Bill Valentine’s Ballpark Restaurant, the Italian restaurant at Dickey-Stephens Ballpark in North Little Rock, will close next Friday, March 27, sources tell ArkansasBusiness.com.
The media relations department for the Arkansas Travelers referred calls for comment to the team’s general manager, Pete Laven, who did not respond to multiple calls.
An earlier version of this story reported that the closure would come on Monday, but ArkansasBusiness.com has since learned that Friday will be the last day.
The closure likely stems from the retirement of the Travelers’ long-time chief operating officer and executive vice president, Bill Valentine. Valentine announced his retirement on Tuesday. It went into effect March 10.
On Thursday, a report in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette said the restaurant would remain open despite Valentine’s departure.
"With Bill’s retirement, we’re going to take another look at it and see what the best direction to go is," Laven told the newspaper. "But as for now, it’s business as usual."
"I don’t see it not being open … especially with baseball season coming up," Laven also said. "It wouldn’t probably benefit us to close it at this time."
The restaurant generated revenue of $1.08 million, excluding alcoholic beverages, during the nine months it was open in 2007. The eatery reported $1.02 million for the entire calendar year 2008.
"I’ve been in baseball for almost 60 years," Valentine said in a news release announcing his retirement. "Over the past couple of years, I think the daily grind has gotten to me a bit. Most nights I have been the last person to leave the ballpark, and I’m usually here seven days a week. I’ve just gotten tired."
At this point, there is no word as to what will be done with the space.
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