Work has begun on renovating a historic building on Little Rock's Main Street that will house two new restaurants and apartments, the developers said Friday in a statement.
The redevelopment of the Rose Building at 307 Main St. is expected to be complete by next year's first quarter, The Lasiter Group said.
The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette's Restaurant Transitions column has previously reported that the two restaurants coming to the space will be chef Ira Mittelman's upscale Ira's and a new downtown branch of west Little Rock Asian-fusion eatery A.W. Lin's.
The Lasiter Group said the redevelopment would also include 11 new apartments, with one on the ground floor and the rest on the second level.
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Images courtesy The Lasiter Group
Images courtesy The Lasiter Group
Developer Thomas Lasiter, who was also involved in the redevelopment of the Mann Building across the street, said he bought the Rose Building more than 10 years ago "with the foresight and anticipation that Main Street would once again be a destination for the residents and visitors alike in Downtown Little Rock."
"I am pleased to see that it has become just that," he said in the statement. "We trust that this project, along with others along Main Street will bring about a better city and a more vibrant downtown.”
The Rose Building was named for Arkansas Supreme Court Justice Uriah Rose, the statement said, noting he bought the lots in 1880 and constructed two buildings there that were later destroyed by fires. The structure being renovated was built in 1916.
The block is already home to Samantha's Wood-Fired Grill & Tap Room on the ground floor of the Mann Building as well as Brewski's Pub & Grub, Bruno's Little Italy and Soul Fish.