T H E W O M E N
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FROM THE FIRST SKETCH TO THE FINAL NAIL, OUR TEAM WORKS CLOSELY WITH OUR CLIENTS TO BRING THOUGHTFUL DESIGN AND EXPERT CRAFTSMANSHIP TOGETHER.
WE BELIEVE THE BEST HOMES ARE BUILT THROUGH PARTNERSHIP WHERE VISION MEETS SKILL, AND DETAILS MATTER
Happy June, Fayetteville!
“If you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life.”
That’s a saying my dad always taught me to live by growing up, and it’s one I see reflected in this city every single day. Fayetteville is a place where people show up, chase their passions, and build something bigger together.
Full disclosure: I am not a man. But I was raised by one of the best, I married one of the good ones, and I get to live in a city full of inspiring ones.
Inside this issue, you’ll meet men who are doing exactly that. Lewis Chase has created spaces like City Park, Guisinger, and Feed & Folly that bring people together. Chapman Campbell is building community through OUTSIDE.IN COMMUNITY WIDE CO. Randy Wilburn is a storytelling strategist, shaping the voice of the Fayetteville Public Library. Ted Hamming and The Campaign are helping carry live music forward in our city. Dan Scoff, better known as “WeatherDan,” remains a steady and familiar presence on your television screen. Ryan Billingsley is encouraging a love of reading through Dad Suggests Books. And last but certainly not least, Ryan Hauck, CEO of Experience Fayetteville, is helping lead tourism in our city.
Each of them reflects what my dad taught me: when you love what you do, it shows. And when it shows, it changes a place. Fayetteville is better for it.
This month, tell a man in your life what he means to you. Those words tend to last. Cheers to the men of Fayetteville!
SYDNEY SULLIVAN, PUBLISHER
June 2026
PUBLISHER
Sydney Sullivan | sydney.sullivan@citylifestyle.com
CO-PUBLISHER
Gavin Magee | gavin.magee@citylifestyle.com
PUBLICATION DIRECTOR
Hailey Smith | hailey.smith@citylifestyle.com
SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR
Kate Gryder | kategryder@outlook.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Will Newton, Meredith Pinkston, Sydney Sullivan
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Meredith Mashburn, Emma Nelson, Callie Kent, Riley Carson, Josué Gonzalez
CEO Steven Schowengerdt
President Matthew Perry
COO David Stetler
CRO Jamie Pentz
CoS Janeane Thompson
AD DESIGNER Matthew Endersbe
LAYOUT DESIGNER Andi Foster
QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Megan Cagle
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May is National Speech-Language-Hearing Month, a time to recognize the power of communication and the confidence it brings to a child’s life. Speech therapy helps children learn to express their thoughts, needs, and ideas in ways that allow them to connect with the world around them. At our clinic, our speech-language pathologists work with children to strengthen speech clarity, language development, social communication, fluency, voice, oral motor and feeding skills.
For some children, communication may include the use of AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) devices, which provide additional
ways to communicate and express themselves. AAC devices give children a voice when words are hard to find—using pictures, buttons, or speechgenerating technology to help them express wants, needs, and ideas.
Through play, encouragement, and individualized therapy, we help children build the skills they need to communicate at home, at school, and in their community.
Because when a child finds their voice, their confidence grows — and the possibilities are endless.
Faith in what we do. Hope in every child.
Learning
Cozy
Ryan
Join Thrive Wellness Center for Bourbon and Back Pain on June 16th at 6pm: A Casual Chat About Men’s Health. Pour a glass and pull up a chair for a relaxed, straight-talk conversation on back pain, performance, and long-term strength. In this 30-minute talk, guests will learn why so many men experience recurring pain, stiffness, and tension...and why quick fixes often miss the root cause.
At Premier Dermatology, Aesthetics & Wellness, we believe wellness is about more than appearance — it starts with understanding your body from within. Our DEXA Body Composition Scans provide advanced insight into your body composition, helping you better understand your health with precision and clarity.
This advanced technology goes far beyond a traditional scale or BMI. A DEXA scan provides an in-depth look at your muscle mass, body fat distribution, and bone density, helping you and your provider uncover how your lifestyle, nutrition, and metabolism are truly impacting your health.
Whether you’re working toward a healthier weight, improving metabolic function, or simply wanting to track your fitness progress more precisely, the DEXA Body Composition Scans offer powerful insights to help you reach your goals.
BY
FOUR STORIES OF MEN GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND IN THEIR FIELDS.
BY
Within three miles of each other are three beloved Fayetteville staples. From the moody rooftop bar of Feed & Folly to the elevated and classy atmosphere of The Guisinger to the casual and community-focused space of City Park, these gathering places are wildly popular but couldn’t be more different. However, these food-and-drink spots have one major attribute in common: they share the same three co-owners.
Lewis Chase didn’t expect a career change in restaurant entrepreneurship. Previously a full-time real estate agent, Chase noticed a sparsity within the locally-owned restaurant market within the city.
“Restaurants are such an identity for a city, and I think it’s important for local people to own them,” Chase said. “Chains are great, but it’s also really hard for them to be really involved in the community and know what the community needs.”
