Author: Paula Guajardo

36th Annual International Greek Food Festival this Friday and Saturday

Posted on 10/21/20

Opa! Did you miss something this past May? The International Greek Food Festival? Well, it’s here! It’s a little different this year, but the food promises to be as good as always. The event, which is the largest ethnic festival in Arkansas, was postponed this May due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Order now for pick-up Friday and Saturday

The Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, which has presented the much-loved Festival for over 35 years, will offer its famous handmade Greek food and pastries Friday, October 23rd and Saturday, October 24th for drive-through pickup. Featured dishes on the menu include gyros, pastitsio, spanakopita, two types of baklava, the Festival’s famous Greek meatballs, and much more. Order online and pick up between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. at 1100 Napa Valley Dr, Little Rock.

“The 2020 International Greek Food Festival looks forward to continuing its tradition of serving food, friends, and the community,” said Festival Chair Jerry Horani. “While we can’t showcase our exciting entertainment, music, and cultural markets this year, we can still support fantastic charities with the help of our wonderful sponsors and the central Arkansas community.”

The International Greek Food Festival has donated more than $1.5 million to over 30 charities that serve children, families, and communities throughout central Arkansas. Proceeds from this year’s festival will benefit Community Connections, Centers for Youth & Families, Easterseals Arkansas, Humane Society of Pulaski County, Ronald McDonald House Charities, Wolfe Street Foundation, and Youth Home, Inc., as well as Annunciation Ministries. In addition, a truck from Arkansas Foodbank will be on-site at the church to accept all kinds of food donations.

For more information, a full list of the charities supported by the Festival, and a menu for the drive-through event, visit their website. Pre-ordering is now open.

Kim’s Alterations masks up with style

Posted on 10/16/20

Just because masks have become a daily necessity, doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice your sense of style or personality. Kim’s Alterations is selling these unique, delicately hand-embroidered, cotton face masks at her shop located at 2002 N. Mississippi just off Cantrell Rd. Masks sell for $15 each and come in a variety of colors, so you can mix it up next time you mask up. And with the holidays right around the corner, you can show your support for this small local business by picking up a few extra masks to give as gifts to family and friends.

“They’re comfortable, pretty, and make you feel happy,” said Kim Lien Trinh, owner.

Owner Kim Trinh shows off one of her favorite masks

Kim’s Alterations opened just over one year ago but Kim has been doing alterations since 1994. Business at her impeccably clean one-woman-shop has grown steadily and she enjoys meeting new people every day, Kim said. Services include alterations of men’s and women’s clothing, formal gowns, and beading. She also works on leather, a service that is hard to find. Still, her favorite things to work on are the formal dresses and wedding gowns. She’s open Tuesday thru Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

If you’re thinking of hanging your shingle, browse our listings and contact one of our agents to help you find the best space for your business.

Bill Puddephatt Joins the Brokerage and Leasing Team

Posted on 09/29/20

Bill Puddephatt, CCIM joins KCP

Kelley Commercial Partners is pleased to announce the addition of the newest member of the brokerage and leasing team, Bill Puddephatt, CCIM. After a distinguished 45-year banking career serving national and state financial institutions in Central Arkansas, Bill Puddephatt, CCIM, has joined Kelley Commercial Partners and is excited to use his experience structuring and financing real estate projects in the brokerage field. His emphasis on strong relationships, attention to detail and big-picture thinking result in solutions-oriented outcomes for his clients.

With a strong sense of commitment to the community and having served in statewide and national leadership positions for banking and commercial real estate professional organizations, Bill brings a unique skillset and business perspective to the KCP team.

During his commercial banking career, Bill originated more than $1 Billion in loans with zero loan losses. He financed office buildings, office parks, multi-family projects, assisted living and retirement properties, hotels, retail centers, condominium projects, subdivision developments, and more.

Batesville – a small community with big opportunities

Posted on 08/10/20

Kelley Commercial Partners visits Batesville

Community Center & Aquatics Park

Recently, Jim Dailey and Hank Kelley traveled about 90 miles northeast of Little Rock to visit the city of Batesville. They consulted with Mayor Rick Elembaugh and Chamber President Crystal Johnson to explore economic development opportunities in this small community located along the shores of the White River. Their hosts led them on a tour of Batesville’s active downtown, state-of-the-art conference center, the Terry Sims Diamond Sports Complex, and the Community Center & Aquatics Park completed in 2017.

As Arkansas’ oldest city, Batesville (which has gone by other names including Napoleon and Poke Bayou) has a long and interesting history. Batesville is home to Lyon College and the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville. It is also the hometown of NASCAR driver Mark Martin. The Mark Martin NASCAR Museum, built in his honor, is a popular attraction as is the speedway where he began his racing career.

Historic Melba Theatre on Main Street, Batesville, AR

Several buildings in Batesville are on the National Register of Historic Places, including the historic Melba Theatre which was built in 1875 and became one of Arkansas’ first cinemascope theaters in 1940. This historic property has undergone several transformations over the years, but today it operates as a beautiful modern movie theatre and is considered an integral part of Batesville’s Main Street business district.

Batesville has a thriving retail community where you can expect to find big-business names like TJ Maxx and Home Depot alongside small, family-run businesses like Bellabird Boutique and Thompson’s Fine Jewelry. Batesville can is a charming place to visit, a prosperous place to do business, and a beautiful place to call home.

If you would like to explore economic development opportunities in your city, contact our Director of Government Relations, Jim Dailey, at jdailey@kelleycp.com.

Kelley Commercial Partners rebrands and looks forward

Posted on 07/23/20

We recently sat down the Daily Record to talk about Kelley Commercial Partners’ recent rebranding efforts and how excited we are about the future of the firm. CEO and executive broker of KCP, Hank Kelley, emphasized that while our name has changed, the company will continue to operate much in the same way it has for the better part of three decades. Most of the firm’s current partners have been in place for several years, and in order to underscore the value of their knowledge, experience, and hard work, Kelley wanted to include the word “partners” in our new name.

And before the ink could dry on our new business cards, an unexpected global pandemic hit and we knew our clients and tenants needed our support more than ever. Property managers and brokers worked closely with tenants to help them understand the process and red tape involved in obtaining state and federal assistance, while our facilities team helped to ensure the health and safety of the occupants in more than 7.4 million square feet of property managed by our firm. Kelley Commercial Partners has also been involved in negotiations that will bring Costco and Amazon to Little Rock.

All in all, it’s been a challenging year for everyone, but Kelley Commercial Partners still sees a bright future for Arkansas and we will continue to serve our community for decades to come.