BRIEFLY

Cajun Cooker BBQ Opens In Elkins

NORTHWEST ARKANSAS — Mike Tooley is living his dream of owning a restaurant. He opened Cajun Cooker BBQ, 2073 N. Center St. in Elkins, on July 14.

The 3,000-square-foot restaurant seats between 60 and 65 people and is family-run with one additional employee who cleans up.

Tooley said he has been cooking and catering with Darrell Hicks, one of his best friends and a two-time Cajun BBQ world champion, for about 20 years in Little Rock. Hicks is based out of Jackson, Tenn. Tooley said his friend had a drive-through and a restaurant, and he was doing more business in the drive-through.

“I started with a portable trailer then this building opened up,” Tooley said. The business began in the trailer in March.

He said the secret to his BBQ is the seasoning.

“A lot of people think it’s going to be hot. It’s not necessarily hot, but we can make it hot if they want it,” Tooley said.

The food is hickory smoked, and Tooley said ribs are his specialty.

Prices range from $3.99 for a pulledpork sandwich, $10 for the rib plate which includes a half-rack of ribs, two sides and bread; to the family 1 pack for $19.60 that includes 1 /2 pounds of meat, two pints of sides and 8 buns.

The restaurant is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and from 11 a.m.

to 3 p.m. Sunday. Cajun Cooker BBQ also does takeout and catering by calling 643-2000.

Chamber Receives 5-Star Accreditation

The Rogers-Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce received a 5-star accreditation from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce during a July 19 meeting at Embassy Suites in Rogers.

Chambers can be accredited or accredited with 3, 4 or 5 stars and are required to reaccredit every five years. The chamber was first accredited in 1991 and is now one of 66 chambers nationwide to be awarded the highest level of accreditation of 5 stars.

Accreditation by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce defines excellence in chamber planning and performance by providing chambers with a rigorous self-analysis tool.

Undergoing the accreditation process shows chambers how to reach and maintain industry standards, it measures achievement and recognizes members and staff who contribute to the good of their communities.

Siloam Springs ALDI Store To Open Aug. 2

ALDI will open a Siloam Springs store at 2802 U.S. 412 E. on Aug. 2.

Customers may tour the store and sample products from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

ALDI has more than 1,100 store in 31 states, primarily from Kansas to the East Coast. For more information, go to www.aldi.us.

Business Conference, Expo Set For Aug. 5

The NWA Business Conference and Expo is set for 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Aug. 5 at the John Q. Hammons Center in Rogers.

The event will feature keynote speaker Bill Rancic, author, entrepreneur and winner of Donald Trump’s TV show “The Apprentice.”

Seminar topics include: increase your sales; choose the right technology for your business; social media strategies; venture capital; and market your business to increase your customer base.

More than 100 exhibitors will be at the expo.

For more information, call Courtney Backus at 619-3190 or e-mail [email protected]. To register, visit NWABusiness.org.

Tickets are $50 and includes the networking breakfast, seminars, lunch, keynote speaker, business after hours and expo.

Vein Care Center Opens

Dr. Marc Rogers opened the Vein Care Center at Northwest and offers patients a procedure called Endovenous Therapy for treating varicose veins without the need for a hospital stay, general anesthesia or stitches.

The center is at 2900 Medical Center Parkway Suite 100 in Bentonville. Rogers will hold a free vein seminar and screening from 4 to 7 p.m.

Aug. 3. For more information or to make an appointment for the free vein screening, call 553-4104 or go online to www.northwesthealth.com/veincare.

Harps Winner Announced

Harps Food Stores announced Friday a $250,000 grand-prize winner in itsCollect & Win Game.

Bridgette Mayer of Dardanelle won the mortgage grand prize. A second $250,000 prize is yet to be won.

The game is part of Harps 80th Anniversary Celebration this year. The game continues through Aug. 24 at all 65 Harps and Price Cutter stores throughout Arkansas, eastern Oklahoma and southern Missouri. The company was founded in Springdale in 1930.

BUSINESS BRIEFS ARE RESTRICTED TO AREA BUSINESSES THAT HAVE RELOCATED, OPENED A NEW BRANCH, CHANGED OWNERS AND/OR HAVE BEEN HONORED BY AN INDEPENDENT ORGANIZATION. SEND ITEMS TO P.O. BOX 7, SPRINGDALE, 72765: OR E-MAIL: [email protected]. INFORMATION MUST BE RECEIVED BY NOON WEDNESDAY PRIOR TO THE WEEK THE ITEM IS TO BE PUBLISHED.