FAYETTEVILLE — A new group, organized to promote the north end of Fayetteville as a shopping, entertainment, dining and business destination, rolled out its logo and website Tuesday after more than a year of planning.
The Uptown Fayetteville Association plans to promote the north side of Fayetteville by communicating a "unified brand" for the businesses that have gradually grown up around the Northwest Arkansas Mall, which opened in 1972 when the area was truly at the outskirts of town.
The collection of retailers, restaurants, hotels and other ventures have largely operated independently without a collective identity one might associate with a shopping center such as Pinnacle Hills Promenade in Rogers that was largely designed and built under a single retail vision.
WEB WATCH
Uptown Fayetteville Association
www.UptownFayettevilleAr.com
In addition to the mall, the area features larger stores such as Walmart, Target, Kohl's, Best Buy, Barnes & Noble, Toys R Us and Pier 1 as well as smaller retailers sprinkled throughout. The organization's website said there are more than 40 restaurants and more than 120 shops and retailers and entertainment venues in the area.
Uptown Fayetteville, as identified by the group, is defined as the area between Zion and Millsap roads to the north and south and Crossover Road and Gregg Avenue to the east and west.
Jeff Bishop, general manager of Northwest Arkansas Mall and a member of the new organization's board, said the association has 30 members, including the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce. The association is also a member of the chamber. The two organizations will work together on some projects, Bishop said.
Steve Clark, president of the Fayetteville Chamber, described Uptown Fayetteville as a merchants group to promote businesses in its prime service area and areas adjacent to it. Clark used the phrase "uptown" to describe the mall area during his unsuccessful run for mayor in 2008, but after Lioneld Jordan took office, the pair met with Bishop to discuss the idea.
The uptown area generates a lot of sales tax and advertising revenue that benefits the city, Clark said.
"We want to keep the dollars where our houses are," said Jeannette Balleza of Scribe Marketing, the company that designed the Uptown Fayetteville logo.
Clark said Uptown Fayetteville's organization is also encouraging the development of other merchant groups for midtown and south Fayetteville. A merchant's organization already exists for Dickson Street merchants, Clark said.