benton,ar (Little Rock, Hope: live, restaurants, shops)

[gptaz]

Just discovered Benton on-line. Looks like it might meet all my needs. Car club, golf, housing, and library. Now, how about Mom and Pop cafes and a good catfish place?

gptaz

[woopig_sooie]

This a southern town with over 20,000 people. There will definately be some mom and pop shops as well as a good catfish restaurant. If not then something is horribly wrong with the town.

[JeffAtkins]

Benton has one of those downtowns centered around an old courthouse, very cool. I'll talk to some friends that live there about cafes and catfish, I can't think of anything other than the all-you-can-eat. Recently, several of the big-chain restaurants have moved in... Dixie Cafe, Applebees, Chili's, etc. Jerry VanDyke had an ice cream parlor there at one time, but I think it closed.

[woopig_sooie]

Benton is a bedroom city to Little Rock. It along with the whole LR Metro is growing at an alarming rate. Large chain stores are popping up on every corner. That being said, Benton may lose any small town feel it has over the next 20 years or so. Just something to keep in mind.

[gptaz]

Thanks guys for the quick responses. The idea of rapid growth is something to consider. I love downtown squares if they still function. I have seen some which seem to wither up and die due to new malls. Others however, become quiet areas with nice shops. Hopefully, Benton survives.
One positive about rapid growth is that property owners will realize increased worth of their property. If the powers that be in Benton plan ahead the growth can be controlled and good things can happen to the city.

gptaz