The leisure and hospitality industry in Northwest Arkansas continues to grow. Pinnacle Hills Promenade is getting its first aquarium as the Blue Zoo interactive petting zoo and aquatic entertainment venue is expected to open in September.
Blue Zoo Aquarium founder said the company is investing $3.5 million in the 22,000-square-foot Rogers location. The site will feature a petting zoo with fish, a shark diving experience, along with exhibits of birds, butterflies and reptiles.
“Interactive water tables and games and lots of opportunities to feed and interact with animals,” said Wesley Haws, founder of Blue Zoo Aquarium, which has locations in Spokane, Wash., Oklahoma City, Okla., Baton Rouge, La., and Boise, Idaho.
The Rogers location would be the fifth location. Haws said he usually picks sites with at least a million people, and while Northwest Arkansas isn’t there yet, he said the region is experiencing tremendous growth in the coming years with continued growth potential.
“We are of course looking for a timeline for September. If you talk to a company now, they’ll tell you how hard it is to get supplies in and get everything together on time,” Haws added.
Tickets to the Blue Zoo Aquarium cost $19.95 for adults and $16.95 for children.
Zaxby’s is opening a new location at 4301 S. Pleasant Crossing Blvd., southwest of Rogers. The company is located across the street from the Walmart Store #5260 auto center.
Bentonville/Centerton also recently welcomed a Schlotzsky’s sandwich shop at 1626 E. Centerton Blvd. and an Andy’s Frozen Custard at 1644 E. Centerton Blvd., just within the city limits of Bentonville.
WASHINGTON COUNTY
Andy’s Frozen Custard is under construction on West Sunset for Sam’s Club in Springdale and is expected to open in September. Cronut Donuts is coming to Farmington at 80 W. Main Street. This eatery will open in the coming months.
A Jersey Mike’s restaurant opened this month in Fayetteville at 160 E. Joyce Blvd., next to Guitar Center. This is the fourth Jersey Mike’s location in the region and the first in Fayetteville. The fast-casual sandwich shop was set to open in December, but plans were delayed due to supply chain setbacks.
“We are excited to be in Fayetteville. We chose this location because we felt it was the perfect place to serve Jersey Mike fans in the greater Fayetteville area,” said Nick Morgan, franchise owner.
In early 2023, the legendary Central BBQ is also coming to south of Fayetteville, located in Memphis. Construction is underway on 417 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., at the corner of South School Avenue on the site of the old Farmers’ Co-Op in Fayetteville. It is part of a new mixed-use development by Fayetteville developer Specialized Real Estate Group called South Yard Lofts.
Brian Wyatt, COO of Central BBQ, said Memphis has always had a fondness for Razorback Nation, and that it was only a matter of time before the Memphis eatery expanded here. Wyatt said the restaurant will open sometime next year and serve all the barbecue items customers expect.
Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux completes its location in south Fayetteville at 1199 N. Shiloh Drive. The Cajun restaurant in Louisiana is expected to open this fall.