New Restaurants Coming Downtown

MADE TO ORDER Paula Henry from Crepes Paulette makes crepes to order Friday for visitors at the Mardi Gras-themed Downtown Bentonville Inc. annual luncheon at Bentonville Plaza. Cajun food and music by Snake Eyes and the Bug Band set the tone for the afternoon along with announcements of this year’s events in downtown Bentonville.
MADE TO ORDER Paula Henry from Crepes Paulette makes crepes to order Friday for visitors at the Mardi Gras-themed Downtown Bentonville Inc. annual luncheon at Bentonville Plaza. Cajun food and music by Snake Eyes and the Bug Band set the tone for the afternoon along with announcements of this year’s events in downtown Bentonville.

— The next several months will be busy for downtown Bentonville.

The city will welcome three restaurants and a coffee house, in addition to celebrating the opening of the Walmart Visitors Center and the return of First Fridays, all before summer’s end.

Daniel Hintz, executive director of Downtown Bentonville Inc., announced the additions Friday during the nonprofit organization’s annual luncheon.

“We have got a full year leading us to Nov. 11 and an incredible year leading up to the opening of Crystal Bridges (Museum of American Art),” said Johnny Haney, president of the downtown board.

The year of festivities kicks off Friday when the organization begins hosting First Friday celebrations. Themed “Midway to St. Patrick’s Day,” the event will feature a celebration of the Irish culture, Hintz said.

First Friday celebrations will continue on the first Friday of each month through November.

The renovated Walmart Visitors Center will open in May, 61 years after opening as Sam Walton’s original 5&10 store, Hintz said.

An exact date for the opening was not announced.

The visitor center opening will be followed by that of a restaurant, Tusk & Trotter, on June 4.

The eatery will feature an upscale American comfort food experience, said Rob Nelson, executive chef.

Nelson said Tusk & Trotter will feature unique dishes such as lamb sliders and crispy pig ear salad. Tusk & Trotter will be at 110 S.E. A St.

At A Glance

New Eateries

Four new eateries will soon call downtown Bentonville home:

• Tusk & Trotter

• Tavola Bistro

• The Flying Fish

• The Pressroom.

Source: Staff Report

Nelson’s restaurant opening will be followed by the July ribbon cutting of The Pressroom, a coffee house to be at 121 W. Central Ave.

An upscale Italian restaurant, Tavola Bistro, will open in the late summer and will be followed by the Flying Fish restaurant in the fall, Hintz said.

Downtown Bentonville Inc. will also host weekly Farmers Markets every Saturday from April 23 to late October, Hintz said.

“There is something literally that is going to be happening in Bentonville every weekend this year,” Hintz said.

Haney said the nonprofit organization will sponsor more than 100 events this year, compared to the 57 in 2010.

Kari Pace of Bentonville said she was excited to hear about the events happening downtown.

“I am most excited about all of it,” Pace said, noting she lives within walking distance of the square. She said her favorite events are First Fridays.

“It is fun to be able to go down there and be around people that are like-minded and to socialize,” Pace said.

Hintz also announced a big change to the Bentonville ArtsFest. The art show will be expanded from a weekend event to a weeklong celebration of art from June 3-11.

Upcoming Events