Deciding to pursue this momentum, Chase reconnected with brothers Matt and Michael Sutton, two colleagues and food entrepreneurs based in Colorado, and convinced them to move to Fayetteville. Although they didn’t have experience with opening a restaurant, the trio took the risk and merged their skills together to launch their first collaboration: Feed & Folly.
Unfortunately, their grand opening occurred at a complicated time. One day after the restaurant opened its doors and its rooftop bar, the COVID-19 pandemic upended how the restaurant operated. Although an unexpected challenge, the tenacity of the co-owners and the support of the community kept the restaurant’s doors open through a successful takeout program and, once pandemic regulations eased, Feed & Folly quickly rose in popularity as one of Fayetteville’s most sought-after hangout spots.
Feed & Folly’s success empowered Chase and his partners to pursue their next venture together in 2023: City Park. Chase said a core priority for City Park was to replicate the day drinking and beer garden culture of larger cities while still allowing people of all ages to have a place to share meals together. The co-owners intentionally rooted the restaurant trailside to utilize Fayetteville’s highly-trafficked trail system.
In early 2024, Chase and the Sutton brothers launched The Guisinger in the heart of downtown Fayetteville. While Feed & Folly and City Park emphasized shared meals, the restaurant
entrepreneurs now wanted to provide the city with a luxurious cocktail-focused lounge that had a “big city” feel.
Feed & Folly, City Park and The Guisinger are not just favorites for locals. The restaurants’ celebrated reputations often bring in tourists and out-of-town Arkansas Razorback fans looking for locally-owned places to share a meal or a drink.
“I think Fayetteville is a great place, and we’re super ecstatic that we’ve been able to become a part of the fabric of the city and create a culture that we think is going to stick around,” Chase said.
Randy Wilburn has seen it all. An entrepreneur since birth, Wilburn’s career has led him across the world, and he’s lived in major cities from the East and West coasts. Although these cities are places of opportunity and beauty, Wilburn would argue that if put to the test, Northwest Arkansas could stand out against these more foundational cities across the country. Wilburn said that moving to Northwest Arkansas was “never on his bingo card,” but he quickly fell in love with everything the region has to offer. Wilburn has harnessed this admiration and dedicated multiple facets of his career to enriching the community and sharing the beauties of Northwest Arkansas with the public.
Alongside a variety of side projects like serving on the board for the Ozark Natural Foods Cooperative and launching an online job board and a virtual business directory, Wilburn is the host of the I Am Northwest Arkansas podcast, a platform with over 400 episodes that covers the intersection of business, culture, entrepreneurship and local life within the region.
“I do a lot of different stories about a lot of different organizations, people, causes, anything that I find real interest in or that I think the audience would have an interest in,” Wilburn said. “I also try to put myself in the shoes of someone that may be thinking about moving to Northwest Arkansas.”
The podcast has been airing since 2019, but Wilburn has never viewed it as work. The podcast has simultaneously allowed him a medium to flex his storytelling muscles and form connections and relationships within different areas of the region.
“I actually enjoy sitting down and hearing other people’s stories, and so podcasting for me, while it is somewhat a passion, it is just something that I would do whether I was getting money for it or not,” Wilburn said.
Additionally, Wilburn serves as the director of communications and marketing at the Fayetteville Public Library. Wilburn hopes to bring more awareness to the wide variety of innovative offerings the library provides access to with a free library card.
“I tell people nowadays that when I come here to work, I have to pinch myself because I get to be in a space that I have enjoyed being in since I was a little kid,” Wilburn said.
From his podcasting journey to his leadership within the local library to just exploring the Ozarks with his wife, Nicola, and their three sons, Wilburn will never stop spreading the good news of the endless flow of opportunity within Northwest Arkansas – and his admiration of how connected its people are.
“I’ve never seen a community more giving and more open to connecting with people like I have here in Northwest Arkansas,” Wilburn said.
“I tell people nowadays that when I come here to work, I have to pinch myself because I get to be in a space that I have enjoyed being in since I was a little kid,” Wilburn said.
When you hear the words, “Join the Campaign.,” it’s safe to say that your mind probably jumps to politics – and that’s exactly what Ted Hammig wants you to think. The slogan serves as the mantra for Ted Hammig and the Campaign, a locally-based rock band fronted by the Fayetteville native that is making waves within the Northwest Arkansas music scene.
Formed in 2020, the six-piece collective consists of Hammig on vocals and guitar, David Moneymaker on bass, Freeman Boatright on keyboard, Andrew Ruegsegger on drums, Ben Hobbs on guitar and Blaze Tausen on guitar. Hammig chose to refer to his bandmates as “the Campaign,” because he felt that the line between being a politician and a musician was very thin.
“I think being a musician, especially nowadays, is a campaign,” Hammig said. “The closest thing to being a musician, I think, is being a politician. You’re constantly trying to win people over and convince them of something or that you’re worth listening to.”
The musical group blends together sonic elements of the 1960s, the 1970s and the 1980s to form their own eclectic and modern sound.
