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Our Favorite Restaurants in Downtown Bentonville
Dec 27, 2019
Downtown Bentonville has become a hub for amazing, locally-owned restaurants. From fine dining to food trucks, there is delicious food for all cravings and budgets. Here are some of our favorites:
Location |108 E Central Ave #10, Bentonville AR
Hours | Monday – Thursday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Friday – Saturday: 11:00 AM – 9:30 PM
Sunday Brunch: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Table Mesa describes itself as an “upscale spot offering a modern take on Latin cuisine in a stylish setting with exposed-brick walls.” This trendy restaurant is in the heart of the Bentonville square and stands out with its bright yellow accents and colorful patio furniture.
Our Favorites:
- Cheap Dates: Dates stuffed with cream cheese and wrapped in bacon? Yes, please!
- Key Lime Tres Leches: This is one of the best desserts you can get downtown and pairs great with their french press coffee.
Location |201 NW A St. Bentonville AR
Hours |Lunch: Monday – Friday 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Dinner: Monday – Saturday 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Brunch: Sunday 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
From the outside Preacher’s Son looks like a 19th-century church, but inside is a gorgeous upscale restaurant with an awesome story, which they tell best themselves.
“Helmed by Chef Matthew Cooper, The Preacher’s Son serves lunch and dinner, using sustainably sourced ingredients from farmers and ranchers in Northwest Arkansas. The chef’s dedication to the local community is evident in his choice to use local ingredients. Our story is inspired by Chef Cooper’s background – as the son of a preacher, the restaurant is located in a beautifully restored, historic church, across the street from where Chef Matt’s father taught his first sermons over 40 years ago.”
Our Favorites:
- Banana Bread French Toast: This interesting twist on classic breakfast food is an amazing brunch option. And, it’s vegan!
- Smoked Fried Chicken: A modern version of a southern classic, this is fried chicken like you’ve never had it before.
Location |109A Northwest 2nd St Bentonville AR
Hours |Sunday – Thursday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Friday – Saturday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
The Flying Fish feels like a blast from the past in the best way. Walking into it is like stepping into an 80’s diner. Serving up seafood, burgers, and more, this restaurant is family-friendly and has something for everyone.
Our Favorites:
- Any Catfish Option: Whether you get it fried or grilled, their catfish will not disappoint.
- Homemade Hushpuppy Basket: It doesn’t get much better than fried bread!
Location | 108 S.E. A Street Bentonville AR
Hours | Lunch Daily: 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Dinner Monday – Thursday: 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Dinner Friday – Saturday: 4:00 PM – 9:30 PM
Sunday supper all day: 11:30 AM – 8:30 PM
Tavola Trattoria is a popular modern Italian and Mediterranean restaurant just off of the square. One reviewer said, “The pasta is delicious! I have not had anything I did not like from them. Great service and friendly staff as well.”
Our Favorites:
- Tavola Pizza: This unique pizza has roasted pears, mozzarella, pesto, and more. It’s sweet, savory, and delicious!
- Quiche: This is a classic done right. It’s simple and is one of our go-to’s for brunch.
A Unique New Years in Northwest Arkansas
Dec 27, 2019
If you live in Fayetteville, you’re likely familiar with the Arkansas Missouri Railroad train that frequently makes its way through the center of downtown. If you’re lucky enough to be sitting outside Arsaga’s when the train passes by, you might catch the friendly waves and kind faces of happy passengers. This red and yellow engine has become a bit of an icon in Northwest Arkansas.
I’ve always wondered what it’d be like to watch this spectacle from the inside of the train instead of the other side of the fence, enjoying the scenery and a cup of coffee. I never got around to reserving my tickets, but if there was ever a reason to light a firecracker under my heels to do so, it is this!
While their website doesn’t explicitly state what all will be involved in this special trip into the new decade, do they need to? Getting dressed up, ordering some champagne, and enjoying the ride from one major Northwest Arkansas City to another to enjoy their fireworks display sounds amazing by itself. This is the perfect opportunity to skip the frigid lines outside of every bar in the metropolitan area while still getting the experience of being out on the town(s). Think of it as you and your friend’s own private, mobile party!
