Restaurant news: Axis Lounge, Dot’s Nashville Hot Chicken, MJ Pizzeria, and more

Do you know what time it is? It’s time for some restaurant news.

Here’s what we know about several places that have opened, closed, or plan to soon open in Fayetteville.

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MJ Pizzeria

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Local chef Miles James is working to build a pizzeria/coffee shop in east Fayetteville.

James, best known as the chef/owner of James at the Mill, got into the pizza business a few years ago when he opened the first MJ Pizzeria in Springdale. Now, he’s planning to open a second location in Fayetteville, across from the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks on Crossover Road.

The new restaurant will feature wood-fired pizzas, homemade pastas, salads, appetizers, and a bar with an extensive wine, craft beer, and cocktail selection. It will also include a working garden, patio, and open kitchen design. The building will house a coffee shop featuring locally-roasted coffee and baked goods.

James said he is still in the planning and design phase, and doesn’t have a timeline or estimated opening date at this time.

Once open, the restaurant will serve lunch and dinner seven days a week.

ROTC

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Fayetteville lost an institution last month.

After more than 40 years in business, Restaurant on the Corner, or ROTC as it is affectionately known locally, closed its doors May 31.

We’re told that longtime owner TL Nelms is retiring.

The restaurant, well known for its laid-back, casual atmosphere, and food including burgers, sandwiches, nachos, pizzas and, of course, weekend brunch, got its start on Dickson Street in 1973.

The plan is to also leave the bar area on the south side of the building open through the end of June, so there’s time for a few more happy hours.

Thank for the memories, ROTC.

Cantina 1836

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A new Tex-Mex food truck has opened in the Yacht Club on College Avenue.

The folks behind neighboring truck Big Sexy Food have opened up the new place, called Cantina 1836.

The restaurant serves fajitas, tacos, tostadas, and enchiladas.

It is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Southern Food Company

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A new southern-inspired restaurant opened on Wedington Drive recently.

According to its menu, Southern Food Company serves a daily breakfast, lunch and dinner with sandwiches, soups, salads, and other items, and a weekend brunch.

It is open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m on Saturday, and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday.

Axis Lounge

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There’s a new Mexican restaurant / craft cocktail bar / virtual reality lounge coming to Center Street.

The new place, called Axis Lounge, will be located at 25 E. Center St. in the building formerly home to Hawaiian Brian’s.

According to their Facebook page, it will offer “experimental cocktails, local craft beers, Mexican small plates, electronic vibes and virtual reality experiences.” Sounds interesting.

Ben, one of the owners of the restaurant, said if all goes well, he plans to open up sometime in June.

Yeehawg

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There’s a new honky tonk on Dickson Street.

Longtime local businessman Dave Bass has opened his third bar on the street, a cowboy bar called Yeehawg in the space formerly home to The Kraken Killer Seafood (among other businesses over the years). Bass is also the owner of Stir and Shotz.

There’s a mechanical Hog (like a mechanical bull, with a Razorback instead of a bull).

It’s not a restaurant, but we felt like it deserved a mention.

Taco Loco / King Burrito

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King Burrito on College Avenue has changed its name.

The restaurant recently posted a new sign and is now calling itself Taco Loco.

According to an employee, the ownership and menu are the same.

“The only thing that has changed is the name,” she said. “Everything else is the same.”

Dairy Queen

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Dairy Queen is planning to soon open a restaurant in east Fayetteville.

Plans for the restaurant have been submitted to city staff, and show a 3,075-square-foot building with a drive-thru at the corner of Crossover Road and Citizens Drive. There’s also room for a retail store, and another 2,000-square-foot restaurant with a patio in the submitted plans.

We reached out to the corporate office, and the spokesperson said they couldn’t provide a timeline for opening.

Dairy Queen is a burger restaurant that also serves ice cream cones dipped in chocolate, and other items.

JBGB

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A new brewery, restaurant and live music venue recently opened in uptown Fayetteville.

JBGB, the long-awaited project created by the folks behind JJ’s Grill, officially opened on May 10 at 3615 N. Steele Blvd.

