This showed up just as we were wrapping up this week's column, so the details are still kind of sketchy, but Dave & Buster's has applied for a building permit for a 30,000-square-foot Little Rock location at 10900 Bass Pro Parkway, near the meeting of Interstates 30 and 430, in or in the vicinity of the Gateway Shopping Center, where Bass Pro opened in 2013, and next to where the Outlets of Little Rock will open next month. The status of the permit wasn't available by our deadline.
The chain, with more than 70 locations in the United States and Canada, combines elements of a full-service restaurant and sports bar with arcade games. It's widely considered that a bill passed during this recent legislative session that increased the amount of money a coin-operated game could award in certain circumstances was a draw for a Dave & Buster's to Pulaski County. The chain, you recall, had its origins in James "Buster" Corley's Buster's Bar & Restaurant in Little Rock's Union Station and his subsequent partnership with the late Dave Corriveau (who died in February), who ran the next-door Slick Willy's World of Entertainment.
Meanwhile, as various outlets reported last week, Outlets of Little Rock dribbled out over several days the list of stores, etc., that will open on or shortly after Oct. 16. Restaurants and food purveyors are:
• TCBY, the Little Rock-originated frozen yogurt chain
• China Max, a chain/franchiser that operates kiosks in outlet and regular malls
• Auntie Anne's/Cinnabon, which will sell soft pretzels and cinnamon buns
• Johnny Rockets, chain/franchiser that bills itself as having "the original hamburger," (johnnyrockets.com)
• And something called Villa Italian Kitchen, apparently a Morristown, N.J., franchiser that operates in shopping centers, airports, college campuses and casinos and has also recently started specializing in outlet malls.
Also of interest to foodies: Outlet stores that will be selling beef jerky and Lindt chocolates.
Our colleagues at Sync report that Mylo Coffee Co. owner Stephanos Mylonas is abandoning plans for a second location in the Sterling Annex in the 200 block of West Capitol Avenue. Mylonas said he and the building's ownership group couldn't work things out and the renovation plans for the building didn't fit Mylo's needs. He says he's still looking for a second site, while the original Hillcrest location, 2715 Kavanaugh Blvd., Little Rock, continues its substantial draw. The phone number there: (501) 747-1880.
So Restaurant-Bar, 3610 Kavanaugh Blvd., Little Rock, which stopped serving brunch in the fall of 2013, as of six weeks ago started serving Saturday and Sunday brunches. Chef Casey Copeland says the menu will include huevos rancheros, Eggs Benedict Gravlax, biscuits and gravy and "The Works" (bone-marrow soft scrambled eggs, pork belly and smoked jalapeno salsa, a hash brown nest and a toasted brioche). And they're taking brunch reservations. Hours are now 4-10 p.m. Monday-Wednesday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Thursday-Friday, 9 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday. The phone number is (501) 663-1464; the website, sorestaurantbar.com.
A couple of sharp-eyed correspondents have called our attention to the banner that says "Chopsticks Pho Vietnamese Restaurant Coming Soon" above the door of the former Ap's Seafood Buffet, 1400 John Harden Drive, Jacksonville. We don't have any other details, but we did, after a little checking, discover there is apparently no connection with the family that operated Chopsticks, a Jacksonville restaurant with predominantly Thai menu that burned in October 2004. We were surprised, however, to discover that family had, a couple of years ago, reopened, now as Chopstick Restaurant, at 201 W. Main St., Jacksonville, not as a restaurant but as a caterer and event center. The phone number is (501) 985-2074. Moreover, we learned that a brother operates Lotus Blossom, a Thai restaurant at 1623 S. Main St., Stuttgart.
Sometime we somehow missed the opening, over the summer, of Mr Burger, 2512 Arkansas 161 N., North Little Rock. Hours are 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 1-5 p.m. Sunday. The phone number is (501) 410-8613; there's a Facebook page, tinyurl.com/nw86qzx, but the website, mrburger.net, isn't functional.
Crush Wine Bar, 318 Main St., North Little Rock, will close Saturday and Monday for Labor Day weekend, and will reopen at 4 p.m. Tuesday. The phone number is (501) 374-9463.
The Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce will hold "Talk With Your Mouth Full," a "Business After Hours" event, 5-7 p.m. Sept. 10, at which attendees can increase "their business and social networks" while chowing down on food from the dining establishments at the Promenade at Chenal, 17000 block of Chenal Parkway, Little Rock: A.W. Lin's Asian Cuisine, Boneheads Grill, Bravo! Cucina Italiana, Local Lime Tacos & Margaritas, Del Frisco's Grille (opening to the public Sept. 12), YaYa's Euro Bistro, Big Orange Burgers, Cafe Brunelle, Menchie's Frozen Yogurt and Maggie Moo's Ice Cream & Eatery. Oh, and consuming beverages from Coca-Cola Refreshments, Golden Eagle of Arkansas Inc. and Premium Refreshment Service and wine sponsored by the Hughes Agency. You must, of course, be 21 or older to attend. Tickets are $5 in advance, $10 at the door, if there's any space remaining. Call (501) 374-2001 or visit LittleRockChamber.com/Events.
Chenal Pointe at The Divide, 6400 Divide Parkway, Little Rock, will hold its second West Little Rock Food Truck Festival, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sept. 19 with participating vendors The Pie Hole, Diamond Bear Brewery, Clean Eatery, Slader's Alaskan Dumpling Co., Fork in the Road, Black Hound Bar B Q, The Beast, Hot Rod Wieners, Bash Burger Co. and Southern Gourmasian. Call (501) 868-8955 or visit the Facebook page, tinyurl.com/nhfpexj.
The Conway outlet of Senor Tequila, 1117 W. Oak St., Conway (former home of Michelangelo's and the short-lived Table Mesa/Painted Table), was expected to have opened Wednesday. Hours are 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.- 10.30 p.m. Friday-Saturday. The phone number is (501) 358-6382; the website: SenorTequilaArk.com.
The Dugout Sports Bar & Grill opened recently at 1020 Airport Road, Hot Springs (that's U.S. 70 West), serving burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches, wings and nachos. Hours are 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday. The phone number is (501) 701-4567.
Meanwhile, just a ways farther west, Bubba Brew's Sports Pub & Grill, 8091 Airport Road, Bonnerdale, is working on a second location, on the U.S. 70 West bridge over Lake Hamilton (not far from Lake Hamilton High School). Target opening date is April or May; menu and hours are still a work in progress, but it'll be open at least five days a week (the current spot serves Thursday-Sunday). We'll keep you posted.
And while we're in the Spa City, professional baker and artisan Lynn Harris will explore "Savory, Sweet, Sour, Herbal and Spiced Vinegars," 9 a.m.-noon Wednesday in the Magnolia Room, Garvan Woodland Gardens, 550 Arkridge Road, part of Garvan's Culinary Series. Cost is $25, $10 for members; register in advance online at garvangardens.org, email gardeninfo@garvangardens.org or call (800) 366-4664 or (501) 262-9300.
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 09/03/2015