Grab your tickets while you still can! Spots are limited, and this famous tour around Northwest Arkansas will not want to be missed by many of the area’s citizens and their families. Reserve your spot and enjoy one of the most unique new years experience NWA has to offer! What a fitting way to welcome in a new decade.
The Perfect Downtown Bentonville AR Date Night
Dec 27, 2019
You’ve been looking forward to this all month. Schedules have been cleared. One of the more trustworthy neighborhood teenagers has been de-briefed on allergies, bedtime, and emergency contacts. Now it’s finally here; it’s date night.
Prepping for a date night can feel like a chore, and sometimes planning the actual night can too. You want to make the most out of your evening of freedom and spend quality time with someone you love. That’s why we mapped out the perfect downtown Bentonville date night for you and your significant other.
Stop One: Dinner’s Ready!
Downtown Bentonville has a thriving locally-owned restaurant scene. From gorgeous sit-down restaurants like Pressroom or Tavloa Trattoria to food truck favorites like Yeyo’s and Crepes Paulette, there’s no shortage of date-night-dines to choose from. That’s why we wrote a blog about it.
Stop Two: Caffeine Break
If you still have room for dinner, you need to stop at Onyx for some coffee and a sweet treat. This location on NW 2nd street is just off the square and is stunning. With a variety of couches, tables, and bar seating, Onyx is the perfect place to continue your dinner conversations and get caffeinated for the rest of your night out. Even the coffee is beautiful. Plus, it makes for a great Instagram post. #CoffeeGoals
*Bonus Stop*: Checkmate
We discovered this gem just off the square and across the street from 21C Hotel while we were exploring downtown. If you’re a competitive couple who enjoys chess, this massive version of the game would make an awesome stop on your night out if you had the time.
Stop Three: Seasonal Activities
Now that your food is settled, it’s time to get active! We’ve picked two awesome outdoor activities that will work for any weather. Spoke Adventures is a newer company in Bentonville that offers bike rentals. Just across the street from 21C Hotel and near the Compton Garden trails, it makes for the perfect romantic bike ride. If it’s too cold to go for a ride, don’t worry! Just across the street from Spoke Adventures is the Lawrence Plaza Outdoor Ice Skating Rink. During the winter, Lawrence Plaza converts from a splash pad to an inexpensive skating rink that is bound to make for plenty of slips, falls, and laughs.
Stop Four: The Holler
Okay, so this one isn’t technically downtown…but it is one of the coolest places in Bentonville and is just a few minutes from the square. The Holler is a massive hangout spot with coffee, food, drinks, music, and a shuffleboard. After your outdoor activity, you’re probably tired and ready to relax and have a drink or a snack. The Holler, which is open late, is a great way to end your date and spend some more quality time with your partner.
Stop Five: Home
We hope you use some or all of these ideas to have an awesome night out. Now, it’s time to relax at home and relax from all of the fun. Home should be a place you feel safe and comfortable. If it’s not and you’re looking for a new place to call home and the end of the night, visit our website and connect with one of our local agents who are experts in finding you a place to call home.
Five Best Holiday Gifts for First-Time Homeowners
Dec 23, 2019
Let’s face it; buying your first home is not unlike having your first child. An investment that will likely span decades, something you’ll have to pour into, fix up, nurture and love. You can’t go into it empty-handed, you need lots of tools and resources to get your started. For new parents, that’s where baby showers are the saving grace. For new homeowners, it’s the holidays. Here are some great local gift ideas this season that you can get your friend(s) who just bought their first home feel more homey.
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A gift card to Ozark Beer Co.
These guys are the best of the best in Northwest Arkansas, as far as beer in concerned. Buying your first home can be one of the more stressful experiences in life. Give them the resources to sit back and relax their first night in by hooking them up with some of the best beer in town.
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A bag of Onyx Coffee
Most Americans consider coffee an essential part of their daily routine. If you’re moving into your first house, stocking the pantry is not likely to be very high on the list of priorities. Waking up to a sack of the tastiest coffee the region has to offer is certain to put a pep in your step, even if you are waking up to a cluttered, half-filled home. There’s no better beverage to get you moving.