The 12,000-square-foot facility includes a full production brewery, restaurant, stage for live music, and huge outdoor activity area complete with bars, a BBQ truck, outdoor games, volleyball courts, a wading pool, and other amenities.

JBGB will also offer free live music every Thursday night throughout the summer with a pretty impressive lineup of headliners, including Josh Abbott Band, Randy Rogers Band, The Strumbellas, Kellie Pickler, Lake Street Dive, The Record Company, and others.

The brewery will make a variety of craft beers including IPA, pale ale, brown ale, a light lager, and Belgian styles.

Read our story from February for more information.

Four Corners Kitchen

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Four Corners Kitchen recently closed its doors.

The restaurant, formerly located at 1214 N. Garland Ave., specialized in farm-to-table cuisine featuring locally-sourced ingredients.

The closure was announced via Facebook on May 28, but the restaurant had been closed for a few weeks before that.

“Chef Wesley Douglas is sad to annouce Four Corners Kitchen is now closed. He would to thank everyone for all the love and support throughout the years,” the post stated.

Sit & Spin

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There’s a new spot to wash some clothes, grab lunch, and have a beer near the University of Arkansas campus.

Sit & Spin, the new eco-friendly laundromat and neighborhood restaurant by locals Ben Gitchel, Hannah Withers, and A.B. Merritt, is up and running at 737 N. Leverett Ave., in the building that was once home to a Pizza Hut.

The “Sit” side of the business is a restaurant with a menu featuring traditional slider sandwiches, made-to-order miniature donuts with various toppings, salads, and other items to munch on while you wait for your laundry to wash (or whenever). They also serve a rotating selection of local craft beer and wine.

The restaurant is open daily from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m., and the laundromat side of the business is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Green Goat

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Local Cuban food truck The Green Goat has a new home.

The truck got its start at The Yacht Club on College, but has moved to the corner of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Wood Street next to its sister truck, The Goat Pen Chuckwagon.

The truck is open from 11 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

Burrito Loco

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One of Fayetteville’s most popular taco spots will soon have a downtown location.

According to signs that were recently placed on the building, Burrito Loco is set to open at 1 E. Center Street, Suite 160, in the space formerly home to Bouchee Bistro.

Burrito Loco got its start in the back of the Columbia Mex convenience store at 2155 W. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., and eventually grew to take over most of the space. The restaurant specializes in tacos, burritos, tortas, and other authentic Mexican cuisine.

The owners of the restaurant are also involved in the Mr. Taco Loco restaurant at 1701 S. School Ave. Update: According to one of partners with Burrito Loco, Mr. Taco Loco was created by relatives, but is not affiliated with Burrito Loco. It’s also not affiliated with Taco Loco.

No opening date has been announced for the new restaurant, but renovations are underway.

Hurts Donuts

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Springfield-Missouri-based chain Hurts Donut has opened its Fayetteville location.

The restaurant is located at 1641 W. 15th St. in the University Village Centre across from Baum Stadium. The space has been home to City Pizzeria and Salty Dog.

Hurts is best known for its oversized donuts with off-the-wall toppings, but they also travel to neighboring cities and sell donuts to raise funds for local charities in their mobile donut truck.

Their name, as you may have figured out, is based on the old joke your grandpa or elementary school classmate may have told you. “Want a Hurts Donut,” someone would ask, before slugging you in the arm and delivering the punch line. “Hurts, don’t it?”

Hurts locations are open 24/7, or as the company’s Facebook pages boast, “25 hours a day, 8 days a week.”

K-Fash

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There’s a new Mediterranean restaurant in town.

K-Fash recently opened at 1220 N. Lindell Ave., and serves classic Mediterranean cuisine including falafel, kebabs, shawarma, lamb chips, and more.

The restaurant is open from 11 a.m. until 8:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Dot’s Nashville Hot Chicken

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Nashville Hot Chicken is finally coming to Fayetteville.

The spicy fried chicken dish will soon be served at a new food truck called Dot’s Nashville Hot Chicken, set to open at The Yacht Club on College.

The truck will be operated by a couple who recently moved to Fayetteville from the Music City.

If all goes well, the owners plan to host a soft opening on June 19, with hopes to officially open the following weekend.

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