Transitions
By Eric E. Harrison (Contact)
LITTLE ROCK — Ace business reporter Laura Stevens, once again trolling through state Health Department plumbing plans, has alerted us to “front counter remodels” at four McDonalds outlets, three in Little Rock - 8820 Base Line Road, 8011 Geyer Springs Road and 11500 W. Markham St. - and one in Jacksonville - 2030 N. First St.
Architect Bob Kempkes of the Hot Springs firm of Taylor & Kempkes says he’s putting McDonalds’ new “McCafe” concept - new premium frontcounter coffee bars and beverage centers in those outlets andone in the McDonalds at North Rodney Parham and Shackleford Roads (that one won’t need a new drain, however, so he hasn’t needed Health Department permission).
He has already put these into McDonalds in Hot Springs and Arkadelphia for the same owner-operator, Ray Nosler. And he has filed Health Department permit requests this week for owner-operators of nine more McDonalds, two in Malvern, one each in Sheridan, Stuttgart, Brinkley, Sherwood, North Little Rock, Benton and Bryant.
America 13-50 - the name derives from the 13 originalColonies and the current 50 states - is scheduled to open a day or so either side of Independence Day at 1020 Garland St. in downtown Conway. Its menu that will focus on different regions of the United States. Hours will be 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesday-Friday for lunch, 5-9 Tuesday-Thursday, 5-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday and 11 a.m.-3 p.m. for brunch on Sunday. The telephone number is (501) 327-5050.
The folks at Velo Rouge Brasserie, 225 E. Markham St., Little Rock, report that the higher-end Artesia, executive chef Robbie Lewis’ planned Mediterranean cuisine showplace that was supposed to open in the back of the building sometime after the top of 2008, is still on hold. We’ll keep you posted.
We have some additional details about chocolatier Carmen Portillo, whose Cocoa Belle truffle shop is scheduled to open today in the River Market’s Ottenheimer Market Hall, 400 President Clinton Ave., Little Rock. She lists among her educational credits study at the Notter School of Pastry Arts in Orlando, Fla., and a certificate from the Ecole Chocolat Professional School of Chocolate Arts in Vancouver, British Columbia.
And in the “insert brain before operating fingers” department, our report last week on the conversion of Mr. Mason’s Pit Bar-B-Q to Capitol Smokehouse and Grill gave an incorrect street address. The restaurant, of course, is and remains at 915 W. Capitol Ave., Little Rock.
Has a restaurant opened - or closed - near you in the last week or so? Does your favorite eatery have a new menu? Is there a new chef in charge? Drop us a line. Call (501) 399-3667 or (501) 378-3513, or send a note to Restaurants, Weekend Section, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, P.O. Box 2221, Little Rock, Ark. 72203. Send e-mail to:
eharrison@arkansasonline.com
This article was published Friday, June 27, 2008.
Weekend, Pages 81 on 06/27/2008