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A seat at any of Northwest Arkansas’ notable restaurants
Northwest Arkansas is considered by many to be a great region for foodies. Whether it’s the famous Hugo’s on the Fayetteville square (it even made an appearance on the most recent season of HBO’s True Detective!), Bentonville’s 8th Street Market, Ramen at the new Ramen Nara in Rogers, or Springdale’s sumptuous Media Luna, you can’t disappoint by treating your new homeowner to a night out. And, let’s face it, they’re probably sparse on groceries anyway!
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Lawn Care
They’re already consumed with setting up their home’s interior. Help them out by taking care of the outside by paying for a month or two of lawn care from any of your local landscapers. No one likes a messy lawn, but they hate mowing it even more.
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Decorations from Freckled Hen Farmhouse
Known for its quaint aesthetic and unique home décor, Freckled Hen Farmhouse is the perfect place to treat your friend to a shopping spree. They may have the necessities, but this will help them make it their own.
We hope these suggestions help you on your way to make your first time homeowner feel loved and at home. Whether you get them a small bag of coffee or gold-trimmed cutlery, the kindness of helping someone build a home will last a lifetime.
Five Holiday Events in NWA You Need to Attend
Dec 13, 2019
The infamous lighting of the square in both Bentonville and Fayetteville are the most highly-attended holiday events in Northwest Arkansas. After their funnel cakes, pony rides, and sugar-fueled postponed bedtimes, most families return home until December 25. The greatest part about Northwest Arkansas during the holidays is the plethora of festivities to choose from.
From Christmas Corgi Parades on the Bentonville Square to Holiday musicals at the Walton Art Center, these are some of the events to look forward to the most.
Beers and Carols
Join the citizens of Bentonville at The Record this Sunday evening at 4:30 for the most epic caroling session you’ve ever experienced. Drink, sing and be merry alongside special guests such as the Arkansas Philharmonic Orchestra and Amy Brown. Admission is free, but there’s a $20 suggested donation that will go towards the Arkansas Children’s Shelter. All ages are welcome. Plus there will be a tacky holiday costume contest! This event is perfect for those who want to let loose for a great cause.
A Christmas Carol
Theater Squared is the new gem in downtown Fayetteville’s entertainment crown, and they’ve created their original re-telling of the famous story by Charles Dickens. This exciting, local spin on a timeless holiday classic is running through the rest of the month and is friendly to all ages! Visit their website to get your tickets today.
Home for the Holidays Concert
Looking to break the tradition of binge-watching old Christmas television specials? Head over to The Auditorium in Eureka Springs at 6:30 pm on Friday, December 20th. There you will hear your favorite holiday songs performed by local singers and bands. Come feel all the nostalgia and holiday cheer you can manage in one of Northwest Arkansas’ most quaint and eclectic towns.
Cookies with Santa
This one is for the younger crowd, but what parent doesn’t love showing their kids a good time during the holidays? Take your family out to Art & Soul Studios in Rogers on December 22nd to get their picture taken with the man in red himself, then go munch on some cookies and paint to their heart’s content (supplies provided). The entry fee is $20!
Holiday Cookie Class
One of Fayetteville’s most iconic bakeries is offering its decoration secrets this holiday season. This offer starts on December 21st at 11 am. For just $30, Rick’s Bakery is offering their signature buttercream icing, 8 cookies, and all the tips and tricks you could ask for! Walk away with a sugar-coated masterpiece and all the know-how you’ll need to do it yourself next year.
6 Easy Steps to Buying a Northwest Arkansas Home
Nov 05, 2019
Tired of renting? 🏡 Relocating to Northwest Arkansas? Upgrading to a bigger place? Whatever your reason, the first step is the decision to buy.
Let’s face it, everyone loves a checklist 😊
Step 1: Research time
Personally, I have YouTube’d my way through many projects in the past. A few home repairs, landscaping projects, and various car repairs. If you’re like me, you get to that point where you say “okay, over my head, I’m calling an expert”.
Buying a home is no different. You will want to familiarize yourself with the process, but having an expert to lean on is invaluable. I, personally, leaned on a wonderful agent to help navigate the process as soon as I realized I was past the stage of “Let’s do this from YouTube”.
