After spending many holidays lending a hand at the Chicago Blackberry Market owned by his sister, Peter Loibner and his wife Whitney began to dream of one day bringing the charm of Blackberry Market back to their native Arkansas.
“We’re from North Little Rock, we grew up here, we raised our family here and we just thought it would be a really good fit,” Whitney says.
The restaurant remained in “what if” territory until a perspective-altering event reminded the couple that aspirations should be acted upon instead of continually postponed.
“It always stayed in like a dreamy place,” Whitney says. “And then about four years ago, I lost my brother and began to do some re-shifting and realized if you have a dream and want to try things, you have to go for it.”
The couple began to put a real plan into action, and the pieces of the puzzle eventually fell into place. In December 2022, Blackberry Market Argenta opened its doors to the public.
“We fell in love with Argenta and the old spaces, and that’s what landed us here,” Whitney says. “There isn’t a lot here that is open early in the day, and the breakfast in this area is fairly minimal, so I feel like we met that need.”
The community seems to agree. According to Whitney, their farmhouse breakfast consisting of homemade biscuits, eggs and bacon is their most popular morning dish, followed closely by their biscuits and gravy.
“The surprising part has just been how well supported we have been by the community of people living here in Argenta,” Whitney says. “We’re seeing customers from Little Rock, Benton, Conway and Sherwood, but a lot of the people who are coming in daily or multiple times a week are people walking here from local neighborhoods.”
Part of the restaurant’s appeal is the focus on fresh ingredients. Salad dressings, sauces, pastries and more are made in-house daily alongside a lineup featuring unique cocktails and rotating seasonal offerings. Peter says their conscientiousness with preparation makes them a great option for people with dietary restrictions.
“We’re handling everything really carefully,” Peter says. “So, if you are gluten-free, have Celiac disease or another allergy, we can prepare food in a way that should make you feel comfortable consuming it. We also handle meat in such a way that vegans and vegetarians should still feel comfortable finding things on our menu that accommodate their diet.”
Blackberry Market wasted no time immersing itself in Argenta’s rich artistic roots. The restaurant showcases a different artist’s work each month in one of their hallways, and during the Argenta Art Walk on the third Friday of every month, visitors can meet the artist.
“Having my art at Blackberry Market has introduced me to so many new art lovers,” says Tifany Hamlin, a recurring featured artist who recently completed a mural on the back of the building. “Art Walk gives me that face-to-face connection that I love and that I need to sell my art. Peter and Whitney’s support of local artists is a part of what helps us all be successful, and it’s nice to be able to do that within my own community.”
Blackberry Market also highlights local makers at the front of the restaurant by displaying their items for purchase. Local honey, beer and simmer pots are a few of the items currently available to buy.
“Blackberry Market has been a staple in my life ever since they opened their doors,” says Russel Betts, restaurant regular and owner of Freedom Financial Partners. “They are always so kind and welcoming every time I come. Being a small business owner myself in Argenta, I highly recommend everyone drop in and experience the great food and fellowship.”
In October 2024, the Loibners decided to spread the love and good food by opening a second location on the ground floor of the Regions building in downtown Little Rock. It offers a full coffee menu, fresh daily-made pastries and grab-and-go food. They hope the spot will not only meet the needs of that community, but pique interest enough to have customers visit the Argenta location.
As for the future, the couple says expanding take-home family meals and holiday pre-orders is a priority.
“We offer a high-quality product that we could definitely do more of,” Peter says. “It’s a great offering that not a lot of people around here are doing, and I would love to get across more people’s plates.”
“I just love the way we’re seeing the support of the small business, because in Argenta, all the businesses are small businesses,” Whitney says. “That just feels really precious and like something to protect and work for.”
Learn more at argenta.blackberry.cafe.