“As a kid, that was what I always listened to and what really inspired me,” Hammig said. “And, I think I’ve always liked the more tactile stuff when making music. I’ve always preferred playing real instruments. I don’t really enjoy making music digitally.”
Since its genesis, the band has built a discography of two full-length albums and a few stand alone singles. They’ve also earned a reputation for energetic and memorable live performances. The band has graced the stages of local venues such as George’s Majestic Lounge, Kingfish and the lobby of Dickson Street Books, but one of the band’s most notable accomplishments was outside of state lines.
In 2025, the band secured a slot on the lineup for Austin City Limits, a prestigious annual music festival based in Austin, Texas, after winning a Battle of the Bands contest hosted by Hill Records, a University of Arkansas’ record label. The Campaign played a set alongside critically-acclaimed acts such as Japanese Breakfast, The Strokes and Sabrina Carpenter.
Performing at Austin City Limits was a significant step forward for Hammig and his bandmates, and the band plans to continue performing outside of Arkansas. However, Hammig assures that Fayetteville will always be home for The Campaign.
“We love Fayetteville,” Hammig said. “It feels like home, and it’s a great and supportive music scene. It doesn’t make sense to restart from scratch somewhere else. It makes sense to use what we have here and to grow it.”
You can find Ted Hammig and the Campaign on Instagram to keep up with future performances and music releases.
Anyone with a keen eye has probably noticed flashes of orange and brown stickers smacked across Northwest Arkansas lampposts and bulletin boards printed with a simple question: “What the heck is Outside .IN?” For the brand’s founder, Chapman Campbell, Outside. IN Community Wide Co. is always shifting.
Outside .IN Community Wide Co. is an apparel line and community organization on a mission to provide community members with specifically-curated spaces to gather with others. Campbell works with local establishments to find spaces to host Outside .IN Community Wide Co. pop-up events with the goal to “create a conventional thing in unconventional spaces.”
Past pop-ups have featured attractions such as performances from local musicians, a jazz band performance and a hoedown.
“I think as we move into a digital world that focuses more on moments of digital connection, having third spaces and novel environments for people to exist in, even if it’s just for a few hours, is growing in value,” Campbell said.
Paired with each pop-up comes a new “season” of apparel items for the brand designed entirely by Campbell. Campbell primarily sources his clothing secondhand, tailoring each piece to fit the Outside .IN Community Wide Co.’s aesthetic using screenprinting, patches and pins.
“This commitment came out of having a love of thrifting and repurposing things, but I also love the idea of receiving and having a one-ofone, unique item,” Campbell said.
Alongside apparel items, the brand has produced water bottles, non-alcoholic wines and stickers. As Campbell continues to stoke the fire behind Outside .IN Community Wide Co., he plans to introduce a small number of “staple” apparel items that can be purchased at events and online.
The brand’s name has evolved since its establishment in 2023. Originally titled “Outside .IN,” Campbell added “Community Wide Co.” to further specify the importance of the brand’s gathering aspect to its audience. Additionally, “Community Wide Co.’s” acronym, “CWC,” shares the same initials as Campbell and his late father, Chris Campbell
“It’s super important to me to have my dad involved in Outside .IN in any way,” Campbell said.
As the brand grows its outreach and finds new ways to bring people together, Campbell affirms that its community focus will remain as its core.
“My desire for the brand is just to continue to create within the Outside .IN world out of a posture for honesty and care for the community that I’ve been placed in and to tend to needs that I see in the community by creating room,” Campbell said.
To keep up with upcoming Outside IN. Community Wide Co. seasons and pop-up events, visit oicommunity.com or follow @o.i.co on Instagram.
Learning more about the infamous WeatherDan, how he came to NWA, and why he stays
ARTICLE BY MEREDITH PINKSTON | PHOTOGRAPHY
On the night of May 25, 2024, when most were settling in for a typical Memorial Day weekend, a team of people were awake, focused, and watching as the radar predicted the next harrowing hours. One man led the team. He had been preparing, even hours before, at his wife’s birthday dinner. He knew that this would be serious.
By 11:30 p.m. sharp, he was live on air. He and his team provided a constant stream of information to the public until 9:00 a.m.
Two of the largest tornadoes in Arkansas history touched down that night. And through every update, every warning, and every shift in the storm’s path, he and his team remained steady. He was the calm voice thousands of people turned to as the sky changed.
For nearly twenty years, Dan Skoff has been the person Northwest Arkansas relies on when the weather dramatically fluctuates. His job is science, communication, and instinct, shaped by a lifelong fascination with storms and a deep commitment to helping people understand what’s coming.
Dan Skoff always knew he wanted to be a meteorologist. Long before the cameras and awards, and severe late-night weather coverage, Skoff was an eight-year-old kid from Milwaukee, who loved the weather. He constantly asked his father questions, and as the questions began to get more difficult, his father started making up answers. Eventually, he told him, “Why don’t you study this stuff if you love it so much?”
CONTINUED >
“Not every storm is an impact day. But when it is going to be bad, we want people to know,” he said.
