Tis’ the season for surging retail activity all across Arkansas, and popular dining venues are proving to be a key component for area shopping destinations.
In January 2014, Little Rock was named one of the nation’s top “Five Secret Foodie Cities” in Forbes magazine, a prestigious title for a city once dominated by fast food offerings and large chain restaurants. Shoppers find themselves planning outings around a craving rather than a specific item or department store. This shift has changed the retail landscape in our city and our firm is seeing anecdotal evidence of this trend.
Retail landlords and developers are consistently focused on attracting uses that generate foot traffic and tenant mixes that create an overall buzz.
The Promenade at Chenal is a prime example of the entrée that is food and beverage in the shopper’s diet. This open-air lifestyle center does not house a large department store; however, it has proven to be one of the state’s most popular retail destinations. With homegrown tastes such as Big Orange and Local Lime, and an accompaniment of national groups (Bravo Cucina Italiana, YaYa’s Euro Bistro, Del Frisco’s Grille and the soon-to-be-constructed Pei Wei Asian Diner), the center boasts a full palate of offerings that draws patrons of all ages. Promenade tenants greatly benefit from the foot traffic generated by these culinary successes and we are seeing other shopping centers within the city pursuing a similar model.
Little Rock is also pioneering new areas of development, while stretching the retail boundaries of the city. Gateway Town Center, which houses the Outlets at Little Rock and Bass Pro Shop, is poised to capture exciting entertainment and dining destinations. With Dave & Busters under construction in the area, The Grove at Gateway Town Center has the makings of a truly unique entertainment district, which will draw new cuisine venues to the market.
In other areas of Little Rock, some restauranteurs are using neighborhood namesakes, which add eclectic appeal. Chef Matthew Bell’s South on Main in the SOMA district and Chef Scott McGehee’s Heights Taco and Tamale are two well-done examples of this poetic foodie license. These culinary hotspots not only feature creative atmospheres, but also highlight Arkansas’ culture through modern twists on classic Arkansas dishes and, in the case of South on Main, live entertainment by both local and national artists. It’s a trend that bodes well for the local retailers nearby as they as they capture foot traffic generated by these great destinations.
In the quest for retailer brand recognition, popular food and beverage venues are serving up the ingredients needed to satisfy Little Rock’s increasing retail activity demand.
Photo of Promenade at Chenal courtesy of Mark Fonville PhotoGraphic, LLC.
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