Alright, I can’t really answer ALL your questions, but this blog should help a lot. We started talking about the Hurricane Village project in 2011, before we knew what to call it yet.
- Kroger to Alcoa Road? Posted Apr 2011
- Kroger to Alcoa Road?Posted by Jeffrey Hughey on April 3, 2011 at 10:26am
Word is that Kroger has the land beside/behind the Pilot gas station under contract to build a Kroger store. Also it is only going to build if the out parcels in front of the proposed store is sold to future tenants.Reply by Shelli Poole on April 4, 2011 at 12:47am
The part at Alcoa and Hwy 5, or facing I-30? Either way, that’s darn close to where there’s a Harp’s.Reply by Griff Collier on April 4, 2011 at 3:11am
A Kroger would be OK, but my wife is still anxiously awaiting the day that Hobby Lobby comes to Benton, or even Bryant. Her life would be complete….Reply by Dave Thomas on April 4, 2011 at 7:43am
I’m with Shelli. It doesn’t make sense to have a Krogers so close to Harps. All this will do is cut both of their business in half. Behind Walmart in Bryant would be a much better locationReply by Jeffrey Hughey on April 4, 2011 at 8:27am
I agree with it being close to Harp’s. Also, if your at the corner of Hwy 5 and Alcoa Road you can see the land for sale sign up with a Under Contract across the middle of it now. Not sure how much land is there or if it goes to the frontage road. Just something I heard last week.Reply by Pam Harcrow on April 4, 2011 at 8:40am
There is lots of land (and no grocery stores) from Sav A Lot all the way to Bryant!!
{{{ Have I mentioned that before? }}} lolReply by Al Thompson on April 7, 2011 at 6:19pm
Perhaps a Kroger’s the size of the one on Highway 10 where they have 10x the floor space and a wider variety of food products and combine it with a strip mall that offers other goods and services.Reply by Cheryl on April 11, 2011 at 10:40pm
Would Kroger build a new store when they just remodeled the one in Benton a year or 2 ago?Reply by Shelli Poole on April 11, 2011 at 11:11pm
Not enough room for that by Pilot, but there is on the Interstate…Al Thompson said:
Perhaps a Kroger’s the size of the one on Highway 10 where they have 10x the floor space and a wider variety of food products and combine it with a strip mall that offers other goods and services.Reply by Mark Harris on April 11, 2011 at 11:32pm
forget another grocery store. we need a Cabela’s between the interstate and Hurricane Lake.Reply by Wendy Friend on April 12, 2011 at 8:53am
Academy Sports or Dick’s Sporting Goods would be perfect!
Then we heard rumors and Kroger employees found out some things but no official announcement.
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ew Shopping Center Coming to Highway 5 N & Alcoa Road
I kept getting questions about the property at Highway 5 North at Alcoa Road, and now, a few years after the vine-covered house was torn down and the lot was initially cleared of brush, we finally have a sign that says a 200,000 square-foot shopping center will go in there.
Remember this spring when I stumbled over a document on the big beautiful internet that showed somebody has a plan to put a Kroger + a gaggle of other storefronts in right there? I am assuming this is that, but I’ve not verified it (have you?) so I’ll squeeze in one or more investigative maneuvers between preteen taxi-ing and graphic design for MySaline’s newest sponsor. Here are some pretty pictures to ogle while you wait.
Looking southward from the shoulder of Highway 5 North, at the intersection with Alcoa Road.
(below)Looking northward from the edge of the Pilot station parking lot.
- Will a new Kroger be here or there? Posted May 2013
Then we did get an official announcement last year about this time.
- Finally! The Official Announcement for the New Shopping Center at A… Posted May 2014
- Big New Benton Shopping Center Groundbreaking Friday, Goal to Open … Posted July 2014
And over the past several months, we’ve seen dirt move, framework go up, and now there’s even a sign up on Academy Sports. Not only that, but they’re hiring now for that location.
- The new Academy Sports & Outdoors in Benton will be opening soon and is currently hiring full and part-time employees. Applications can be completed online at www.academy.com/careers or in person at the hiring kiosk located at 20790 Interstate 30-N.
Over and over though, the question I hear is…
“What restaurants/businesses will be in that shopping center?”
The answer is not for certain, but the site plan from The Retail Connection can give us an idea. Click here for the big pdf, or look below for the layout to see who is definite and who is a maybe. If you have any more questions after this – or any new info to add – post them in the comments section.
LOI = Letter of Intent
These are the storefronts facing Highway 5 North. Listed available is one on the east end. Listed in the works are Medical, Batteries Plus, Framing, UPS & Cleaners. Listed as having a Letter of Intent is Tide Dry Cleaners.
These stores are at the corner of Highway 5 North and Alcoa Road. In the works are Jason’s Deli, Panda Express and tanning. Letter of Intent are a bank, Slim Chickens, AT&T, [something I can’t read], nail salon and Tropical Smoothie. With a lease are SportClips and Monarch Dental. Executed anchor is Academy Sports & Outdoors.
This is just a closeup of the smaller strip above. Can you read the word in pink? I can’t.
These stores are facing the Interstate, right at the Exit 121 off-ramp. In the works is a Chuy’s restaurant. With a Letter of Intent are and urgent care and Longhorn Steakhouse.
In the middle of all this, on the east side of Academy, is a Kroger Marketplace, the largest executed anchor.
Comment by Debbie Ball on December 3, 2015 at 4:00pm
Any word on Chuy’s or Longhorn? Maybe I’ve missed something but haven’t heard anything else about them coming….
Comment by Shelli Poole on April 11, 2015 at 12:54am
As a young Shelli, I used to ask my parents to take me to Red Lobster every birthday.