“We’re not perfect. No one is, but we do try our best to be as accurate as possible every day.”
Then came the tornado.
A tornado ripped through his city, so close that it shook his house, and ripped an oak tree bare. He remembered emerging from the basement only to find clear skies and a rainbow shining above. As if nothing happened, but only a quarter of a mile away his friend’s house was completely gone.
He had so many questions, but he knew one thing, “I’m studying this stuff for the rest of my life.”
And he did, after receiving his degree from the University of Oklahoma, he began his journey to the meteorologist he is today. First he chased storms in Oklahoma City for a television station.
“There’s nothing like seeing the atmosphere come alive in front of you,” he says. “You study all the equations, all the math, all the models. Then you go out into the field and watch it happen right before your eyes.”
Even now, he still storm chases when he can. He goes when the storms are far enough west that he won’t be needed in the studio.
After Oklahoma City, Dan moved and worked as a weekend meteorologist in Amarillo, Texas, and then worked briefly in Little Rock.
Then in 2006, he was offered a position at KNWA, in the upcoming area of Northwest Arkansas. The place where he and his wife started their family, built a career, and fell in love with.
But, the job of a meteorologist looks different from most, as he arrives at the office around one, and prepares for multiple newscasts: 5, 5:30, 6, 7, 9, 10 p.m.
CONTINUED >
“It can be a lot,” he admits. “My evenings are shot. Concerts, baseball games, I miss a lot of that.”
But it’s worth it, he explains. The work moves so fast, and every day is different, especially in the wintertime, with the unpredictable zones of sleet, snow, freezing rain, and everything in between. Still, he loves the career. He appreciates the challenge of unpredictability, and training new meteorologists for the team, and being able to help the community as they turn to KNWA for understanding.
Because of his respect for the community, Skoff refuses to sensationalize the weather. In a world of social media, seeking clicks and engagement, he constantly seeks to deliver calm and clear news, telling the people what they need to know, not what will get likes. That is the responsibility that comes along with being the voice people turn to and trust.
But social media has had an impact on forecasting, with the large number of messages in frustration. “People call me wrong before the storm even happens,” he says. But he can understand, especially when people experience storm fatigue - even meteorologists themselves. Dan explains when multiple systems miss the region, day after day, people stop believing the next one will hit. Until it does.
That’s why he works so hard to communicate clearly, calmly, and without panic.
“Not every storm is an impact day. But when it is going to be bad, we want people to know,” he said. “We’re not perfect. No one is, but we do try our best to be as accurate as possible every day.”
Their accuracy has been awarded over these years, the team receiving an Emmy nomination for their work handling May 26, 2024, and Dan Skoff personally winning
four Emmys. He is proud of the work that has been poured in to win each award, but he explains his absolute favorite part of the job- the unseen impact of doing the job right.
One moment in his career that still stays with him was from January 2007, when he gave a weather talk to a school in Jane, Missouri. In a crowded gym, Kindergarten through 6th graders sat restless. The projector didn’t work to show his pictures and videos. He wasn’t sure if anyone listened, until days later a teacher reached out. A student’s house was hit by a tornado. A student had remembered exactly what he said and used it to survive.
“That,” he said, “is my favorite part of the job.”
After nearly 20 years in Northwest Arkansas, he still loves the place, the people, and the challenging weather. He loves the purpose.
Because on nights like May 26, when the radar is red and people are scared, looking for any sort of answer, he knows exactly why he does it. Because someone out there is watching, and listening, and he can help save their life.
Cozy hobbit-themed nooks and Ryan Billingsley’s favorite books.
ARTICLE BY SYDNEY SULLIVAN | PHOTOGRAPHY BY MEREDITH MASHBURN
“NOTHING MAKES ME happier THAN SEEING parents SIT IN A NOOK TO READ WITH their kids WHILE THEY’RE here .”
Tucked inside Suite 110 at 2526 E. Mission Blvd., Dad Suggests is the kind of shop Fayetteville didn’t know it needed until now. Walk in, and you’re greeted by thoughtfully curated children’s books, family games, and the warm hum of a space clearly built by someone who genuinely loves this stuff.
That someone is Ryan Billingsley, who started Dad Suggests as a humble parenting blog before turning it into a brick-and-mortar reality. “I just wanted to help other parents find things to enjoy with their kids,” Ryan muses, “and a place to wax nostalgic...and now I get to do both of those things at the bookstore!” The hobbit-themed reading nooks scattered throughout the shop say everything you need to know about his sensibility: this is a place for slowing down, sitting with your kid, and getting lost in a story. “Nothing makes me happier,” Ryan says, “than seeing them sit in a nook to read with their kids while they’re here.”
With summer in full swing, Ryan is sharing his top picks for young readers.
1. Rumpelstiltskin: Written by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Carson Ellis (Ages 4+). One of the most exciting picture books in a while, the classic slightly spooky tale of Rumpelstiltskin is brought to vivid life by two of the best artists working in children’s lit right now.
