Hostess Brands began producing Donettes at its newly renovated “Bakery of the Future” in Gum Springs. Arkadelphia’s beloved Sonic Drive-In mysteriously closed for several weeks, then re-opened. Clark County lost some, and gained some. Here’s a glance at some of local business news in 2023:
Arkadelphia Plaza under new management as former owner implied in embezzlement
$2.45 million in unpaid debt led to a court-ordered change in management at the strip mall on W.P. Malone Drive.
What was once home to a Sam Goody music store, Firehouse Subs, Hibbett Sports and other go-to shopping destinations for locals is now almost entirely vacant. FIND OUT WHAT THE PREVIOUS OWNER was spending his fortunes on by clicking the article below:
Veolia kiln landed in Clark County after Atlantic cruise, grueling road journey
Admittedly, the most exciting news for us this year was chasing a 300-ton pipe as crews inched across the vast Gulf Coastal Plain of Arkansas. If you haven’t heard about the Veolia Kiln by now, chances are you’ve been living in an incinerator.
Local history was made in Gum Springs as a 600,000-pound incinerator made it to its final destination after a month-long barge journey. FOLLOW ALONG as we talk to the crew responsible for the six-day road trip by clicking the article below:
Walgreens acquired Brookshire’s pharmacy
The sign welcoming customers to Brookshire’s, added during a 2022 remodel, is now a little misleading as the Texas-based grocery chain sold its tri-state-area pharmacies to Walgreens. (Editor’s note: We’re still waiting on a phone call from Brookshire’s)
The acquisition includes pharmacy customer prescription files and related pharmacy inventory. READ MORE about the acquisition by clicking the article below:
Arkadelphia Sonic Drive-In closed. Then it opened again.
People are infatuated with fast food, and we’ve got the numbers to prove it. Aside from our home page, our article about Sonic Drive-In’s closure was the site’s top hit in 2023, attracting the attention of more than 63,000 readers. The good news for coney lovers is that this popular eatery wasn’t closed for long.
When a student worker at Henderson State University finished his shift one evening last week, he placed a food order at Sonic using the company’s mobile app. ORDER HERE and read more by clicking the article below:
Hostess Brands invested in Clark County
The news with the most local impact is, by and large, the Hostess Brands investment in Clark County. At last count the company has created upwards to 150 local jobs.The first marketable Donettes rolled off the production line in the fourth quarter.
A year after inking a $2 million agreement with the Economic Development Corp. of Clark County, Hostess Brands announced it is on track to start testing operations in Gum Springs. TREAT YOURSELF to our latest update (we weren’t invited to help celebrate the official opening) by reading the August article below:
You voted. We gave out the awards.
We’d like to say we took a break in mid-2023 to give out our reader-nominated “Best Of” awards, but the endeavor took quite a bit of effort on our part. It was worth it, and we look forward to our second annual contest in mid-2024.
Arkadelphian.com readers were given the opportunity to cast a vote in our inaugural Readers Choice Awards. AND THE WINNERS WERE (insert drum roll here):
Ouachita Valley Meats opened a butcher shop, deli
The locally owned Ouachita Valley Meats is a real treat for those who like barbecuing or browsing a selection of farm-to-table meats.
“There’s just something about working with family, to be with people who have your back, who are there to help you.” READ MORE about the historic Huneycutt operation and their decision to open up shop in the article below:
Pallet mill operation created jobs in Gurdon
McKinzie Farms received a tax incentives package in March to breathe new life into a closed Gurdon sawmill.
With 58 employees, McKinzey Farms plans to add 21 new jobs to its current operation and purchased the Anthony-Higgins sawmill site. READ MORE about the operation in the article below:
KFC got plucked in $1M bypass acquisition
In the largest land acquisition to make way for the Arkadelphia Bypass, the Arkansas Department of Transportation bought the Arkadelphia KFC restaurant for $1.1 million, then tore it down months later. Still no word on whether Popeye’s is interested in opening up shop here.
A favorite for many lovers of fried chicken, the decades-old establishment at 921 Clinton St. became a pile of rubble in a matter of hours on Nov. 8. READ MORE in the article below:
Dairy Queen got scooped up unexpectedly
On a cold December evening, Dairy Queen employees and Blizzard lovers alike were taken by surprise — some might even say they were turned upside-down — when You Scream Holdings locked the doors on the Arkadelphia DQ location. A locally viral Facebook post put the owner on blast (or Blizzard?), and while there is plenty of speculation as to why it was closed, our attempts to contact the proprietor by phone and email went unanswered.
After Dairy Queen had closed, Arkadelphia police responded there for a complaint of one customer who had words with the owner in protest of the closing. READ MORE in the article below:
Read more about local business news in 2023 by clicking here and browse the headlines for items you might want to learn more about. Click “More Posts” to view older articles.