Transitions
St., the space Three Fold Noodles and Dumpling Co. vacated to move to 611 Main St. Details are still sketchy, including whether the restaurant will keep the same hours — currently 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and 5-9:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, 5-9:30 p.m. Saturday. Calls to the phone number, (501) 3017900, as of deadline returned only a curt voicemail message: “The mailbox number you are trying to reach is not in service.”
Folks mourning the closure, after 17 years, of Arkansas Burger Co., 7410 Cantrell Road, Little Rock, may take comfort in knowing that a large portion of the items from the restaurant’s decor, spanning a half-century of Arkansas culture and history (that owners Dan and Jeanne Spencer picked up at estate sales and antique stores) are now in the possession of the Arkansas State Archives. The trove includes license plates, Razorback memorabilia (including some Razorback cheerleader pull-string dolls, one of which could still belt out “Beat Texas”) and the large Coleman Dairy clock.
Laurie Suriff, founder of Memphis-based Whimsy Cookie Co., and her financial adviser husband, Aaron, have a target to open by Christmas a 2,000-square-foot west Little Rock franchise shop in a shopping center at 401 S. Bowman Road. Offerings are a signature sugar cookie and gooey butter cookies (in chocolate, red velvet, strawberry, birthday cake and lemon). It’s the first of what the owners hope will be several Arkansas shops over the next five years, with sights set, Arkansas Online reports, on Jonesboro, Fayetteville and just across the state line in Texarkana, Texas.
The 601 Club, the Arkansas Repertory Theatre’s young professionals group, will host its second annual Ugly Christmas Sweater Pub Crawl, 3-6 p.m. Dec. 9. The Toddy Trolley departs from the Rep Annex, 518 Main St., Little Rock, stopping at Little Rock and North Little Rock breweries and brewpubs, which will offer drink specials and giveaways. On the bus: “holiday tunes” and complimentary drinks. Cost is $10, free for 601 Club members. The trolley returns to the Rep Annex for the 6:30 p.m. curtain of The Santaland Diaries (tickets, $40, are not included in the Pub Crawl package). Make reservations by calling (501) 378-0405 or email awestlake@therep.org.
Yellow Rocket Concepts’ Big Orange Rogers is up and running in the Pinnacle Hills Promenade Outdoor Mall, 2203 S. Promenade Blvd., Rogers. It’s the third Big Orange location (the other two are in Little Rock, the original on Chenal Parkway and the other in Midtown). The kitchen is open 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday. The phone number is (479) 202-5339.
And Cantina Laredo, in the Midtowne Shopping Center, 207 N. University Ave. at West Markham Street, Little Rock, is once again offering for customer pickup its holiday tamales — two varieties: beef with chili con carne and cheddar cheese or chicken with salsa verde and queso fresco. Cost either way is $16.95 per dozen; serve them cold or hot (the restaurant will provide heating instructions). Place orders through 6 p.m. Christmas Eve; pick ’em up on the 23rd or the 24th. Call (501) 280-0407.
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 email to: eharrison@arkansasonline.com