2. Captain Underpants: The First Epic Manga: Written by Dav Pilkey, illustrated by Motojiro (Ages 6+) The Captain Underpants we all know and love is attempting an epic comeback, going back to the very beginning with an all-new manga art style that’s sure to hook a whole new generation.
3. Alice with a Why: Written by Anna James (Ages 8+). This early chapter book is a perfect, beautiful, silly, and wonderful love letter to Alice in Wonderland, following Alice’s granddaughter Alyce as she returns to Wonderland and asks the big questions.
4. Ghost Book: Written and illustrated by Remy Lai (Ages 10+). Creepy, heartfelt, and utterly unique, this criminally under-the-radar graphic novel follows a girl who sees ghosts and sets out to help one return to his body. Don’t sleep on this one.
Ryan wants Fayetteville to know that the shop’s cozy hobbit-themed reading room is full of books for every age waiting to be discovered. The nooks are designed for sitting down with your kids and building lasting memories, one page at a time.
Dad Suggests is located at 2526 E. Mission Blvd., Suite 110, Fayetteville, AR.
Mojitos invites you to explore their exciting menu created from a collection of recipes featuring founder, John Montes' Mexican and American roots. You will taste it in their food that is freshly prepared every single day with many local ingredients. They offer specialties that reflect the culinary diversity of Mexico with a local flair.
I have been a realtor in the NWA community for many years and work as an executive broker in the Collier and Associates brokerage. Fayetteville has been my home since 2006. when I came for college and never left. With a Marketing degree from the Walton School of Business and a deep love for this community, I’ve built a career helping buyers and sellers navigate the NWA real estate market. Ranked among the top 100 agents in the region, I bring expertise, market insight, and a client-first approach to every transaction. Whether you’re buying, selling, or investing, I’m here to guide you every step of the way. Let’s make your real estate goals a reality!
ARTICLE BY MEREDITH PINKSTON PHOTOGRAPHY BY MEREDITH MASHBURN
Fayetteville in July smells like pure summer. The Ozark heat settles over the city, cold drinks sweat on tabletops, patio fans hum across town, and the unmistakable sizzle of burgers on the grill drifts from Dickson Street to the backroads. On any given night, you can count on finding a spot serving something irresistible. Whether it is a wild, chef-driven creation stacked high with house-made toppings or a college-town classic paired with a pile of greasy, golden fries. Fayetteville has quietly grown into one of the South’s most underrated burger destinations, a place where creativity meets comfort between two buns. This is the definitive guide to the patties that define the city- memorable, sometimes messy, but worth every napkin.
Farrell’s has become a Fayetteville staple by doing the simple things with intention. Their burgers start with fresh, never-frozen beef that’s hand-pattied so the kitchen can work in its own blend of spices, then chargrilled with their house-made garlic salt that gives every bite a signature snap of flavor. The Hangover Burger is the undisputed headliner—a towering stack of hash brown, American cheese, bacon, and an egg over easy that tastes even better than it sounds. The other popular option is the Bleu Cheeseburger, layered with arugula, caramelized onions, creamy bleu cheese, and fig marmalade, a combination that perfects the sweet-savory balance. What makes Farrell’s special is the story behind it. The owner, Tim Farrell Jr., moved to Fayetteville in 1998 for college, fell in love with the restaurant world while working BOH at Georgia’s Gyro, and spent nearly a decade bartending on Dickson Street before finding the perfect spot to build his own place. With help from his cousin, New England Culinary Institute grad William
McCormick, and sous chef Luke Hennigan from the Manhattan Culinary Institute, the first menu came together in 2010—including the now-iconic Hangover Burger,
“We’re a perfect fit for everyone.” Farrell Jr. said, “From college students, Mom, Dad, granny, grandpa, solo flyers or large parties- There’s something on the menu for everyone here.”
Farrell’s has become a staple on Dickson Street thanks to consistently great food, friendly staff, cold beer, and an atmosphere that feels like Fayetteville through and through.
Art’s Place is a Fayetteville institution that doesn’t need flash to prove its point—one bite of the Hog Burger does that on its own. This specific burger is a fresh, hand-pattied beef with bacon and onions mixed right into the meat, cooked hot on the flat-top until the edges crisp, then served up with fries or tots and a drink, a consistent classic. Long before “smash burgers” became a trend, Art’s was already doing them the old-school way: simple, consistent, and focused on the flavor. The flat-top grill is the heart of the place, giving each burger the same unmistakable sear regulars have loved for decades.
What keeps people coming back is the spirit Art built into the restaurant from day one. They have built a true neighborhood spot where anyone can walk in, feel comfortable, and stay awhile. Art imagined something with the warmth of Cheers: familiar faces, friendly energy, and a place where everyone feels welcome. And that’s exactly why Art’s Place still feels timeless. The menu remains steady, the atmosphere is welcoming, and the experience stays reliable. In a town that’s always growing and shifting, Art’s remains a constant, simple and familiar, exactly what people want it to be.
“When you walk into Art’s Place, it feels familiar— like stepping back in time. People know what they’re getting, and that keeps them coming back.”
