NWA Made National TV: Guy Fieri Brings Flavortown to Northwest Arkansas
Northwest Arkansas has been making national headlines for its growth, trails, arts and quality of life—and now, our food scene is getting some well-deserved attention, too.
This August, Guy Fieri brought Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives to Northwest Arkansas, featuring four local restaurants in Bentonville and Rogers across two episodes. From handmade Italian pasta and Vietnamese street food to Lebanese favorites and fresh seafood, the stops gave viewers across the country a taste of just how diverse NWA’s restaurant scene has become.
Mezzaluna Pasteria & Mozzarella Bar | Bentonville
The first round of NWA restaurants hit national television on August 7 in the episode “Beef, Chicken, and Pork.”
In Bentonville, Guy stopped by Mezzaluna Pasteria & Mozzarella Bar, known for its handcrafted Italian dishes and fresh pasta. The episode highlighted the restaurant’s Italian comfort food, including its carbonara, giving viewers a look at the from-scratch approach behind this downtown Bentonville favorite.
Saiwok Vietnamese Street Food | Rogers
The same episode took Guy over to Rogers for a stop at Saiwok Vietnamese Street Food.
Saiwok brought an entirely different flavor to the episode with its take on Vietnamese street food. The restaurant’s crispy pork imperial rolls and noodle bowl were among the dishes highlighted on the show, showcasing the bold flavors that have helped make Saiwok a local favorite.
Toot Beirut | Rogers
Two weeks later, Northwest Arkansas was back on Triple D.
The August 21 episode, “Smoke, Seafood, and Shawarma,” included Toot Beirut in Rogers, a family-run restaurant serving Lebanese and Middle Eastern cuisine. Guy dug into the restaurant’s shawarma and kebabs, bringing a taste of Toot Beirut—and another side of NWA’s increasingly diverse food scene—to a national audience.
Blu Fish House | Bentonville
The final NWA stop took viewers back to Bentonville for Blu Fish House.
Known for bringing fresh seafood to the heart of Northwest Arkansas, Blu combines a restaurant, sushi bar and seafood market under one roof. On Triple D, the spotlight landed on dishes including a grouper sandwich and lobster ravioli, rounding out NWA’s four featured restaurants with a little coastal flavor in the Ozarks.
A Big Moment for NWA’s Food Scene
For longtime locals, the attention probably comes as no surprise. Northwest Arkansas has grown into a destination with a food scene that reflects the region itself—an interesting mix of longtime local favorites, chef-driven concepts and flavors from around the world.
Seeing four NWA restaurants featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives puts a national spotlight on something our community already knows: there’s a lot worth discovering here.
Whether you watched the episodes or you’re just looking for an excuse to try somewhere new, consider this your sign to make your own NWA Flavortown tour and support the local restaurants putting Northwest Arkansas on the map.
DICK’S House of Sport Is Coming to Lowell
Northwest Arkansas continues to grow, and another major name is officially joining the mix. DICK’S House of Sport is coming to Lowell, bringing the retailer’s first large-format House of Sport location in Arkansas to the heart of NWA.
The new store will anchor Concord Commons, a 37-acre mixed-use development planned near West Pleasant Grove Road and Concord Street, just east of I-49. The two-story DICK’S House of Sport will span approximately 120,000 square feet and is currently expected to open in March 2028.
More Than a Sporting Goods Store
If you haven’t been to a DICK’S House of Sport before, this isn’t your typical sporting goods store.
The concept combines traditional retail with hands-on sports experiences, giving customers the opportunity to actually test products and participate in activities while they shop. House of Sport locations can include features such as climbing walls, golf simulators, batting cages and outdoor turf fields that can also be used for community events.
Along with apparel, footwear and sporting equipment, House of Sport stores offer specialized services such as custom bike builds, baseball glove steaming and shaping, and racquet stringing. The large-format stores are more than twice the size of a traditional DICK’S Sporting Goods location.
For NWA—where biking, golf, youth sports and outdoor recreation are already such a big part of the local lifestyle—the concept feels like a natural fit.
What’s Coming to Concord Commons?
DICK’S House of Sport is just one piece of a much larger project.
Concord Commons is planned as a 37-acre mixed-use development with approximately 275,000 square feet of commercial space in addition to the House of Sport anchor. Plans also include an approximately 250-unit multifamily development on six acres of the property.
Located near the Pleasant Grove Road/I-49 corridor and adjacent to the existing Pleasant Crossing area, the development will add another significant retail and commercial destination to an already busy part of Northwest Arkansas.
Another Sign of NWA’s Continued Growth
From new restaurants and retailers to major mixed-use developments, the landscape across Northwest Arkansas continues to change—and Concord Commons is another project we’ll be watching as it takes shape.
DICK’S House of Sport won’t open its doors until March 2028, but its arrival brings something new to the Arkansas retail scene and adds another major destination to the growing Lowell-Rogers corridor.
And with additional commercial space still part of the Concord Commons plans, DICK’S may only be the beginning of what’s headed to this corner of NWA.
Market Update: Non-QM Loans Explained
This month’s market update comes from Bank on Ben, breaking down August’s rate movement, what the Fed Chair shared at Jackson Hole, and a lesser-known loan option that nearly 1 in 10 borrowers are using.
