The Ascent of Argenta

Ascent The

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By Kevin Shalin • Photos by Jamison Mosley

Downtown North Little Rock is on the rise, and at the center of it all is a thriving, diverse food and drink scene steeped in a collaborative effort to keep things moving forward.

ake a stroll down Main Street in downtown North Little Rock, an area that runs through the heart of the Argenta Arts District. You will notice historic buildings, expansive murals and manicured flower beds that show off the beauty of a soulful neighborhood, one that has not only embraced change but has run with it.

“The city and government, particularly Mayor [Joe] Smith, did a great job of investing in downtown,” says Stephanie Slagle, marketing director at the North Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau.

It is a beautiful mix of old businesses with new ventures, and at the heart of it all is a collection of coffeehouses, restaurants and bars that have teamed up to form a food and drink community that rivals any in the area. “There is a camaraderie among the businesses that was already there, but after the pandemic, it really solidified. They all started working together and realized that we are stronger together,” Slagle says. “A strong downtown is good for the whole city.”

Slagle sees that collaboration among businesses, with advocates like Jess McMullen, owner of Brood & Barley, continuing to lead the charge. McMullen has made a heavy investment in the area. He also owns the popular Flyway Brewing, just a block away on Maple Street. The brewery opened in late 2015, and while elements of the actual space made for an easier initial decision of calling Argenta home, it was also the neighborhood’s potential that inspired McMullen the most. He says, “I thought the neighborhood was so vibrant. It was alive down here, but it was really in its infancy. There were still empty buildings and plots of land.” But progress was right around the corner, literally. Argenta

DRINKS

A cold, frothy beer at Brood & Barley. (Courtesy)

Flyway Brewing. (Courtesy)

... with increased popularity comes higher expectations.

Plaza was built, and the Orion Building soon followed. Then a global pandemic hit and halted the momentum. Says McMullen, “We were getting ready to explode, then COVID.”

With the hardship came a sense of urgency, and as Slagle said, business owners and city officials teamed up like never before. An entertainment district was created — no small feat given the rules, logistics and boundaries that needed to be established within a short period of time. The formation of the Argenta Downtown Dining District (ADDD) meant restaurants could now expand dining rooms into the streets; live music offerings were also part of the fun. The ADDD initially ran every weekend throughout 2020 but has since transitioned to the third weekend of every month. It established a true sense of community, even during the most difficult of times. Both Slagle and McMullen brag on the work of Chris Kent, executive director of the Argenta Downtown Council, as a key component in fostering change. “It cannot be understated what he has done for the neighborhood,” McMullen says. The business community came together at a critical time and has continued with that rising tide mentality: What is good for one is good for everyone. “In the past year, a lot of owners have embraced the idea that the way we’re all going to be successful is by working together and showing people why there are so many good options in the neighborhood,” McMullen says. “I hang out at all these places. There are some fantastic options.” But with Argenta’s increased popularity comes higher expectations, and now — or ever for that matter — is no time to rest on their laurels. McMullen says, “We must continue to keep our standards of excellence high. Everyone has to up their game. When people come down here, they have to have a good experience because we want them to come back.”

Chef and co-owner of Ristorante Capeo, Eric Isaac, agrees and adds, “The key is consistency. Also, everyone is doing something different. It is almost like a big food hall down here with all the choices.” Those choices include Flyway Brewing, Cregeen’s Irish Pub, The Joint Theater and Coffeehouse, Reno’s Argenta Café, Skinny J’s, Brood & Barley, Four Quarter Bar, Ristorante Capeo, Mugs Café, and KamiKaito. And while not technically in Argenta, nearby restaurants like Lindsay’s BBQ & Hospitality House, Walker’s Restaurant, and Mr. Cajun’s Kitchen are all within a short half-mile.

FOOD

ARGENTA

Ristorante Capeo. (Courtesy)

Recently, my wife and I visited Ristorante Capeo, an 18-year veteran of the neighborhood, along with new kid on the block Brood & Barley, both in the same evening. Cocktails crafted by Brood & Barley’s whiz beverage manager David Burnette kicked off the night, followed by fresh-made pasta at Ristorante Capeo just a few doors down. The settings could not be more different, which is an aspect we enjoyed. Having those diverse choices at such close proximity made for a funfilled evening, while also allowing us to support two businesses with relative ease. The next time we visit downtown North Little Rock, I imagine two different restaurants will get our business. Beers and smoked pork nachos at Four Quarter Bar along with sushi at KamiKaito sounds like a fun time.

