Notable openings, flavors and events in some of your favorite neighborhoods.
Food & Drink
Once again, Breckenridge Village is this year’s biggest foodie story in the western half of the city. So far Mt. Fuji, Eat My Catfish, Waldo’s Chicken and Beer and Neverwhere Coffee, Comics & Oddities have all debuted their new spaces in the renovated center, with Deluca’s Pizza set to open in early October and second locations for The Root Cafe and Flyway Brewing still in the works.
New to the lineup as of this summer is Film Alley, a “movie entertainment center” from Schulman Theatres coming to the former Regal UA Breckenridge Theater, complete with dine-in movie auditoriums, full kitchen and bar, duckpin bowling and an arcade. There are also plans to designate a temporary entertainment district within the Village grounds.
Leiva’s Coffee, a local favorite both by the bag and its “express” coffee truck on Highway 10, is in the process of building a roastery and coffee shop near Pinnacle Mountain State Park. Also coming soon is a third location for Community Bakery in the former Mickey’s Cakes & Sweets space, 317 Coffee in the former P.F. Chang’s location, Mizuki A.Y.C.E. Sushi & Hibachi in the former Applebee’s and, although Jess’s Chicken has closed to make way for a pharmacy, it has plans to serve ice cream, coffee and doughnuts.
Up and running now are the Arkansas-based Blue Ember Smokehouse on Rahling Road, Maximo Cocina Mexicana on West Markham Street, The Buttered Biscuit in The Promenade at Chenal and the Say McIntosh Family Restaurant on Colonel Glenn Road.
Shopping
It’s the end of an era for one Pleasant Ridge Town Center business. After nearly 15 years, the beloved day spa and cosmetic store Pout is closing its doors for good.
“This decision, of course, did not come lightly,” owner Emily Ramey said on Instagram. “Thank you to all of you, all our customers, clients. We cannot state enough how much y’all mean to us and how much we are going to miss y’all. We just love you, and we thank you so much for your support and your business over the years.”
In brighter news, Habitat for Humanity of Central Arkansas will open its newest ReStore in the Colony West Shopping Center in early 2025. ReStores are stocked with new and gently-used home decor, furniture, appliances and building materials, all for sale to the public at discounted prices. Shopping at ReStores not only keeps items out of landfills, but helps the nonprofit build and repair homes for families in need.
Events
One of our favorite things about WLR events? They tend to take advantage of the beauty of The Natural State.
Wildwood Park for the Arts is best known for its popular Lanterns Festival celebrating various cultures, but it also hosts the annual Little Rock Yoga Festival and recently debuted its new Daffodil Plaza for outdoor performances.
The Market at Chenal is a recurring market that takes place during the fair weather months, bringing fresh eats, vendors and entertainment to Rahling Circle.
No matter the time of year, there’s always an upcoming race or fun run on the calendar for Two Rivers Park, from the Creep ‘N’ Crawl Half Marathon to the Ugly Sweater Race to this year’s inaugural Stride for a Cure 5K for breast cancer awareness.
Explore
Two Rivers Park is getting an upgrade. The Little Rock City Board of Directors approved a plan to renovate approximately a mile and a half of the park’s portion of the Arkansas River Trail. A federal grant and bond funding combined for a total of $275,000 for the project, which will smooth out the pavement’s numerous cracks, holes and tree roots. Resurfacing is set to complete this fall.
Click here to see some of the local businesses that make west Little Rock so special.