Comment by Renea Sturch Landreth on April 10, 2015 at 10:07pm
If you go to the Retail Connection’s website and pull up the site plan for the Benton Town Center, they show a Red Lobster/Olive Garden combo restaurant (both are owned by Dardens) on the map.
Comment by Shelli Poole on April 9, 2015 at 9:12pm
Yes, that’s a tragic story that I hope has a happy ending. We’ll have to wait to see what the bowling alley turns into.
Comment by Brian Handel on April 9, 2015 at 8:12pm
Everything I always wanted to know about the new shopping center but was afraid to ask. Now if we only had a bowling alley.
Comment by Ben Brigman on April 9, 2015 at 3:41pm
Town center would be good
Comment by Ben Brigman on April 9, 2015 at 3:40pm
Saline county is growing up.
Comment by Shelli Poole on April 9, 2015 at 2:30pm
The people who would be able to confirm that probably wouldn’t dare do so because of the competition & PR aspects. However, the rumor I’ve heard people repeated say is that Red Lobster might be at exit 114 at Benton Town Center.
Comment by Ben Brigman on April 9, 2015 at 12:35pm
I heard that Red Lobster was also going in the Hurricane Shopping Center….Can someone confirm that?
Comment by Shelli Poole on April 8, 2015 at 12:30pm
Somebody on Facebook just said that too. I think they might be planning it as an additional location.
Comment by Debbie Ball on April 8, 2015 at 12:18pm
The word in pink is Menchie’s which is a yogurt place. I couldn’t read it for the longest time either and then I saw the same sign at Alcoa Exchange where Lemon Tree used to be. Not sure if they plan to move or if something else will take that spot.
Comment by Jerell Mullens on September 23, 2013 at 11:17pm
I think I saw another sign on the service road just east of the Firestone Bldg. that looked like the one on Hwy.5. They may just have plans for a drive from that side of the shopping center.
Who knows, I don’t.
Comment by Debbie Sikes on September 23, 2013 at 1:37pm
If true – YEAH!!!!!
Comment by guy chenault on September 23, 2013 at 11:50am
I too heard over the weekend that Kroger will be building there with construction to begin this week and they hope to open within a a year. We shall see!
Comment by Thelma Edwards Poole on September 20, 2013 at 10:48pm
My friend who is a retiree from Kroger says they are building there.
Comment by mary deitemeyer on September 19, 2013 at 1:24pm
would love to see some new blood–Carraba’s, Red Robin, Macy’s, Bagel Shop, Steak & Shake, Nathan’s, a real delicatessen (cold cuts, crunchy italian breads, fresh cream cheeses,a few hot lunch dishes for take out) or maybe just a Pizzeria that sells slices, like up north, and calzones, a few quickie pasta dishes and real garlic knots–wow.
Comment by Nicole Steves on September 19, 2013 at 10:00am
The last thing we need is anything owned or related to Walmart. I’m hoping it is anything BUT a Walmart affiliated store 🙂
Comment by C J Bearden on September 19, 2013 at 9:10am
We need a Sam’s Club store in that area or near Bryant’s Wal-Mart! Shoe stores and Plus Size Women’s/Men’s Stores would be nice. Truly hope we do get a Kroger in or near Bryant. Olive Garden, Red Lobster and a Texas Roadhouse would be great.
Comment by christopher shane criddle on September 19, 2013 at 1:13am
walmart supposed to put a neighborhood market there.and red lobster is coming too. Kroger is supposed to be behind walmart in Bryant in that open spot.my boss said.
Comment by Chris on September 18, 2013 at 11:09pm
Thank God we don’t have to vote on this whatever shows up. Benton residents would kill it.
Comment by Ashley Hatcher on September 18, 2013 at 11:07pm
confession… I’d love an As Seen On TV store lol.
garden ridge would rock
Comment by Ashley Hatcher on September 18, 2013 at 11:04pm
an American Eagle, shoe store like shoe carnival etc, Hmmm…
Comment by Benita on September 18, 2013 at 10:37pm
Would love to see a Marshalls or TJMaxx, and a nice breakfast restaurant.
Comment by Ashley Hatcher on September 18, 2013 at 10:28pm
we need an olive garden lol
Comment by Debbie Sikes on September 18, 2013 at 9:40pm
I remember when there were 2 Harvest Foods in Benton for quite a while. I had ‘heard’ that Kroger and all that was going to go out near the exit for the old state hospital. I wasn’t pleased about that location.
I would LOVE for all this to go in per the above referenced design. We’ve heard about this more than once from sources other than Saline.com and then you also. I’m not sure if they were holding off until highway 5 was widened by the state all the way to Longhills? I think. They haven’t done much prep work for that (the state highway dept). I’ve wanted a Kroger store near us for a LONG time. I like their produce and meat departments. Yes, we have Harp’s and Edwards – but they are generally more expensive (especially their deli, it seems).
I had heard that JC Penney, Marshalls and something else was going to be in the shopping center w/Kroger when it was mentioned as being located out past the Saline River. To me that is getting into a distance where I could go to Little Rock instead. With gas prices what they are everything matters.
When will we hear of actual proposals to these rumors? Anything a done deal yet, Shelli?
Comment by Shelli Poole on September 18, 2013 at 9:33pm
I wish I knew!
Comment by Ashley Hatcher on September 18, 2013 at 7:27pm
any idea what stores we may get?
Comment by Shelli Poole on September 18, 2013 at 7:23pm
It does seem odd to me that Kroger would put another location so close to the one on Military. Is Whole Foods affiliated with Kroger?
Comment by Amanda Bradley on September 18, 2013 at 6:22pm
IF there is any good in life then a Whole Foods will come. If not then I will pout and stomp. And drive to Little Rock