Little Rock Tornado Marks a First for Colony West Owner

Every business in the Colony West Shopping Center in Little Rock was heavily damaged during the March 31st tornado. (Karen E. Segrave)

Only a few minutes after touching ground and exploding through Calais Forest Apartments and the Walnut Valley neighborhood, the March 31 tornado swirled on a collision course for Little Rock’s Colony West Shopping Center.

The twister crossed Interstate 430 at the Rodney Parham Road exit packing triple-digit wind speeds after toppling a cell tower and bulldozing a trail of mangled trees, dwellings and overhead utility lines.

The tornado slammed through the 90,269-SF retail project at 10300 N. Rodney Parham Road — a first for its owner, Midland Atlantic Properties.

“I’ve been involved with shopping centers since 1982, and we own properties in 17 states,” said John Silverman, co-founder and managing principal in the firm’s Cincinnati office. “This is the first time it has ever happened to us.”

Midland Atlantic purchased Colony West for $8.5 million two years ago. The nearly 8-acre development, a shopping destination since 1972, is its only Arkansas asset.

“Our property suffered a pretty good bit of damage,” Silverman said. “I suspect a couple of the buildings will be put back in service during the next 60-90 days.”

At the top of the list is the anchor tenant: a 46,329-SF Kroger. Other stand-alone buildings at Colony West include the 4,280-SF Senor Tequila restaurant-American Gold & Silver Exchange building, 1,320-SF Hungry Howie’s Pizza and 1,760-SF Simmons Bank branch.

The 36,580-SF building that houses a row of businesses is another story.

“We had a lot of roof damage and a lot of damage to the store fronts and the insides of the stores,” Silverman said.

This piece of Colony West was home to a State Farm Insurance office, Great Clips, Hibachi Express, Jess’ Threading & Beauty Salon, Rock City Runner, Protein Bar, Luv Nail Salon, West Little Rock Eye Care and Trek.The roster of tenants on the north side of the building included Find Antiques, Paw Spa, and Tree of Life.