7 Brew sets JFK open on Monday
Buttered Biscuit sets 2 Little Rock outlets
Monday marks the grand opening of the 7 Brew two-lane drive-thru at 4900 John F. Kennedy Blvd. at McCain Boulevard, North Little Rock, previously the site of a demolished Regions Bank branch. Hours are 5:30 a.m.-10 p.m Sunday-Thursday, 5:30 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday.
This weekend, prior to the opening, customers can get a preview — one free small drink of choice — 7-10 a.m. and 3-6 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m.-noon and 2-5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday. The first customer in drive-thru lane 1 will receive one free 7 Brew drink of choice per week for a year. The 7 Brew folks will present a check to Arkansas Children’s Hospital following a 10 a.m. Tuesday ribbon-cutting with representatives from the North Little Rock City Council. And throughout opening week, Monday-Friday, customers can score one free small drink of choice during “Community Hours”: 7-8 a.m., noon-1 p.m. and 5-6 p.m..
The Northwest Arkansas-based chain started in 2017 with its first stand in Rogers; it is now owned by Drink House Holdings, which has expanded its franchising to include more than 150 outlets nationwide, nine of them in Central Arkansas — one other North Little Rock location, at 11921 Maumelle Blvd., on the verge of Maumelle; three in Little Rock, including the one that also replaced a Regions Bank branch, on Cantrell Road in west Little Rock’s Foxcroft neighborhood; two in Conway; and one each in Benton, Cabot and Searcy. 7Brew.com; facebook.com/7brewcoffee.
Breakfast-brunch purveyor The Buttered Biscuit, with two locations in Bentonville and one each in Springdale and Fayetteville, is planning to expand into Little Rock, with two locales in the works: in the Promenade at Chenal, 17000 block of Chenal Parkway, opening in mid-2024, and a second coming subsequently to Pulaski Heights, at 5018 Kavanaugh Blvd., which finally solves the mystery of what’s going into the space that used to be Heights Corner Market. (The market and its food service operation crammed itself earlier this year into the penthouse space on the building’s south side.) In addition to its eponymous scratch-made biscuits, the mini-chain serves scratch-made sausage gravy, homemade jams and house-made butters and offers a number of gluten-free options.
And speaking of Maumelle Boulevard, we’re told a Wingstop is moving into the space at 12007 Maumelle Blvd., North Little Rock, previously occupied by a Tropical
Smoothie, which moved a short distance away to 12311 Maumelle
Blvd.; while the Tropical Smoothie online locator (locations.tropicalsmoothiecafe.com/ar/maumelle/12311-maumelle-blvd) lists it as being in Maumelle, it’s actually on the North Little Rock side of the “border.”
A reader alerted us to the apparent abandonment of the building at 110 S. Shackleford Road, Little Rock; sure enough, Google reports that Khalil’s Pub & Grill is “permanently closed.” Turns out it may have been closed for some months. A call to the phone number, (501) 2240224, didn’t produce a definite “disconnected or is no longer in service” recording, but it did result in a rapid busy signal that lasted about five seconds before it automatically cut off and hung up. The erstwhile website, khalilspub.com, now shows this message: “Looks like this domain isn’t connected to a website yet.”
And speaking of North Little Rock, North Little Rock Tourism and the city of North Little Rock’s Economic Development are supporting North Little Rock restaurants via North Little Rock Restaurant Week, Jan. 22-28. A raffle will encourage locals to spend at least $15 at a North Little Rock restaurant that week; keep your receipts and take them to the North Little Rock Welcome Center at 600 Main St. by noon on Jan. 29 or submit them online through the form at tinyurl.com/463shdyf and get one raffle entry for every $15 you spend. (They’re not yet revealing the prizes.)
A Spa City area correspondent reports that renovations on the Chick-fil-A at 100 Cornerstone Blvd., Hot Springs, are nearly complete. We’re told it resembles the primarily drive-thru operation at Seventh Street and Broadway in Little Rock.
And speaking of Hot Springs, Cajun Boilers, 2806 Albert Pike Road, Hot Springs, has recently changed hands. Gabe and Kera Galster, also proprietors of the Hot Springs Marina, announced their purchase of the restaurant a month or so ago and are in the process of putting it through a major renovation, of the building and also, apparently, the menu. (They’ve also introduced a new gator logo/mascot named Le Gator Gaston; the image and the message “coming soon” are the only things on the website, cajunboilers.com.) According to the most recent, Dec. 5, post on the Facebook page (facebook.com/CajunBoilers), where you can follow their progress: “While the official opening date is yet to be set in stone, rest assured, we’re putting in the elbow grease to swing those doors wide open.”
And still speaking of Hot Springs, this one floated in under the radar, but JB Chop House, formerly located at 3920 Central Ave., Hot Springs, where it opened as Bone’s Chop House in 2017, closed down at the end of October, according to an Oct. 28 post on the Facebook page (facebook.com/boneschophouse). “The property has sold and our last day of operation at this location will be Saturday, Oct. 28,” reads the post. “However, we are very excited to share we will be moving and reopening very soon!! You will still receive our excellent service in an atmosphere that allows you to dine and have a conversation without having to raise your voice. The new JB Chop House will feature new cuisine and cocktails, but maintain our award-winning steaks and signature menu items you have come to love. You will still see the same smiling faces greeting you that you have come to know so well. We will keep you posted on our progress in moving and we look forward to serving you again, hopefully for New Years Eve!!” So far, the new location has not been disclosed; we are hearing, however, but have not yet confirmed, that it’s going into the former El Chico space in the Hot Springs Mall, 4501 Central Ave. The restaurant is owned by Lee Beasley, also now the owner of McClard’s, and who briefly operated a place of the same name — originally Bone’s, subsequently JB, now defunct — at Chenal Parkway and Rahling Road in Little Rock. jbchophouse.com.
And speaking of McClard’s, we have been sorely confused, and have regrettably transmitted our confusion to you, our readers, but we have now confirmed that the McClard’s Bar-B-Que franchise operation at 2071 Oliver Lancaster Blvd., Rockport, just outside Malvern, is, in fact, in full operation, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday and Tuesday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday-Saturday. (501) 229-1040. And we’re making our list, and checking it twice, to run in our Dec. 21 column, on whatever restaurants from which we receive word that plan to open Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Please rush any and all details to us at the email address below.
So far, we have this from Arthur’s Prime Steakhouse, 16100 Chenal Parkway, Little Rock, which on Dec. 24 is offering Christmas Eve “Brunch with Santa,” 10:30-2:30 p.m., and Christmas Eve Dinner 5-9:30 p.m. Reservations: (501) 821-1838
And Allsopp & Chapple Restaurant + Bar, 311 Main St., Little Rock, will be serving Christmas Eve dinner: “We will be offering our regular menu along with some specially crafted dishes that are sure to make your evening merry and bright.” Reservations: (501) 902-4911; allsoppandchapple.com.
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. Send email to: eharrison@adgnewsroom.com