It’s a good day for small businesses in Hillcrest.
On Thursday, the neighborhood association announced the creation of the Historic Hillcrest Entertainment District, which will officially launch during monthly First Thursday shop-and-sip activities on Feb. 4.
Hillcrest joins other Little Rock neighborhoods like the River Market that have adapted to the pandemic with the addition of an entertainment district, which particularly boosts the hard-hit restaurant industry by allowing the sale of alcoholic drinks to patrons moving freely about the area. The official boundaries run along Kavanaugh Boulevard between Monroe and Walnut streets, as well as sections of Palm and Beechwood south of Kavanaugh.
“The pandemic has devastated small businesses, and this entertainment district is a great way to bring revenue back to the neighborhood while encouraging customers to stay safe and maintain social distancing,” says Steve Shuler, Hillcrest Merchants Association liaison. “We are glad that our city leaders are open to exploring creative ways of keeping our small businesses going.”
For the time being, the district is a temporary one, applying only to Hillcrest’s First Thursday events from 4-9 p.m. in February and March. However, plans are in the works to extend those times and include street dining and live music in the neighborhood.
Learn more and keep up with all things Hillcrest by visiting the Hillcrest Merchants Association website and following along on Facebook and Instagram.