Hugo’s is Fayetteville’s underground classic, both literally and culturally. Tucked beneath the bustle of Block Avenue, the restaurant has grown in popularity with the dim lights, brick walls, and handwritten specials board that make each customer feel like they’ve been waiting for you. The restaurant opened its doors back in 1977, with a mix of eclectic menu items ranging from the classic cheeseburger to dessert crepes. The Bleu Moon Burger is the longtime favorite. A perfectly cooked patty is topped with bleu cheese and sautéed mushrooms, nailing both an elevated and nostalgic taste. The other popular burger is the Smoky Cheddar burger. Pair one with their hand-cut fries and a pint, and you understand why Hugo’s has been a rite of passage for locals, students, and anyone who wants to feel the heartbeat of Fayetteville.
CJ’s has deep roots in Northwest Arkansas, and that history is part of what gives the place its unmistakable character. The original CJ’s Butcher Boy Burgers opened in Russellville in 2005, built on a simple idea: grind fresh beef in-house, cook it on a blazing flat-top, and serve it fast, hot, and delicious. When the Fayetteville location opened years later, it brought that same old-school approach to town with fresh-ground patties smashed onto the grill, melty cheese, and a flavor that comes from doing the same thing, the same way, perfectly. The CJ’s Classic remains the go-to: A juicy, straightforward burger with lettuce, tomato, and their signature sauce, paired with golden fries that taste. The classic taste that feels as if it came straight out of an old school diner. CJs is special because they know exactly who they are, making burgers the way they’ve always been, with care, heat, and a little bit of nostalgia.
“The classic taste that feels as if it came straight out of an old school diner”
Feltner Brothers on College Street brings a fun, retro, and colorful energy to Fayetteville’s burger scene, complete with stand-up service and a menu full of crowd-pleasers. The restaurant was founded by brothers Travis, Ty, and Grant Feltner, who grew up in a family where hospitality and good food were part of everyday life. They’re also the grandsons of Robert Feltner, founder
of the iconic Feltner’s Whatta-Burger in Russellville—though Feltner Brothers operates independently. Over the years, the Fayetteville spot has become a go-to for families, students, and anyone craving a thick, juicy burger and a loaded basket of fries. The Feltner Burger, a classic cheeseburger topped with their signature Feltner sauce, remains a favorite, while the Shroom Swissalaka—stacked with melted Swiss, caramelized onions, and “Dad’s mushrooms”—has gained its own loyal following. It’s the perfect spot for families to gather after games, students to stop in between classes, and regulars to return because the food is consistent, comforting, and rooted in Arkansas tradition.
ARTICLE BY WILL NEWTON PHOTOGRAPHY BY MEREDITH MASHBURN
LOCATED IN THE EXPANSION OF THE FAYETTEVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY, HANDSHAKE IS AN ALL-DAY CAFE THAT WANTS TO BE YOUR NEXT FAVORITE SPOT.
Hope Ray has always been inspired by the concept of hospitality. She has been involved in the hospitality industry for over 15 years, with positions at Northwest Arkansas staples such as Preacher’s Son, Co-Op Ramen, and Conifer. Now, she’s redefining the intersection between hospitality, meals and local events with the latest addition to the thriving restaurant scene in Fayetteville: Handshake.
Rooted in the heart of the Fayetteville Public Library, Handshake is co-owned by Ray and her business partner and executive chef, Jameson Hall. Ray said the idea for the cafe was to give Fayetteville another option for a “third space,” or a place to spend time away from home and the office. She also wants to provide an establishment where the community can connect over food, art and events while simultaneously promoting the library.
“A goal of Handshake is to enhance the visibility of what the library does, as it’s such a great community resource. I think that the library
has always been a beacon for the community, and we’re incredibly lucky to take over this space and bring a little life to it,” Ray said.
Ray’s devotion to cultivating hospitality led her to the cafe’s title.
“A handshake embodies many things, but it’s ultimately an act of hospitality. It’s extending yourself to meet someone where they are. That’s the perfect embodiment of what we want to do at Handshake – not just extending food and drink to people, but extending our space and who we are. We want you to leave better than you came,” Ray said.
The all-day cafe offers revolving breakfast, lunch, beverage and eveningtime “lounge” menus throughout its operating hours. Each menu is curated by Hall, a former chef at Mockingbird Kitchen. Ray said that she was lucky to cross professional paths with Hall, who matched her excitement to enter a new phase in their careers and open Handshake.
“Jameson is incredibly smart, and he always treats his kitchen with respect. He runs an ‘non-ego kitchen,’ so he’s always trying to make sure that everyone feels safe to learn and knows it’s safe
to fail in his kitchen. I really admired his leadership, and the timing was right, so we took the leap together,” Ray said.
Alongside the cafe’s mission to promote the library, Handshake partners with several local artists and vendors in its Handshake Marketplace. Its offerings include candles, ceramics. calendars, facial oils, magnets, notebooks and more. The marketplace also provides goods from small businesses across the country through Faire, an online platform dedicated to amplifying smaller-sized vendors.
