Occupancy Rate High

Business Steady In Historic Downtown District

Jordan Maass, 15, looks over a selection of dresses Friday at White Dress Boutique in downtown Rogers. Jordan, a Rogers High School sophomore, was looking for a dress for Colors Day Court.
Jordan Maass, 15, looks over a selection of dresses Friday at White Dress Boutique in downtown Rogers. Jordan, a Rogers High School sophomore, was looking for a dress for Colors Day Court.

— The occupancy rate in the historic downtown district remains high as new businesses open and others move.

The historic district recognized by the National Register of Historic Places is bounded by Walnut Street, Poplar Street, First Street and Second Street. The Main Street Rogers historic district is somewhat larger, bounded by Locust Street, Cherry Street, Arkansas Street and Eighth Street.

At A Glance

Small Businesses

Small businesses are defined as those with fewer than 100 employees and:

• Represent 97.9 percent of all employers

• Employ half of all private-sector workers and 39 percent of workers in high-tech jobs

• Provide 60 percent to 80 percent of the net new jobs annually

• Pay 44.3 percent of total U.S. private payroll

• Produce more than 50 percent of nonfarm private gross domestic product, or a GDP of roughly $6 trillion

Source: The International Data Corporation

“We only have a couple of rental spaces available downtown. About 98 percent of the rentable space downtown is occupied,” said Kerry Jensen, executive director of Main Street Rogers. “Half of the Elm Street Plaza building is open, 103 W. Walnut is open and the Chicago Dog restaurant on Second Street and Elm is for sale or rent.”

For the past two years the occupancy rate downtown has been between 95 percent and 98 percent, Jensen said.

Barbara Reamer, owner of Mustardseed Menagerie, is in the process of moving her store from 103 W. Walnut St. to 312 W. Walnut St.

“I needed a smaller space. I’m trying to get my business going, and a smaller space fits my budget better,” Reamer said.

She is building her business on fair trade goods from Third World impoverished countries.

Fair trade goods are items made in poor nations and imported by companies certified by the Fair Trade Federation.

“I decided to feature fair trade goods, mostly crafts, arts, jewelry and clothing because it benefits those living in emerging nations, and it provides some unusual items that you can’t find anywhere else,” Reamer said.

Staying downtown is important because it’s a great place for small businesses, she said.

Colette White, who is opening a fine arts gallery later this month, agrees downtown Rogers is the place to be.

“We looked at downtown Fayetteville and Bentonville before deciding to open in Rogers, White said. “We saw the downtown and how vibrant it was and knew it’s where we wanted to be.”

Gallery of Fine Art, scheduled to open Jan. 18 at 210 S. First St., will feature oil paintings, watercolors and photography.

“This is my first time to open a business. I was looking for a place to display some of my photography and decided to create a gallery for other art forms as well,” White said.

Artwork, mostly landscapes, displayed in the gallery will be originals from artists in California, New Mexico and Colorado in the beginning, White said.

“I’m looking forward to being a Rogers business owner,” she said.

Lana Lundgren, owner of The White Dress Boutique, recently moved her shop from 211 W. Walnut St. to 116 W. Walnut St., because she needed more room.

“I started the store in a small space on Second Street downtown and outgrew it. I’ve outgrown the 211 W. Walnut St., and the 116 W. Walnut St. is much larger, and I plan to stay there for a long time,” Lundgren said.

She was looking for more window display as well as a larger space for the wedding and prom gowns she sells.

“I wanted to expand my inventory to include new lines. This place will give me the room to do that,” she added.

Moving from one store to another is not unusual, Jensen said.

Brenda Majors, marketing manager for the Pinnacle Hills Promenade, said downtown has a place in retail sales.

“I think downtown Rogers is very important for the entire community. We support all types of retail,” Majors said. “Having a vital downtown area is a good indication of how strong the economy is in Rogers.”

The occupancy in Pinnacle Hills Promenade is well above 90 percent, Majors said, but declined to give a specific percentage.

Jensen said downtown is a special place for small business.

“Downtown is a kind of an incubator for small businesses. The lease or rental rates are good, and it’s a prime area for smaller, unique businesses,” Jensen said.

Many downtown businesses have been part of the area for several years, Jensen said, but there are always new businesses moving into downtown.

“Not every business is going to make it for a variety of reasons, but people with good ideas and a solid business plan, who are excited about building a business, will succeed more often than they fail,” she said.

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