Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Panel OKs food festival permit
Bite expected to draw 3,000 people a day to 8th Street Market
BENTONVILLE — Planning commissioners agreed to allow Bite NW Arkansas to operate out of 8th Street Market this year, but were hesitant to grant a permit allowing multiple large events to be at the downtown facility.
Commissioners unanimously granted Food Hub NWA LLC a permit for Bite to be at the market June 22 and 23. Food Hub owns 8th Street Market, a 10-acre area designed for culinary education, restaurants, entertainment and hospitality in the city’s market district in southeast downtown.
Bite is the largest food festival in Northwest Arkansas, and Bentonville will further be defined as a culinary hot spot by hosting it, event officials have said since the move from Rogers was announced in February.
Bite is expected to draw 3,000 people each day. There will also be 125 employees during the festival, according to meeting documents.
There will be parking for up to 1,100 vehicles between two lots, one on each side of the market. The lot to the building’s west can hold about 450 vehicles, while the lot to the east will have room for 650 vehicles.
The idea is to have events at the market each month, Brenda Anderson, representative of Food Hub, told commissioners and planning staff during a meeting May 30.
They discussed the possibility of a permit providing long-term approval for events so organizers wouldn’t have to obtain a permit for each event.
Anderson wasn’t at Tuesday’s meeting.
Beau Thompson, city planner, said Tuesday the city will continue to work with Anderson’s team on creating a permit with parameters allowing multiple events at the market.
“If we’re going to do that, we need to make sure there’s some kind of pedestrian connection to get into there,” said
Rod Sanders, commissioner.
There’s a drainage ditch separating the market property from the Razorback Greenway to the north.
Anderson said in May there’s interest in building a pedestrian bridge across it and a flood study was under way. That, however, could be an 18-month to two-year process, she said.
“At this point it’s going to take time,” said Troy Galloway, community and economic development director. “The intent long term is for that to be … accessible by pedestrians and bicyclists.”
There will also be more pedestrian connectivity opportunities once Eighth Street is widened, city officials said.
The Walmart Arkansas Music Pavilion in Rogers hosted Bite the first two years. The two-day event is part of the LPGA’s Walmart NW Arkansas Championship presented by P&G.
The annual golf tournament runs June 19-25 at Pinnacle Country Club in Rogers.
“We’re excited to be in Bentonville this year,” Jay Allen, event chairman, said in April.
The downtown location provides more space, he said.
The food festival will feature Taste of NW Arkansas on June 22, showcasing restaurants, chefs, ingredients and brands. Beer & Burger Fest will be June 23.
The festival will coincide with the opening of 8th Street Market. Brightwater, Northwest Arkansas Community College’s culinary program, operates out of the market now.