Step 2. Get Pre-qualified
Everyone is dreaming of a 10-bedroom/ 10-bathroom home with a basketball court in the garage. What, that’s not available in my pre-qualification price range of $250k? Pre-qualified letters let you know what you can afford, and this will help you save time looking at a narrowed list of attainable properties.
Did you know it also helps avoid delays in closing? Faster closings will put you at an advantage during the bidding process.
Make sure you talk to a reputable lender to get pre-approval for your new home.
Gateway Mortgage is our Northwest Arkansas local partner that services Fayetteville, Bentonville, Rogers, Springdale, Bella Vista & surrounding areas. They handle pre-qualifications all the time and can get you Pre-Qualified.
Step 3. Search for your home with localized apps and agents
National sites (Insert Z*LLOW here) can be less accurate than our local Northwest Arkansas home search tools. You can create an account on our site that will give you direct access to the local MLS (Multiple Listing Service). This will represent a far more accurate view of available homes in NWA.
Want to search on your own right now? Check out local NWA inventory here!
Step 4. Let’s Make an Offer
This is where the nitty-gritty starts. Homes are priced based on many variables. One very important facet is the comparable homes sold in the area. Research what other homes in proximity have sold for Or let your Coldwell Banker Agent do this for you. Expertise in the history of the homes sold in an area will help you pay the best possible price. This is where many of the “YouTube DIY Home Buyers” get stumped.
Katie Mihalevich, one of our experienced Fayetteville agents points out,
“A buyer’s agent must represent the best interests of their client over anyone else’s. (Sellers’ agents are doing the same for their clients). So, lean on the knowledge and expertise of an agent to help you get the most out of the experience!”
Pro tip: National sites like (insert Z*LLOW Here) can be widely inaccurate on price. We see this every day. Search here for more accuracy.
Step 5. Home Inspections are highly recommended
We give our cars a thorough review before we drive those off the lot.
Why wouldn’t you do this for your home?
We strongly consider you have the home checked out by a professional home inspector. It’s affordable, it helps calm the worries of the new purchase, and allows you to identify anything wrong with the home before you sign the papers. This also affords you the option to add contingencies to the offeror even back out, free of penalty, within a designated time frame.
Step 6. Closing time!! Woo Hoo!
“Closing” is a meeting where the transaction is finalized. Agents guide you through all closing procedures, including paperwork and other activities being performed by outside parties to help make your home officially yours.
Got questions about the process? Contact us today to get started!
Top 5 Reasons to Move to Bella Vista, Arkansas
Updated November 2019
It’s impressive to see the progress Bella Vista has made since becoming an official city in 2007. Bella Vista has transitioned from a vacation and retirement village to a dynamic, thriving, and active community for people of all ages. There are many reasons to make the move to Bella Vista, but we’ll start with our top five.
Beautiful Lakes
During the summer, the lakes of Bella Vista are full of people fishing, swimming, water skiing, tubing, and boating. This spirited town offers some of the greatest lake activities in Northwest Arkansas.
- Lake Ann
- Lake Avalon
- Loch Lomond
- Lake Brittany
- Lake Norwood
- Lake Rayburn
- Lake Windsor
Premier Golf Courses
Bella Vista is known for its premier golf courses with some of the most beautiful and challenging games in the Central US.
Just like the lakes of Bella Vista, there are seven golf courses:
- Country Club
- Highlands
- Scotsdale
- Dogwood
- Kingswood
- Berksdale
- Brittany.
If you enjoy golfing, moving to Bella Vista is a no-brainer. Find out about tee times, golf rates, and directions here.
Adventurous Hiking and Biking Trails
Bella Vista, meaning beautiful view, lives up to its name by providing some of the best biking and hiking in the nation.
There are two paved walking trails – Branchwood and Loch Lomond, a nature trail system – Tanyard Creek, and two soft-surface mountain bike trail systems – Blowing Springs and The Back 40. By late 2019, 50 more miles of the trail should be built and added to the list. This trail system will be unlike any other in Northwest Arkansas. The 11 Under trail system gets its name from the 11 tunnels throughout the system. These trails present an immense economic opportunity for Bella Vista in the way of tourism, as well as attracting new residents and regional consumers.
“ Cities from other states are now consulting us for tips and ideas on building, opening, and operating trail systems”
Bella Vista Communications Manager Cassi Lapp explained, “There is no sign of the trail momentum slowing in Northwest Arkansas.”
