East Little Rock may be the new hangout hub — from breweries to entertainment to dining, it’s all there.
According to an article from our sister publication, Arkansas Business, there are four projects along a six-block stretch of East Sixth Street that feature a blend of work and pleasure in a unique industrial setting dubbed “Innovation Alley.”
Lost Forty Brewing at 501 Byrd St. has a bar and restaurant combo that also offers a taproom for tasting and tours. Not far away at 1216 E. Sixth St., Rock Down Distillery offers taste-testing tours where they do craft liquor production. And just down the street at 822 E. Sixth St., Rebel Kettle Brewing & Tap Room is already producing batches of beer to prepare for a spring opening.
But that’s not all — construction will likely begin this summer on the former Sterling Paint office-warehouse at at 1300 E. Sixth St. The space will house Cromwell Architects Engineers, a restaurant and loft apartments, which is going to become restaurant and loft apartments.
“Our goal is to create one of the neatest streets along that stretch of Sixth and connect it with the front door of the Heifer International headquarters on Shall Street,” said Chris Moses, president of Moses Tucker Real Estate and partner in the Sterling Paint redevelopment.
As for Lost Forty, investors hope to be a building block in a community with its own identity and name, something almost like a Hanger Hill Brewing District.
“Somebody asked me the other day: ‘How do you guys feel about this other brewery coming in?’” John Beachboard, a Lost Forty partner, told Arkansas Business. “If they’re anything like us, the more local craft breweries in Little Rock the better. We’re excited to be part of local craft beer. It would be awesome if we had four or five breweries around us.”
For more about the up-and-coming Innovation Alley, check out the full article from Arkansas Business.