By The Numbers
Bentonville Hotels, Eateries
As of December 2012, Bentonville has:
Hotels: 21
Bed and Breakfasts: 3
Restaurants: 129
Food Trucks and Concessions: 15
Caterers: 6
Convenience Stores: 20
Source: Bentonville Advertising and Promotion Commission
BENTONVILLE — November 2011 was a big month for the Bentonville Advertising and Promotion Commission as visitors to the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art poured into the city for a first glimpse of the much-anticipated museum.
Even so, the commission collected more tax dollars from diners in November 2012 than in November 2011 as the city’s culinary scene continued to grow. The November 2012 tax collection from the city’s restaurants trump the November 2011 collection by almost 8 percent, according to monthly budget forms. The figure jumped from $77,760 in November 2011 to $83,721 in November 2012.
Popular downtown restaurants Table Mesa Bistro and Tavola were open in November 2011 and saw slight decreases in sales one year later. But taxes from Eleven, the museum’s restaurant, jumped 62 percent. Tusk & Trotter also had higher sales in November 2012. The Pressroom saw sales jump 120 percent over November 2011.
Part of the increase in tax dollars can be the 20 new restaurants opened in 2012. The Flying Fish, Which Wich, T.H. Benton’s and the Red Onion Espressoria are just a few of the new businesses.
More restaurants are on the way, the commission’s finance coordinator said at a meeting Thursday. Johnna Duncan said she tried out Tokyo Sushi at 2308 S.E. 28th St. and Emma Ruth’s Diner at 3404 S.E. Macy Road. Other anticipated restaurants include Maid-Rite, Chai Coffee and The Hive — the restaurant at 21c Museum Hotel.
While downtown restaurants are earning rave reviews from magazines and partnering with the prestigious James Beard Foundation, the bread and butter of Advertising and Promotion taxes come from chain restaurants and stores. McDonald’s consistently ranks at the top in tax submissions, followed closely by Walmart, Chick-Fil-A and Sam’s Club. Eleven is the largest non-chain restaurant earner.
Hotel taxes were down slightly in November 2012 from 2011, Duncan said. She said the Convention and Visitors Bureau anticipated the decrease.
“That can be expected because of the Crystal Bridges opening last year,” she said.
Taxes from hotels were down 4.9 percent, from $36,230 in November 2011 to $34,456 in November 2012. Doubletree Guest Suites and Hilton Garden Inn led in tax payments for November 2012, though they were down 7 and 12 percent respectively.
Combined tax receipts from restaurants and hotels are up by almost 14 percent for 2012 over 2011.
“We’ve had a good year,” Duncan said. “I’m looking forward to another one.”
Kalene Griffith, president of the Convention and Visitors Bureau, told commissioners the bureau is working on the third phase of a sign program. Bentonville is working with other cities to direct visitors to key attractions. She said she anticipates the program will cost about $80,000 to complete and should wrap up in the summer.