After dinner, we walked down Main Street toward the Argenta Plaza where a crowd of folks was enjoying an outdoor performance by the Arkansas Ballet. It looked like something you would see in the heart of Manhattan. But it wasn’t. It was Argenta. The energy of the neighborhood was palpable, and much like McMullen said, the vibrance was undeniable. Two days later, I was back in Argenta, this time working from Mugs Café. As I sipped on my iced coffee and pounded on the keyboard for a writing assignment, I could not help but raise my head every few minutes to enjoy the hustle and bustle of the shop. Again, the energy was distinct

“The future is bright,” Slagle says, and, with more projects in the works, who can disagree with her for that sentiment? A “we” mentality among owners, especially those in the food and drink industry, will only help ensure that progress continues. In the meantime, make sure to get down to Main Street, have a beer, listen to some music, play a little cornhole, and enjoy one of the most vibrant neighborhoods in Central Arkansas. Argenta’s ascent is not slowing up anytime soon.

I will drink and eat to that.

The future (for Argenta) is bright.

The Main Street strip.

s far as feel-good stories go, it doesn’t get much better than North Little Rock’s Argenta District; ironically, it’s also become one of the most iconic places in the state for “good feels.” Whether it’s the favored pastimes of us Southern folk in music and food or the officially dubbed “favorite pastime” of baseball, Argenta delivers.

“We’re back to full capacity, and things are starting to get back to somewhat normal,” says Stephanie Slagle, the marketing director for the North Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau, before apologizing for her seemingly tired tone and thoughts. She’s just had yet another eventful weekend in North Little Rock’s most bustling sector, which is not a bad problem to have considering the events (or lack thereof) of the past year.

Argenta felt its fair share of the trials of the pandemic, but as a community — meaning the family of businesses that make up its DNA and the patrons who so loyally provide their time and money to the area — it stuck together, adapted and found ways to make lemonade. Like expanding its outdoor dining scene last summer. Swift moves by the city council made it possible, sweat and elbow grease from business owners and people like Slagle brought it to fruition. And, of course, Chris Kent, executive director of the Argenta Downtown Council (ADC). No conversation about Argenta is complete without making note of the lifeblood and energy that he provides.

“What our mission really is, is to promote economic development in the downtown area through the arts,” Kent says. His fingerprints have been behind the mold of Argenta for nearly 20 years, living the mission of the ADC that “a healthy downtown benefits the entire area.”

Now, some of those pandemic pivots have become mainstays. Of course, the outdoor dining and drinking were sure to become fan favorites amid the warming weather and overall charm of Argenta; add in the live performances of local musicians and Ballet Arkansas and the litany of public and private artwork, and it’s increasingly clear why it’s one of the hottest spots in all of Arkansas. This is also probably why Slagle reiterates words like “momentum” when talking about the big picture of Argenta.

None of this should come as any surprise to residents of Central Arkansas. The developments in Argenta have been in the works for years, preceding the pandemic, impetus that led to community investments like the $5.36-million-dollar Argenta Plaza. Although it opened last summer and therefore has not yet reached its full potential, there’s still plenty of buzz around the plaza. “The plaza has already been the catalyst for more than $50 million in economic development in downtown North Little Rock,” says the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism. Argenta Plaza features a stage with a 40-foot projection wall, tent tie-downs, a water wall, a “front porch” with modern swings and a “backyard” area with beautiful foliage. Given its outdoor nature, the plaza has been host to many events over the course of the past year, but, in parallel to the district writ large, the horizon is even brighter for Argenta Plaza as restrictions continue to loosen.

“Everybody has been kind of careful about using the word ‘event’ for like a year now because you don’t want it to draw too many people,” Slagle says. “It’s been a very careful balancing act. You want people to come, but you don’t want too many people to come so you can still social distance and make sure everybody feels safe. But I guess that’s the good thing about Argenta is that it feels so open. Like Argenta Plaza itself, I think max capacity is like 3,000 people. So even when we had several hundred people, you’re all spread out.”

One of the latest developments at Argenta Plaza is the just-announced summer music series that will take place at the location, which kicks off with the band Year And A Day on June 19.

