Little Rock and Fayetteville are both parts of the same state, but boy howdy, do rivalries between central and northwest Arkansas get going now and then.
NWA is on the uptick of a population boom that's going strong, but Little Rock is still the state capital and the bigger population center. Who is big brother this week?
The folks in Fayetteville were pretty happy to get a Whataburger (not to be confused with the one in Russellville). We know a few news folks who are upset Little Rock doesn't have one yet. And then, as if it made much of a difference, Fayetteville got a second Whataburger. And then Springdale got one. Rogers has one, too.
For a while, folks in The Rock could point to David's Burgers, but now Fayetteville has a CJ's Butcher Boy Burgers.
Then word came that Topgolf was opening up shop in Rogers. They're supposed to be building it as you read this. Mayor Frank Scott is working to make Topgolf in Little Rock a reality. Jury's still out on that one, it seems.
But finally a win for central: Little Rock is getting something a number of folks in the northwest corner have been wanting for a long time--a Trader Joe's.
Word is the store will open Oct. 22, and folks in NWA are jealous. Just skim through the Facebook comments on any story. You'll see tons of people writing things like, "I was soooo excited until I read Little Rock. Come to Rogers!!! Please!" and "This doesn't do anyone in NWA any good! Still have to travel too far! [Trader Joe's] will make a boat load of money here in NWA!"
Now now, northwest Arkansas. Jealousy is unbecoming of you. Y'all already have an upgraded football stadium, Whataburger and Topgolf.
Once Trader Joe's opens, it'll be a race to see who gets what next. Some folks are still hoping an In-N-Out Burger will pop up somewhere close. Watch it surprise everybody and open in El Dorado or Jonesboro.
Editorial on 10/17/2019