Chamber Celebrates 100th Business to Open in Downtown Hot Springs since the 2014 Majestic Hotel Fire
(Hot Springs, AR) May 3, 2018 – On Thursday, the Greater Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce celebrated the 100th new business to open in downtown Hot Springs since the 2014 Majestic Hotel fire with a special ribbon cutting at Vault, the highly anticipated new downtown restaurant.
“One hundred new businesses opening in four years is an incredible milestone. It’s real proof of a very strong economy in downtown Hot Springs,” said Cole McCaskill, Vice President of Economic Development with the Hot Springs Metro Partnership.
“Even more impressive is that of the 100 new businesses, 90 of them are still open and 66 of them were net-new additions to downtown, meaning they occupied and opened in a retail space that was previously vacant as opposed to replacing a recently closed business.”
In addition to 100 new businesses since the fire, Downtown Hot Springs has seen 82 commercial property sales and more than $80 million in investment.
The Majestic Hotel was one of Hot Springs’ oldest structures. It unfortunately that became dormant and fell into disrepair before catching fire in February 2014.
The loss of one of Hot Springs’ historic and iconic buildings mobilized city and business leaders into action to revitalize and preserve the downtown area. Downtown Hot Springs, “America’s First Resort,” is famous nationwide for its history and culture. It is important to the people of Hot Springs to see this area flourish.
In the weeks following the fire, civic groups formed the “Downtown Game Plan Task Force” comprised of community leaders and downtown stakeholders that sought to prevent future tragedies like the fire and to improve the course of downtown which had suffered from a lack of investment for several decades.
That group met publicly and privately for four months and ultimately released a set of recommendations for the progress of downtown. The HSMP adopted those recommendations as a strategy and hired McCaskill as downtown development director in June 2014.
Each year since the fire, downtown has experienced subsequent rising investment levels.
In 2015, downtown saw the nearly year-long master planning process from ideation to completion with the facilitation by Thomas P. Miller and Associates from Indianapolis.
That strategic planning process sought input from downtown business owners, Garland County residents and visitors for what they’d like to see in downtown. The Downtown Redevelopment Guide was published and its goals and strategies were adopted to provide a framework for growth and development for downtown by the City of Hot Springs and the HSMP.
The Chamber and HSMP look forward to future growth and expansion in the downtown area.
The 100 New Businesses Opened Downtown Since Majestic Fire:
1. Kilwins Chocolates
2. Kollective Coffee+Tea
3. Wolfheart Gallery
4. All Things Natural
5. Render Creative Group
6. Henderson State University- Hot Springs
7. Copper Penny Pub
8. Oxy-Zen
9. Mountain’s Edge (significant remodel and reopening)
10. Bathhouse Row Winery
11. Tropical Winery
12. Deluca’s Pizza
13. Air FX Heat & Air
14. Evil-O Olive Oils
15. Café 135
16. 4D Adventure
17. State & Pride Provisions Co.
18. Red Light Roastery
19. KUHS Community Radio
20. Mountain Valley Armory
21. Red Sunflower Boutique
22. Hotel Hot Springs
23. Rock Paper Scissors Salon
24. Dakotas Hair Designs
25. Vina Morita (move and expansion)
26. Gr8 Escapes Arkansas
27. Zoe’s In The District
28. Gehrki Commercial Real Estate
29. Dapper & Debonair
30. Rocket Fizz
31. The Civil War Museum West
32. Tosha Kitchen
33. Escape Hot Springs
34. A Narrow Escape
35. Magic Springs Retail Store
36. J.J.’s Peddie Cabs
37. Quarters Café
38. Brick City Pizza
39. Prohibition Press
40. Park Avenue Coin Shop
41. Hot Springs Village Discovery Center
42. Gypsy Girl
43. Craft Beer Cellar
44. Kringles in the Park
45. Maharaja Boutique
46. Galaxy Connection
47. Spa City Cycling
48. ESQ. Realty Group
49. Crow Law Firm
50. Metaphysical Connection
51. The Waters Hotel
52. The Avenue
53. Blush Boutique
54. Spa Souvenirs
55. Pour Some Sugar on Me Sweet Shoppe
56. Downtowner Marketplace
57. Direct Insurance
58. Revelation Teens
59. Whittington Gallery
60. Mountain Valley Armory (new construction & expansion)
61. Ambrosia Bakery
62. State & Pride Provisions Co. (Doubled in Size)
63. A Bite of Hot Springs
64. Riley Art Glass Studio
65. Beef Jerky Outlet
66. Odie & Tilly’s Boutique
67. Park Avenue Food Court/ Its Gud Fud
68. Dame Fortune’s Cottage Court
69. Thai-Me and Argentinian Coffee
70. Legoria’s Rhythm and Rocks Jazz Bistro
71. Plum & Pretty Boutique
72. Dogs on the Run- Hot Dog Vendor- Arlington Park
73. The Loft Salon & Spa
74. NU2U
75. Wills Cinnamon Shop
76. Roanoke Church Whittington
77. Lox Salon
78. Home Instead
79. Jack Knife Barbershop
80. Next Gen Tie-dyes & Apparel
81. TLI Print- (Property Acquisition, Renovation and Expansion)
82. Mirror, Mirror Salon
83. Belle of Hot Springs Retail Store
84. Bubba Brews Spa City Taproom
85. Maxwell Blade’s Malco
86. Oddities Museum
87. Culinary District Cafe
88. Handmade Holiday Shop
89. SQZBX
90. Park Avenue Parking Lot
91. TRex Fun Spot (new construction and expansion)
92. Grateful Head Pizza
93. Urban Living & Development
94. Core Public House
95. Hot Springs Advertising
96. Healthy Connections Administration Office
97. Majestic Bakery & Café
98. ParadICE Cream
99. Taylor’s Lunchbox
100. Vault
The Greater Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce is Hot Springs’ leading advocate and champion for business.
For further information, contact Mara Kuhn at 501.321.1700 or mara.kuhn@growinghotsprings.com
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