Weaving a sense of “pride and industry” into the fabric of her establishments is essential to Ouei, and she approaches her team-building efforts with a heaping dose of optimism. She has developed a keen understanding of the hyperlocal labor factors that impact South Arkansas in the hospitality and service industries, and has intentionally worked to create a culture in which employees and talent at her restaurants see themselves as part of a bigger picture - one in which the food and beverage industries and tourism industries have great potential for positive impact on the community. “Investing in team development is what makes us special,” Ouei said.

The driving concept behind the plan is that Lonoke would become “visible, attractive and connected,” with key points of emphasis in this citizen-driven initiative focused on downtown revitalization, infrastructure and jobs.Īnd El Dorado, that unique approach is more about who is in the kitchen, behind the counter and at the tableside, more so than the historic building in which MuleKick MAD is located in the Murphy Arts District, or even the energy of the South Arkansas University students that feeds MuleKick Magnolia.

This process was essentially a community conversation that yielded a game plan and a unifying community vision that was launched in 2017 and which the community has been pursuing diligently for the last five years. In 2016, volunteer leaders in Lonoke undertook an extensive strategic planning process with a technical assistance grant from University of Central Arkansas Center for Community and Economic Development and the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service.

Lonoke has proven to be the perfect setting for such a project, matching a need for quality dining with a built-in local loyalty and a momentum cycle that was ready to support the investment. It is also a special place, where residents and business owners are working hard to embrace the moniker “The Front Porch of the Delta.” With a deep love for her hometown, Gina Wiertelak created an acclaimed new restaurant in historic downtown Lonoke based on a clear vision and a commitment to excellence. Lonoke has been overlooked for a number of years. Rather than be discouraged, small communities can be inspired by the example of a number of small towns that have chosen to expend creative energy to develop something unique and homegrown. In many of the smaller communities in the Delta, South Arkansas and other rural parts of our state, the ever-shifting industry metrics, demographics, capacity and infrastructure requirements to attract such national projects may never exist at all. A compelling case can even be made that these types of generic, interstate-oriented developments do not make our communities unique, memorable or better overall. While there is something initially energizing about gaining the attention of a shiny national brand, the pursuit of the latest big thing is often fleeting and less satisfactory in the long term. This is sometimes a point of frustration for economic developers, chambers of commerce and commercial real estate professionals who are in an ever-increasing arms race of greater volume with lower margins, and who find themselves competing with neighboring states like Texas and Tennessee for attention, deal-making and job creation. When these big names do arrive, they naturally locate near the more obvious population centers and statistically higher income earners. Because Arkansas is often lagging in a number of indicators, it tends to be awhile before national restaurant chains, retail and other trends find their way into our borders.

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