To get more info on the trails click here.
Bang for your Buck
You can tell from the sizable increase of residential permits year over year, people are hearing about all the benefits of living in Bella Vista. Homeowners typically enjoy more square footage for their money than other towns in the Northwest Arkansas area.
Bella Vista continues to make improvements to its facilities and infrastructure, like the expansion of the public library, the opening of the Street Department’s building, and fire department personnel additions and updates to their stations.
Lapp with The City of Bella Vista, says, “All of these efforts will provide better protection of life and property to the residents of Bella Vista, plus will ideally lower the Insurance Services Office Rating, affecting homeowner’s insurance citywide.”
Country Living with City Benefits
In Bella Vista, residents enjoy the best of city and country living. With over 500 miles of road in a 47 square mile area, the town feels very private and detached from the hustle and bustle of city living. “Bella Vista has a little different of an atmosphere. We’re not a gridded city, we are very wooded. Those hills and ravines offer a little more seclusion and privacy in a natural setting” explained Lapp.
Bella Vista feels like you are hundreds of miles away from the city even though larger towns are just a few miles away, and many Bella Vista residents enjoy that blend.
We would like to thank Cassi Lapp for taking the time to educate and inform us about this fantastic town. To learn more about Bella Vista you can connect with them on their website, Facebook and Instagram.
Moving to NWA? Hire Local Movers You Can Trust
Updated October 2019
After you find a house, it is just as important to find movers you can trust to transport all of the things that will make your new house feel like home.
The process of packing, moving, and unpacking everything in your life can be daunting. Between trying to puzzle together furniture and boxes in the back of a truck to make sure breakable family heirlooms are packed away safely, transporting your life from point A to point B is stressful.
We sat down with Relocation Coordinator Michael Crouch to find out how his company Winter Moving & Storage helps families move to and within NWA. Winter Moving and Storage is a successful moving company that has served the Northwest Arkansas area for more than 40 years.
Tell us about Winter Moving & Storage.
Michael: “Winter Moving & Storage got started in 1979 with two trucks and 6 employees. John Winter, our owner, and his father purchased Helmuth Moving from Don and Ethel Helmuth of Bentonville, Arkansas in 1979. 40 years later, we are still here and owned by the same people. It’s a nice well-rounded company that has provided exceptional packing, relocation, and storage services.”
What can customers expect from the moving process?
Michael: “For the moving process knowledge is key. There are a lot of moving pieces, especially when someone is buying and selling a house and a lot goes into it.
We always like to do a walkthrough of the home with the homeowner. All of our services are customizable. If someone just wanted the big furniture moved we can do that. Or, maybe someone needed to store their belongings for a few months until they closed on their new home, we can do that too.”
How would someone go about getting a quote for their home?
Michael: “The best way to get a quote is to have us physically walk through the home- that way you can get an accurate quote. Any move without a physical walkthrough will be much more stressful and simply is not accurate. Reputable companies would need to see what they are moving to give an accurate quote. You can go through our website or call the office at 1-800-435-6683 to schedule a walkthrough.”
What do you feel sets Winter Moving & Storage apart from other moving companies?
Michael: “The thing that sets us above other moving companies is the quality of our work. The thing we are most proud of is that we are recipients of the Milton M. Hill Quality Award for Atlas Vanlines.
Out of their 400 agents in the United States, every year somewhere between 33 to 55 companies win the award. Winter Moving & Storage has won that award 16 times now. It’s something we are proud of and it does put us ranked in the top 5% of Atlas agents in the US. “
The Milton M. Hill Quality Award is given to companies that have high-performance ratings in customer satisfaction, estimating, claims, safety, and warehouse operations. Recipients of the award are described by Atlas as “the best of the best.”
We want to thank Michael Crouch for sitting down with us and for presenting at our weekly meeting to educate our Realtors about the relocation process.
Looking to move to the Northwest Arkansas area and need some help?
Contact Winter Moving & Storage today. They are located at 2710 SE Otis Corley Dr., in Bentonville, Arkansas.
You can visit their website www.wintermoving.com or give them a call
at 1-800-435-6683.
