Fred's Hickory Inn opens food truck

Restaurant rebuilding after fire in fall

NWA Democrat-Gazette/FLIP PUTTHOFF Fred’s Hickory Inn is being rebuilt at 1502 N. Walton Blvd.
NWA Democrat-Gazette/FLIP PUTTHOFF Fred’s Hickory Inn is being rebuilt at 1502 N. Walton Blvd.

BENTONVILLE -- Those missing Fred's Hickory Inn don't have to wait for its building to be rebuilt as one of the city's most iconic food establishments recently opened a food truck.

Greg Cockrum, general manager, said he had the idea of opening a food truck before the restaurant at 1502 N. Walton Blvd. closed after catching fire last fall. The food truck would provide another outlet to serve food and capture a new group of customers who don't go as far north on Walton Boulevard as the restaurant is, he said.

Truck hours

Orders can be called in ahead of time and picked up at Fred’s Hickory Inn food truck. The number is 479-866-2663. Hours of operation are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday. They are closed on Sunday.

Source: Staff report

The food truck is set up in the parking lot of South Walton Spirits, just south of Boomerang Car Wash on the boulevard's west side. It opened May 8 and will be at that location for at least three months.

The truck has a rustic look with bricks painted on the bottom half. It's what was appealing to Cockrum when looking for a truck to buy.

"It looked a lot like Fred's," he said.

The menu includes Fred's classics like the pork sandwich, its popular smoked sirloin sandwich, the half chicken, ribs that have been smoked for 10 to 12 hours and its homemade slaw and beans.

One addition is Fred Fries. They are seasoned with a house made dry rub.

"It's been a hit," Cockrum said.

A bulk menu is also offered at the food truck.

Fred Fries will be offered at the restaurant when it reopens. Three types will be available: Fred fries, truffle fries and parmesan truffle fries.

The restaurant closed after it caught fire around 11 p.m. Oct. 22. The fire started in the water heater closet and spread to the attic, but the cause remains unknown, according to the report from the Bentonville Fire Department.

The fire was contained to the water heater closet and the attic. The one-story building suffered between 25 and 49 percent flame damage, according to the report.

There was smoke damage throughout the building, and engineers recommended to destroy the building and rebuild, Cockrum said.

Harrison French and Associates is the architect and design firm working on the new building. Alicia and Dave Wilgus, with the firm, had lunch at Fred's food truck Friday afternoon.

The firm worked closely with the owners and a committee of loyal patrons to make sure the feel of Fred's was kept as improvements were also made, Alicia Wilgus said.

There was an effort to be sensitive to keep its look and "quirkiness" but also to update it without losing its flavor, she said.

"It was an institution," she said.

The restaurant opened in 1970 and has served big names like Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton, Tyson Foods' Don Tyson and former President Bill Clinton.

"Clinton actually announced at one of our tables to some of his colleagues that he was going to run for president," Cockrum said. "Happened at Fred's."

A lot of the restaurant's memorabilia was salvaged and cleaned after the fire and will return when it reopens.

Bob Baker said he ate at Fred's for 15 years before the fire. He, too, stopped to pick up lunch at the food truck Friday.

"It's pretty nice," he said. "I've been missing it."

Baker said he would take his daughters to Fred's when they came to visit from Kansas City. They enjoyed the smoked sirloin.

"It's the best in the world," he said.

The new restaurant is being built on its old footprint. Modifications include an upgraded, more efficient kitchen, more booths and a single level, Alicia Wilgus said. The old restaurant had different levels from where additions were added over the years.

The Wilguses said they ate at Fred's at least once a week before it closed, and now the food truck allows them to get their Fred's fix while the restaurant is being rebuilt.

"We love their food. We've missed them," Dave Wilgus said. "This is the first time we've had Fred's in months since the fire, and it's just as good as ever."

Construction on the restaurant should be completed this fall, Cockrum said.

NW News on 05/25/2015

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