Little Rock can no longer say we have no Newk’s.
Sean Sylvester and partners in Mkuze Ventures are remodeling the building that held Shorty Small’s off Warden Road in North Little Rock for a Newk’s Express Cafe, set for a mid-May opening.
Newk’s will serve soups, salads, sandwiches, California-style (thin crust) pizza and beer and wine. Sylvester said the food will be fresh — “no microwave, no grease” — and the atmosphere “upscale bistro.” Service will be fast, and only one item on the menu will be over $10.
After the remodeling is done, Newk’s will seat 160 inside and another 44 outside on a patio to be added.
Sylvester’s group also owns the Newk’s franchise in Hot Springs; Sylvester was formerly the director of operations for Applebee’s restaurants in Arkansas and Oklahoma.