As you may have gathered when you saw Emily Van Zandt's byline on this column for the past few weeks, she's been covering this patch while we've been away for a bit. (Thanks, Emily!) And so to start, we're still catching up to a few things that either didn't get covered or didn't come to light in the interim:
• The Afterthought Bistro & Bar, 2701 Kavanaugh Blvd., has dropped its lunch service and will henceforth concentrate on dinner (5:30-10 p.m. Monday-Saturday) and Saturday and Sunday brunch (10 a.m.-2 p.m.). The phone number is (501) 663-1196.
• Construction has started on the David's Burgers in Maumelle, going into the former National Bank of Arkansas building, 102 Country Club Parkway, just off Maumelle Boulevard. The building will also serve as the mini-chain's corporate office. And several sources have told us that there's a branch moving into the River Market's Ottenheimer Market Hall, 400 President Clinton Ave., in the east end-cap space that Boulevard Bread will reportedly vacate to move into the space previously occupied by the now-defunct Coast Cafe. (River Market watchers will recall the machinations that brought Boulevard Bread into that River Market space in the first place, which forced Andina Cafe to move, first to the drafty west end of the Market Hall and eventually out of the hall altogether.) We'll keep you posted.
• Slim Chickens has an outlet "coming soon" to a new shopping center to be called Hurricane Creek Village, 7831 Alcoa Road at Arkansas 5 in Benton.
• South on Main, 1304 Main St., Little Rock, kicked off its Sunday brunch to an overflow crowd on Easter and continues to serve it 10 a.m.-2 p.m., with a menu that includes breakfast tacos, French toast, fried oyster eggs Benedict and smoked sunburst trout. The phone number is (501) 244-9660.
• Hardin Farms and Market, 15235 U.S. 165, Scott, posted April 13 on its Facebook page that "it is with deep regret that I must inform you that I am closing and selling the store. I want you all to know that the Hardin Family greatly appreciates all of you and your business in the past years here at Hardins. I have decided to semi-retire and concentrate my time at the farm. Again I would like to thank you all for the time you gave us at the store and restaurant." Wilson Auctioneers was slated to sell off the the store and its contents on Wednesday (wilsonauctioneers.com/servlet/Search.do?auctionId=701). Nobody has answered the phone number -- (501) 961-1100 -- for some weeks.
• And one of our sharp-eyed observers reports the closure a few weeks ago of the Royal Buffet, 109 E. Pershing Blvd., North Little Rock. The parking lot has been empty and sure enough, the phone number, (501) 753-8885, has been disconnected.
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In newer news this week, the Little Rock Farmers Market reopens for the 41st year at 7 a.m. Saturday in the River Market Pavilions, behind the Ottenheimer Market Hall, 400 President Clinton Ave., Little Rock. Opening-day celebrations kick off at 8, featuring semi-official mascot Dean the Bean and magician Derrick Rose. Saturday hours are 7 a.m.-3 p.m. through Oct. 31. Strawberry vendors will be on hand 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesdays in May; the regular Tuesday market runs June 2-Aug. 25.
The North Little Rock outlet of Dallas-based Dickey's Barbecue Pit, in a new retail building at 13501 Crystal Hill Road, North Little Rock (in front of the Wal-Mart, just off Maumelle Boulevard), is having its grand opening today, kicking off a three-day party with giveaways -- today's first 50 customers will get gift cards worth up to $50; for Friday's guests, there will be T-shirts, sunglasses, koozies and other labeled swag; and on Saturday, when radio station KSSN-FM, 96.5, will be doing a noon-2 p.m. remote, the restaurant will sell $2 pulled-pork sandwiches and give away a $500 gift card and three free barbecue-for-a-year prizes. Hours will be 11 a.m-9 p.m. daily. Dickey's has two other central Arkansas locations, 3213 Main St., Bryant, and 407 S. Main St., Searcy. The phone number is (501) 851-8000; check out the menu, etc., at dickeys.com.
Ap's Seafood Buffet, 1400 John Harden Drive, Jacksonville, has closed, and the phone number, (501) 982-0791, has been disconnected. One of our sharp-eyed observers reports seeing paper signs on the front that say "coming soon" but not what is coming soon.
Jerky's Spicy Chicken and More owner John Walker Jr. says he expects painting to be complete by the end of this week in the restaurant's new location, 521 Center St., Little Rock (in the recently renamed Charles Thompson -- formerly the Mathis -- building, where its next-door neighbor is EJ's Eats & Drinks), to which he's moving from 2501 S. Arch St., Little Rock. He's estimating two weeks to finish the rest of the "restoration process," with a target opening of the first week of June. He'll be adding frozen daiquiris and other frozen drinks to his "Jamerican" (Jamaican/American) menu and expanding the restaurant hours to reflect that: He'll be open seven days a week, 10:30 a.m.-9 or 10 p.m., later on weekends. The phone number will remain the same -- (501) 246-3096 -- and so will the website, jerkysspicychickenandmore.com.
Van Zandt has reported in Sync that the Little Rock Board of Directors recently approved plans letting Stone's Throw Brewing, East Ninth and Rock streets, to add outdoor seating, increase indoor seating, expand hours of operation and stay open any day of the week. The decision amends requirements put in place when the brewery opened for business in 2013. Brewery co-owner Ian Beard confirms plans for a beer garden with wooden picnic tables in the open space between the building and the street corner, where food trucks now park and where the brewery will grow hops and herbs. Food trucks (including The Clean Eatery on Wednesdays, BlackHound BBQ Thursdays, Southern Gourmasian Fridays, Luncheria Mexicana Alicia Saturdays, and, on Sundays, the Waffle Wagon for brunch at noon and Katmandu Momo for dinner at 4 p.m.) will relocate to the parking area north of the brewery. Tap room hours will expand, as of Friday, to 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. The phone number is (501) 244-9154.
And in the Spa City, Jay's, 538 W. Grand Ave., Hot Springs, is expanding its hours starting Tuesday, opening for dinner five nights a week (5-9 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday) as well as 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. Owner-chef Jay Baxter says he'll open at 3 p.m. Saturday for early bird happy hour. The phone number is (501) 760-8132; the website, jayshotsprings.com.
Meanwhile, one of our sharp-eyed observers tells us there is now a "For rent or lease" sign in front of the Park Island Market and Cafe, 250 Park Ave., Hot Springs.
And the "Small Business Revolution," a national campaign seeking the country's most compelling small businesses, has found the Little Rock-based The Beast Food Truck, which focuses on the "Paleo" diet, and entrepreneur Gwen Jones, "whose passion for food," according to a news release, "is made clear by the tattooed letters on her hands that spell out 'lard love.'" They're the subject of a five-minute film, which you can find at SmallBusinessRevolution.org, and which will premiere on a big screen, 6:30-8 p.m. today at Dunbar Community Gardens, 1800 S. Chester St., Little Rock. The food truck's phone number is (501) 551-1154.
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) 399-3667 or (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:
eharrison@arkansasonline.com
Weekend on 04/30/2015