun canning its pale ale, with plans to follow with its pilsner and honey bock. The brewery's cans feature artwork by Arkansas printmakers Roll & Tumble Press and can be found at Little Rock liquor stores, as well as for sale in the Lost Forty taproom, located at 501 Byrd St. Phone number is (501) 319-7206.

Also in brewing news, Leap of Faith Brewing Co. announced via Facebook that it has secured a space for a brewery in North Little Rock just north of Verizon Arena at 701 N. Magnolia St. The brewery will join Diamond Bear Brewing Co. and the in-the-works Flyway Brewing Co., both in North Little Rock.

And in Northwest Arkansas brewing news, Noble Crossing Cider House in Springdale plans to open later this spring at 321 E. Emma Ave. in downtown Springdale. A tentative opening is set for May. Follow along with their progress at twitter.com/noblexingcider.

In beverage news of the nonalcoholic variety, Mylo Coffee Co., 2715 Kavanaugh Blvd., Little Rock, has started taking its coffee and pastries to downtown workers in anticipation of its second location opening at Capitol Avenue and Center Street later this year. The mobile cart, which has set up on the sidewalk near Bank of America and across the street from their future home from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. during the week, features most of the espresso drinks available at their Hillcrest location, along with teas and bagged to-go pastries including kouign-amann and craquelin. Keep an eye on facebook.com/mylocoffeeco for updates.

Mobile pie eatery The Pie Hole is now offering their treats for delivery. A post on the food truck's Facebook page indicates that fruit, pecan, oatmeal, chess, buttermilk and other pies can be shipped via U.S. Postal Service Priority Mail for $11 plus the cost of the pie. For more information, call (501) 712-6366.

A sharp-eyed reader in Cabot notes that the Quiznos at Cabot Commons, 2051 W. Main St., has closed and is in the process of becoming a Tropical Smoothie, according to a posted sign.

In Conway, we're behind on the news that the former Pitza 42, 2335 Dave Ward Drive, has transitioned into a second location of Conway's Tacos 4 Life. The same owners behind Pitza 42 are behind the taco spot, which operates under a "meal for a meal" concept, donating 22 cents per dish sold to Feed My Starving Children. Pitza 42 closed Feb. 23 and re-opened March 10 as Tacos 4 Life.

And this from a colleague with his eye on Maumelle: A Sawbucks Neighborhood Grill is opening in the former Burger Fix location at 1800 Club Manor Drive. With locations in Cabot, Beebe, El Paso and Conway, the restaurant serves American food for breakfast, lunch and dinner, including country breakfasts (think pork chops, biscuits and gravy, Western omelets), burgers, barbecue, steaks and more.

Has a restaurant opened -- or closed -- near you in the last week or so? Does your favorite eatery have a new menu? Is there a new chef in charge? Drop us a line. Call (501) 378-3513, or send a note to Restaurants, Weekend Section, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, P.O. Box 2221, Little Rock, Ark. 72203. Send email to:

emily@arkansalife.com

Weekend on 04/02/2015

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