And for such a relatively small area, Argenta has a persquare-inch slate that can compete with any. Our food editor,

(Jamison Mosley)

Argenta Plaza. (ADPHT) Argenta Plaza. (ADPHT)

Argenta Dogtown Throwdown. (Courtesy of North Little Rock CVB)

“We wanted to make a place for people to come back to when they were able to go out...”

Kevin Shalin, has laid out the many highlights of the food scene, which alone would be enough to make it a destination worthy of anyone’s agenda. But there’s also just as much to tab on a todo list beyond dining. One would be remiss to not make note of the sports culture, ingrained by Dickey-Stephens Park and complemented by the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame Museum. True to its walkable nature, there’s also plenty of shopping enterprises sure to satiate any style. And apropos of the soul of Argenta as an arts district, there’s plenty more for the imaginative tastebuds, like The House of Art, Thea Foundation, Argenta Community Theater and the North Little Rock Heritage Center, which is located in the old fire station.

“Since the pandemic started, we’ve doubled down on creating a beautiful downtown for people when they were able to come back out,” Kent says. “So over the last year, we’ve had several murals go up, we finished up the dog dancer statues downtown, we’ve created and expanded the entertainment district, and we have put up more flowers, plantings and hanging baskets than we ever have before. We wanted to make a place for people to come back to when they were able to go out and just be really impressed by and find enjoyment.”

There’s also just as wide an array of room and board, like the subtle and whimsy The Baker, a charming little refined guest house on Main Street; or the sprawling Wyndham Riverfront, which is as exquisite as it is comfortable.

Modern living at apartment complexes like Argenta Flats and Argenta Square are the cherries cementing the area’s rich sense of community.

“Everybody’s out of school and wants to get out,” Slagle concludes. And with the myriad of offerings, entertainment and heart that Argenta has to offer, she’s confident that she’ll see plenty of faces roaming their streets this summer — some familiar, some new, all smiling and soaking up the unique atmosphere of one of North Little Rock’s favorite pockets.

Kent sums it all up succinctly. “You can go into a restaurant, you can grab a drink, you can walk around and look at public art, enjoy all of the plantings, flowers and hanging baskets of downtown, and just have a good time.”

Every Week in Argenta

Mondays: Live Trivia at Flyway Brewing; Happy Hour all day at Skinny J’s. Tuesdays: Punchline Stand-Up Comedy at The Joint Theater; Bottle Night at Crush Wine Bar. Wednesdays: Trivia Night at Diamond Bear; The Joint Venture improv at The Joint Theater; Taco

Wednesday at Reno’s Argenta Cafe.

Fridays: Original comedy show at The Joint Theater. Saturdays: Argenta Farmers’ Market at Argenta Plaza; original comedy show at The Joint Theater;

Weekend Brunch at Skinny J’s.

Sundays: Weekend Brunch at Skinny J’s.

June

June 4: The Real Mike Epps at Simmons Bank Arena. June 15 – 20: Arkansas Travelers vs. Tulsa at Dickey-Stephens Park June 15: Rev. Horton Heat (solo) with Dale Watson (solo) at Four Quarter Bar. June 18 – 20: Argenta Dogtown Throwdown — outdoor dining on Main Street with live music. June 19: Argenta Plaza Summer Music Series featuring Year And A Day. June 23 – 27: Disney On Ice at Simmons Bank Arena.

July

July 6 – 11: Arkansas Travelers vs. Frisco at Dickey-Stephens Park. July 16 – 18: Argenta Dogtown Throwdown — outdoor dining on Main Street with live music. July 17: Argenta Plaza Summer Music Series featuring The Rodney Block Collective. July 20 – 25: Arkansas Travelers vs. Wichita at Dickey-Stephens Park.

August

August 3: Blippi the Musical at Simmons Bank Arena. August 3 – 8: Arkansas Travelers vs. Northwest Arkansas at Dickey-Stephens Park. August 8: The Greatest Hits of Foreigner at Simmons Bank Arena. August 10 – 15: Arkansas Travelers vs. Springfield at Dickey-Stephens Park. August 18 – 28: Pippin at Argenta Community Theater. August 20 – 22: Argenta Dogtown Throwdown — outdoor dining on Main Street with live music. August 21: Argenta Plaza Summer Music Series featuring The Gravel Yard. August 24 – 29: Arkansas Travelers vs. Corpus Christi at Dickey-Stephens Park.

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