September 2026: Mortgage Update
August Recap: Mortgage rates moved down through the middle of August but ended the month very near where they started on a deflating outlook of what the Fed may do. Kevin Warsh announced at the Jackson Hole symposium that inflation remains higher than they would like and kept the option of a rate hike at the September Fed meeting on the table. Rates finished the month at 6.875% for conventional and 6.125% for government loans (FHA/VA/RD).
Pro Tip — Loan Options Beyond Conventional and Government:
- When most people think about mortgages, they think of conventional loans that fit inside Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s guidelines, or government-backed loans like FHA and VA
- What most people don’t know is that 1 in 10 loans is what we’d consider Non-QM — it doesn’t qualify as conventional or government
- The two most popular are bank statement loans and DSCR loans
- A bank statement loan calculates your income based on your deposits rather than your tax returns
- A DSCR loan (Debt Service Coverage Ratio) calculates income based on the rent collected on a property
Key Takeaway: If you’ve tried conventional routes to get a loan and they haven’t worked, it may be worth your time to look into Non-QM.
Reach out to Ben for all of your lending needs! Located in Rogers – Call 303-909-7158
September Events Across Northwest Arkansas
September brings plenty of reasons to get out and enjoy Northwest Arkansas as we head into fall. From major sporting events and live music to local festivals and community favorites, there’s plenty happening across the region to close out summer and welcome a new season.
🎶 Bentonville First Friday Live
📅 September 4 | 3–9 PM
📍 Downtown Bentonville Square
100 N. Main St., Bentonville
Downtown Bentonville comes alive for September’s First Friday with an evening of live music, local vendors, food, activities, and entertainment around the Square. This month’s event also features special Walmart NW Arkansas Championship activations, making it the perfect way to kick off a busy September in NWA.
⛳ Walmart NW Arkansas Championship presented by P&G
📅 September 21–27
📍 Pinnacle Country Club
3 S. Clubhouse Dr., Rogers
One of Northwest Arkansas’s signature sporting events returns to Rogers as the world’s top female golfers compete at Pinnacle Country Club. The week brings much more than championship golf, with fan experiences, food and drinks, community events, and plenty of ways to enjoy the action on and off the course. Whether you’re a golf fan or just looking for a great NWA event, the LPGA tournament is a can’t-miss September tradition.
🏍️ Bikes, Blues & BBQ
📅 September 30–October 3
📍 Rogers & Northwest Arkansas
One of the region’s biggest annual events rolls back into Northwest Arkansas for four days of motorcycles, live music, food, rides, and events throughout the area. Bikes, Blues & BBQ brings riders and visitors from across the country together while raising money for local charities—making it a longtime fall tradition with a big impact on the NWA community.
ROGERS
Railyard Live Season Finale
Date: September 5, 2026
Time: 7:00–10:00 PM
Location: Butterfield Stage at Railyard Park
Close out another season of Railyard Live with an evening of live music in Downtown Rogers. Grab dinner or drinks nearby before heading to the park for one last night of music under the lights.
BENTONVILLE
Bentonville Farmers Market
Date: Saturdays throughout September 2026
Time: 7:30 AM–1:00 PM
Location: Downtown Bentonville Square
Spend a Saturday morning in Downtown Bentonville browsing locally grown produce, fresh flowers, baked goods, handmade products, and more. The Bentonville Farmers Market is a favorite weekend tradition and a great way to support local farmers, makers, and small businesses.
Format Festival
Date: September 25–27, 2026
Time: Event times vary
Location: Bentonville
FORMAT returns to Bentonville for a weekend where music, art, architecture, and technology come together. Known for immersive installations and an eclectic lineup of artists and performers, the festival offers a one-of-a-kind experience that feels right at home in Northwest Arkansas.
FAYETTEVILLE
Razorback Football Returns to Fayetteville
Date: September 5, 19 & 26, 2026
Location: Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium
Football season is back, and there’s nothing quite like game day in Fayetteville! The Razorbacks kick off the 2026 season at home against North Alabama, followed by two more September home games—including the SEC opener against Georgia. From tailgating and calling the Hogs to the game-day energy throughout downtown, Razorback Saturdays are officially back.
September Home Games:
September 5 | 3:15 PM — North Alabama
Season Opener
September 19 | 11:00 AM — Georgia
SEC Opener & Stadium Stripe Out
September 26 | 7:00 PM — Tulsa
Family Weekend & Hall of Honor
Make the Most of September
September is one of the best times to get out and enjoy Northwest Arkansas. With Razorback football back in Fayetteville, championship golf in Rogers, live music, local events, and the first signs of fall around the corner, there’s plenty happening across the region. Get out, explore your community, support local, and enjoy everything NWA has to offer this September!
Celebrating Community in Northwest Arkansas
September brings plenty to celebrate across Northwest Arkansas—from local businesses stepping into the national spotlight and exciting new developments on the horizon to Razorback football, signature events, and the start of a new season.
As NWA continues to grow, so do the opportunities to experience everything that makes this region special. New destinations are taking shape, local favorites are earning national recognition, and the events we look forward to each year continue to bring our communities together.
At Uptown Real Estate, we’re proud to keep you connected to the people, places, and happenings that make Northwest Arkansas such a great place to call home. Whether you’re searching for your next home, exploring a new neighborhood, or simply looking for something fun to do this weekend, we’re here to help you experience the best of NWA.
We’ll see you next month with more local news, community highlights, and everything happening around Northwest Arkansas!
