A former church, shown here in 2012, will be the new home for The Belfry at 201 NW A Street in Bentonville.
Two new restaurant projects for downtown Bentonville were announced Friday: The Belfry and the relocation of the Pressroom.
RopeSwing, a boutique hospitality company in Bentonville, is behind the projects, which will hold soft openings this summer. The Belfry will open in a renovated 111-year-old church on the downtown square. RopeSwing is in the process of purchasing the Pressroom, a popular restaurant on the square, and will move it to the new Midtown Center across the square from the restaurant’s current location.
“We are excited to announce these two projects and our commitment to helping continue the growth and development in northwest Arkansas to make this region an amazing place to call home, invest in and explore for people of all ages and backgrounds,” said Mike Abb, RopeSwing’s director of marketing, in a news release.
The Belfry location, undergoing an extensive renovation, will feature a restaurant as well as basement and rooftop lounges. The restaurant will offer “contemporary American cuisine” as well as locally and regionally grown food, according to the news release. Executive Chef Matt Cooper, formerly of Cache in Little Rock, will lead the Belfry’s culinary efforts.
The basement lounge at the Belfry will be called the Old 71 and offer food and drinks with late-night weekend hours. The rooftop lounge will be on top of the old church. Abb said it will offer a “great view and ambiance.”
“We’re hoping this will be an ideal location for people to socialize after hours,” he said.
The new Pressroom, officially becoming part of RopeSwing’s business operations, will expand its seating and menu and ultimately offer catering and live music. The restaurant was founded by RopeSwing director of operations Rob Apple and his wife, Bea.
Their new executive chef will be Michael Robertshaw, whom Apple describes as “an acclaimed chef who has worked in several successful restaurants in Seattle.” Robertshaw plans to pair a Pacific Northwest haute cuisine with traditional northeast Italian comfort foods for this next rendition of The Pressroom, he said.
“I’m excited for the future of not only the Pressroom, but all of the restaurants and cultural offerings in Bentonville,” Apple said. “Development is happening all around us, and RopeSwing will play our part in ensuring we keep the momentum going. There are many people that have worked hard to put Bentonville on the map and put the infrastructure in place for continued growth. RopeSwing wants to build on that momentum and be a part of the growing group of people dedicated to ensuring northwest Arkansas is a top destination for food, culture and entertainment.”
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