Handshake is so committed to meeting its customers wherever they are, that the cafe has implemented a catering service. Rather if it’s a small office gathering or grandscale banquet, Handshake has got it covered. Check out their catering menu at HandshakeFayetteville.com .
“ WE WANT PEOPLE TO THINK OF US WHEN LOOKING FOR SOMEPLACE FAST TO EAT OR TO JUST SIT AND CHILL ALL DAY.”
Additionally, the cafe implemented a partnership with Canopy NWA, a local nonprofit that supports international refugees. Handshake serves as a pick-up location for Inspired Hands, a program within the nonprofit that provides refugee and immigrant women with an economic avenue to generate income from homemade food, art and products inspired by their culture and heritage.
The cafe also regularly hosts events such as book clubs, foreign language clubs and film clubs. Ray said she hopes to see the cafe extend even farther as an events space. The cafe typically provides its space for free, and, if it can’t, works to provide a free aspect for the event.
“We don’t want there to be any gatekeeping or for budding clubs and organizations to not have a place to represent themselves. We may not always make money from some events, but we’re happy knowing our name got out there while simultaneously giving someone a platform,” Ray said.
Handshake has only operated for a few months, hosting its grand opening in December, but Ray said that the Fayetteville community has already shown an immense amount of support for the cafe’s mission. However, the cafe still feels it has a lot of ground to cover to make their name recognized across the region.
“Our greatest challenge so far is just making people think of us and getting our story and message across. We want people to think of us when looking for someplace fast to eat or to just sit and chill all day. We actually stay open past the library’s hours,” Ray said.
When you’re looking for a place to cool down from the heat this summer, come to Handshake with an arm outstretched – they promise to meet you wherever you are.
AN EXCERPT FROM EPISODE 6 OF SHARE THE LIFESTYLE, A CITY LIFESTYLE PODCAST
Photographer: Brittany Dawn Short
Creative Director: Jen Birn
Stylist: Stephanie Coultress O’Neill
Location: Hotel Saint Cecilia, Austin, TX
MIKE JOHNSON HAS BUILT HIS LIFE AROUND ONE QUIETLY RADICAL IDEA: THE STANDARD YOU SET PRIVATELY IS THE ONLY ONE THAT MATTERS.
After eight years in the Air Force, a celebrated run on national television, and a health crisis abroad that sent him deep into supply chains and ingredient certifications most founders never touch, the result is Oshun — a luxury ritual brand built on provenance you can trace and integrity you can verify. In an exclusive conversation for the Share the Lifestyle podcast, Mike shares what it actually takes to build something worth putting your name on. Read the highlights below, then scan the QR code for the full episode.
Q: YOU BECAME A FAN FAVORITE ON THE BACHELORETTE AND THEN LEFT THE SPOTLIGHT. YOU MOVED TO MEXICO, LEARNED SPANISH, THEN COSTA RICA, AND BUILT A COMPANY. WHAT DID THAT EXPERIENCE TEACH YOU ABOUT HUMAN BEHAVIOR?
A: “If you’re a good person going in, that shows. If you’re not, that shows too. I also learned that people form this parasocial relationship with you — they assume things about you. When all actuality, different circumstances bring out different parts of who you are. I was on TV trying to find love. The kindness people were showing after felt a bit fake, because they wanted to be a part of something that isn’t who I am individually, but a part of what they saw on TV. And so I had to get away from everybody and everything and the noise.”
“Too many people have prayed for me. So I’ve got to get up and do the walking.”
— Mike Johnson
Q: YOU JOINED THE AIR FORCE RIGHT OUT OF COMMUNITY COLLEGE. WHAT WERE YOU ACTUALLY RUNNING TOWARD?
A: “There was something in me that was saying: I’m not living up to my full potential. I was being a follower. My uncle said, ‘What’s going to make you become an adult the fastest?’ I said, obviously, the military. The Air Force broadened my thought process more than anything. We’re so caught up in our own perception — when you learn to understand different people’s perspectives, it adds to you in so many ways.”
Q: WITH OSHUN, YOU OWN YOUR MANUFACTURING, YOU EMPLOY A CHEMIST, EVERY PRODUCT HAS A BATCH NUMBER TRACEABLE TO ITS ORIGIN DATE. WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO GO THAT DEEP WITH THE BRAND?
A: “The EU bans 1,100 ingredients in personal care products. The U.S. bans nine. That’s my starting point. Oftentimes, it might be the same ingredient, but it comes from a place where it doesn’t have the highest purity. And 60% of what we put on our skin is absorbed. Every product Oshun makes carries a batch number that goes back to the exact day it was created — I can show you every single supplier, the date, the origin. I own more than one part of the supply chain because that’s the only way I can stand behind what’s in the bottle.”
This conversation is just the beginning. Mike goes deeper into why he’s buying land up north, the family in the Philippines who prayed over his factory floor, and what he’d tell every person ready to stop performing and start building. Scan the QR code for the full, exclusive City Lifestyle interview on the Share the Lifestyle podcast.
Ryan Hauck, chief executive officer of Experience Fayetteville, is leading the tourism bureau into exciting new times.
