New businesses are always opening their doors across Arkansas. Here is a roundup of some of the latest additions.
Manufacturing Center
Swarm Aero, a developer of large uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) swarms, has opened an advanced manufacturing center in Fayetteville.
The new 80,000-SF facility will accelerate the development and deployment of the companyâs large UAV. Based in Oxnard, California, Swarm aims to produce thousands of UAVs and create hundreds of high-skill aerospace jobs over the next decade in Arkansas.
“We looked at over 20 states before deciding to put down manufacturing roots in Fayetteville,” Danny Goodman, Swarm’s CEO and co-founder, said in a press release. “Large UAVs are the future of armed conflict. When paired with our swarm command and control software, they can achieve major combat objectives by cooperating with superhuman dexterity while being several times cheaper than traditional aircraft. This is one of the most consequential developments in modern conflict and we have built an exceptionally talented engineering team to bring this vision to life.â
The press release stated that Swarmâs mission is to renew American air power by making large UAVs that allow the U.S. to defend itself and its allies without putting pilots in harmâs way. Swarmâs approach to producing composite airframes aims to produce manufacturing volumes not seen since World War II.
The facility is located at the Drake Field airport in Fayetteville.
Upscale Sports Bar
Parlay on 8th, an elevated sports bar, has officially opened at the 8th Street Market in Bentonville. The bar is owned and operated by Eversted Hospitality Group, which also operates the Lone Owl Pub in Chicago and Hardwater Cocktail Room in Bentonville.
The space is based around large floor shuffleboard, but also features pool tables and “wall-to-wall” televisions.
The shuffleboard floor is a remnant of the former occupier of the space, The Holler, which closed in 2020.
“Weâre a neighborhood gathering place serving elevated takes on sports-bar classics, thoughtfully crafted cocktails and an atmosphere built for connection,” the restaurant’s website states.
Hotel Vin
A new hotel plans to open in Rogers this summer, recently announcing David Lang as its general manager and Heather Fox as its director of sales. Hotel Vin, a “lifestyle property” from Coury Hospitality of Texas, will be a 125-room boutique hotel.
The property will feature “stylish” rooms and suites, an outdoor pool, “elevated” dining venues and more than 10,000 SF of meeting and event space, among other amenities.
The Vin Hotel Collection focus on wine driven experiences, education and active culinary programming.
New Brewery
Buckman Brewhouse officially opened in Cabot last month at 114 W. Pine St., a former fire station for the City of Cabot.
The brewery is owned and operated by Chris and Kim Robbins, and Joshua and Reanna Smith. It offers a full craft beer menu, food menu and an in-house bakery with a sourdough bread case.
Swim Schools
SafeSplash Swim School is opening two new locations in Little Rock this month. The new SafeSplash Little Rock locations will be located inside the Genesis Health Clubs at 304 S. University Ave. and 11700 Chenal Pkwy.
Both locations will be owned and operated by Adam and Ruth Byars, experienced swim professionals who already operate four SafeSplash locations in and around Memphis.
Both Little Rock locations will offer the newly launched S.A.F.E.R. Swimmer Promise, a structured swim program designed to achieve clear, outcome-driven results, serving as a key differentiator in the swim school space. The program promises tangible results within one year and is designed to address the childhood drowning epidemic by teaching critical skills, including floating, rolling to breathe and swimming to safety.
SafeSplash operates more than 200 schools across the country.
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