Category: Featured

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.

Hank Kelley recognized by UALR School of Business

Posted on 06/24/20

Hank Kelley, CEO, Executive Broker, and Partner at Kelley Commercial Partners
Whitney Burgess, Vice President of Client Services and Strategy at Team SI

Today the University of Arkansas Little Rock School of Business announced it will honor Kelley Commercial Partners’ CEO, Hank Kelley, as Distinguished Alumnus of the Year for his the mark he has made in business and for his service to the community and UA Little Rock. Whitney Burgess, vice president of client services and strategy at Team SI, will receive the Dean’s Award for Excellence. Awards will be presented at the Distinguished Alumni Luncheon to be held Oct. 16.

Kelley received his MBA from the UA Little Rock School of Business in 1984, the same year he joined the firm which is now Kelley Commercial Partners. He has stayed connected at UA Little Rock over the years by serving on the Business Advisory Council and as adjunct instructor at the School of Business. Last year, Kelley and his wife, Stephanie, made a generous donation to A.P. Vibhakar Endowed Scholarship.

“I’m honored to be recognized by the university and appreciate the efforts of the faculty and administration to engage and stay connected to the business community,” said Kelley.

Morrilton — Small City. No limits.

Posted on 06/03/20

Our vice president of government relations, Jim Dailey, made a recent trip to the City of Morrilton and visited with Mayor Allen Lipsmeyer. This charming, historic city in the heart of the Arkansas River Valley is located in Conway County, just 50 miles northwest of Little Rock and about 20 minutes from Petit Jean State Park.

Mayor Lipsmeyer has been in office since 2015 and has dedicated himself to improving housing, employment, and business opportunities in Morrilton. Some of the city’s major employers include Green Bay Packaging, South Conway County School District, Walmart, and the University of Arkansas Community College Morrilton.

Watch the video

The residential real estate market in Morrilton is booming. One of the newest subdivisions has already sold every home built so far and further development is still in the works. Lipsmeyer is proud of this small town and the sense of community it offers its residents and visitors alike. The historic downtown includes the Rialto Community Arts Center, a venue for stage performances, concerts, and other events. Their first Thursday Farmer’s Market will reopen this Thursday from 4 to 7 p.m. as a drive-thru market on the 100 block of Commerce.

On your next trip west on interstate 40, take a break and spend some time in Morrilton. Small city. No limits.

Flake & Kelley Commercial Transitions to Kelley Commercial Partners

Posted on 05/08/20

Hank Kelley, CEO Kelley Commercial Partners

Hank Kelley, CEO, is pleased to announce that Flake & Kelley Commercial is now Kelley Commercial Partners. An amicable stock purchase transaction was finalized on May 6^th, and an agreement entered to purchase John Flake’s stock in Flake & Kelley Commercial.

Day-to-day operations will continue to be led by Hank Kelley, with Daryl Peeples, Maggie Hogan, and Nicholas Kelley in executive management roles. The Little Rock partner team also includes Cheryl White, Bill Pendergist, Brooke Miller, Eric Varner, Cynthia Lu, and Kevin Pledger. Jay Pearcy serves as principal broker in Northwest Arkansas.

Kelley Commercial Partners will continue to provide brokerage, property management, development management, and consulting services. Kelley Commercial Partners is a Chainlinks member helping to connect retail and hospitality clients through this productive network of commercial real estate companies across the United States.

“Aside from a new name, Kelley Commercial Partners remains Arkansas’s premier commercial real estate firm with the same commitment to first-class client service,” said Kelley.

The firm maintains an award-winning team of more than 80 trusted, skilled professionals and support staff. The team is experienced in meeting the real estate needs of our clients and customers and are laser-focused on delivering superior commercial real estate services.

“We are excited about the future of the company. While we are proud of what we have accomplished over the past three decades, looking forward, we know the best is yet to come,” said Kelley.

Kelley Commercial Partners remains headquartered in Little Rock with a Northwest Arkansas Office to serve the entire state.

Start-Up Story: By Design

Posted on 02/12/20

If you work in or around Simmons Tower, chances are good you’ve seen the small salon, By Design, in the southeast corner of the lobby. Cassy Harrelson has owned and operated the salon since 2009, but she’s been a part of the business for much longer than that. In 1995 she became a part-owner but sold her half of the business when she moved to California in 2000. Lucky for us, she moved back to Arkansas in 2009, bought the business outright, and has been running the popular downtown salon ever since.

Cassy is a certified nail technician with decades of experience, but when she began her journey, she might not have predicted just where she would end up. Her whole career started when she decided that she wanted to try to learn how to do her own nails. She really liked this new hobby and seemed to have a knack for it, so she began doing manicures for friends and family out of her own home. When she realized that she could actually go to nail school and get officially licensed, it just seemed like the most natural choice. So that’s just what she did, but she didn’t start working in a salon right away. Cassy was a stay at home mom for many years and was able to run her nail business out of her home. She had never even worked in a salon until she started at By Design in 1995 and just look at her now!

Cassy loves working downtown. The heavy foot traffic around the building keeps things interesting and helps her stay connected with her customers. Plus, most stylists have to work on Saturdays, but not Cassy. Because the building closes on the weekends, she doesn’t have to keep regular salon hours and she’s grateful for the freedom that brings.

By Design is open Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., though they are flexible to accommodate customers. Services provided include haircuts and coloring, extensions, styling, waxing, and of course, manicures and pedicures! Walk-ins are almost always welcome, but appointments are encouraged. So next time you need to spruce up a bit for that business meeting or dinner right after work, Cassy and her team at By Design have you covered.