ARTICLE BY WILL NEWTON
PHOTOGRAPHY BY EMMA NELSON
Anyone can see that the city of Fayetteville has got a lot going for it. Rather it be the lifetime local who has watched their hometown grow exponentially over the years or the traveling tourist staying in the city as they explore the Ozarks, they can both agree it’s pretty difficult to be bored in the home of the Arkansas Razorbacks. The latest chief executive officer of Experience Fayetteville, the city’s tourism bureau, holds the same belief.
Ryan Hauck, CEO of Experience Fayetteville since July 2025, jumped at the opportunity to call Fayetteville his new home. Hauck previously served as executive director of Cody Yellowstone in Wyoming. Hauck said he initially wasn’t interested in leaving his previous position, but, as he learned about the role, the more excited he grew to take on the challenge.
Hauck said he was intrigued by everything the city had to offer, naming aspects such as its “four seasons” weather, its population size, its foodie culture, its art scene, the Razorback Greenway connectivity and the energy a “thriving SEC university town” cultivates.
“The more I looked into it, I was like, ‘My gosh, this truly might be one of my dream roles,’” Hauck said. “When I finally got through the interview process and I was offered the position, my wife actually said yes before I did, which felt like a great sign.”
Acting as CEO of Experience Fayetteville is a delicate responsibility. The position drives the economic engine behind the city’s touristic happenings. The tourism bureau aids in hosting several beloved local traditions such as Fayetteville Restaurant Week, the Strawberry Festival and Lights of the Ozarks. The organization has also helped usher in new events to the city such as the USA Cycling Cyclocross National Championships. Additionally, Experience Fayetteville and the University of Arkansas partnered to bring international soccer to Arkansas for the first time with the 2026 Club América’s Golden Crash.
The position helps ensure that the organization adheres to the Experience Fayetteville Destination Master Plan, a comprehensive vision
for the city’s future. The plan was led to creation by Fayetteville Mayor Molly Rawn, who previously held Hauck’s position.
“A lot of what we do at Experience Fayetteville is focused on strategically marketing and selling the destination, driving visitation, supporting local businesses and fueling economic impact through non-resident spending. At the same time, we’re intentional about protecting what makes Fayetteville special, ensuring that, as we grow, we retain our culture and our identity as a city,” Hauck said.
The concept of tourism is not just a benefit for the city – it’s a necessity. The core of Fayetteville’s success lies within the strong connections locals have to their hometown, but local love can’t support a city as large as Fayetteville on its own. Tourist attractions bring in financial support that drives the city forward.
Hauck said that tourism is the second largest industry in Arkansas and that the state brought in over $10 billion in direct spending through tourism activity in 2025. He also said that Fayetteville tourism activity in 2025 resulted in seven million visitors that produced $800 million in visitor spending and a 4.9% increase in hotel, motel and restaurant collections, which is Experience Fayetteville’s funding source.
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“…we’re intentional about protecting what makes Fayetteville special, ensuring that, as we grow, we retain our culture and our identity as a city.”
Alongside driving the city’s touristic attractions, Experience Fayetteville is responsible for any events that are held at the Fayetteville Town Center, such as nonprofit banquets, corporate events or concerts.
“That’s a huge community asset that we have here. We make sure that we’re able to host all sorts of groups. Not just the Fortune 500-type events, but also making sure we’re partnering with our local nonprofits as well,” Hauck said.
As he nears the end of his first year as Experience Fayetteville’s CEO, Hauck is already thinking far into the future. He recognizes that the region of Northwest Arkansas is constantly receiving nationwide attention as one of the best places to live and as one of the fastest growing areas in the country. He hopes to utilize this momentum to increase the city’s already thriving sports attractions. In tandem with the Razorback sporting events, Experience Fayetteville is working to take advantage of the natural landmarks such as Mt. Kessler and Centennial Park for its biking trails. Additionally, the city’s upcoming aquatic center has potential to bring aquatic sporting teams to Fayetteville.
Hauck also helped secure a five-year partnership between Experience Fayetteville and a local nonprofit, Northwest Arkansas Equality, helping to strengthen and sustain their many community festivals in Fayetteville and the surrounding region.
“This partnership reflects who we are as a community and where we’re headed... We’re excited to support NWA Equality through long-term commitments that help strengthen Fayetteville’s identity... while keeping the community at the heart of what we do,” Hauck said in a news release.
Additionally, Experience Fayetteville implemented a collection of free industry training programs, including a program that teaches participants how to become professional influencers. Skills classes include food photography, social media management and launching campaigns.
The organization also plans on taking advantage of the city’s trail connectivity and launching a new tradition: “trailgating.” After an afternoon spent downtown, Razorback game attendees will march through the Razorback Greenway into HogTown to prepare for the game.
Check out Experience Fayetteville to view the city’s upcoming events calendar, plan out your next adventure or learn more about Fayetteville’s restaurant scene.
“That’s a huge community asset that we have here. We make sure that we’re able to host all sorts of groups. Not just the Fortune 500-type events, but also making sure we’re partnering with our local nonprofits as well.”
We take skin seriously.
