A group of small business owners in Rogers say the economy is taking off, and their shops in the downtown district are seeing a direct impact.
Melanie Poteat is a registered nurse and was working at a hospital when she received a digital SLR camera for her birthday. Poteat set out to become a photographer.
"Through lots of friends and family trusting in me for their portraits I eventually learned a lot," Poteat says.
She opened up shop in downtown Rogers in September, but she wasn't ready to leave her day job.
"I was working at the hospital a couple days a week as well as here," she says.
The location proved to be a good fit, and her business took off.
"There is a lot of growth going on here in downtown Rogers," she says. "It's a great place to be."
Poteat's neighbors agree. Several businesses are moving into bigger spaces or renovating to keep up with demand.
Lisa Hastings opened Kirby's Kupcakes a year and a half ago with her mom, Kirby.
"It was kind of rough in the beginning," Hastings says. "Economy or not we knew we wanted to try our dream."
She's glad they decided to try it in downtown Rogers.
"The economy must be picking up," she says. "Everybody is enjoying growth in their businesses and talking about the things they're doing to expand."
The ladies are opening a second shop in downtown Bentonville.
"It's on fire, that square is amazing," she says. "I think people miss the small town community atmosphere."
Melanie Poteat is a registered nurse and was working at a hospital when she received a digital SLR camera for her birthday. Poteat set out to become a photographer.
"Through lots of friends and family trusting in me for their portraits I eventually learned a lot," Poteat says.
She opened up shop in downtown Rogers in September, but she wasn't ready to leave her day job.
"I was working at the hospital a couple days a week as well as here," she says.
The location proved to be a good fit, and her business took off.
"There is a lot of growth going on here in downtown Rogers," she says. "It's a great place to be."
Poteat's neighbors agree. Several businesses are moving into bigger spaces or renovating to keep up with demand.
Lisa Hastings opened Kirby's Kupcakes a year and a half ago with her mom, Kirby.
"It was kind of rough in the beginning," Hastings says. "Economy or not we knew we wanted to try our dream."
She's glad they decided to try it in downtown Rogers.
"The economy must be picking up," she says. "Everybody is enjoying growth in their businesses and talking about the things they're doing to expand."
The ladies are opening a second shop in downtown Bentonville.
"It's on fire, that square is amazing," she says. "I think people miss the small town community atmosphere."
