PINE BLUFF, Ark. (KTHV) – Downtown Pine Bluff has remained mostly vacant for years, but now big things are happening on Main Street with new store fronts moving in.
The push to bring more businesses downtown is thanks to Go Forward Pine Bluff – a group residents voted on to revitalize the city.
"I believe it's going to do a lot of downtown Pine Bluff and Pine Bluff in general,” Dave Miller said.
Miller is fixing up something Pine Bluff hasn't seen is years: a bar located on Main Street.
"We think it's a good opportunity for us to be down here. Be the first,” he said.
Hot Rods is still a work in progress, but Miller believes opening up this bar will change Main street.
"We'll have plenty of opportunities for people to come in have fun, play darts,” he said. “We’ve been paying quite a bit attention to what the Go Forward Pine Bluff movement has in store. We like what we see. We believe it’s going to happen.”
Construction at the Pine's Hotel is also set to begin in June. It was once a very popular back in the day.
"I assume at some point in time there will be other bars located downtown. I think there's going to be one at the hotel,” Miller said.
The Shoe Express of Pine Bluff also opened up about three weeks ago. Owner Elaine Green said she wanted to be part of the rebuilding of downtown.
"I think it's a great thing and I'm just happy to be a part of what's going on,” Green said.
While the store works to repair old shoes, it is also repairing the streets of downtown Pine Bluff.
"Rebuilding downtown is going to just be a part of rebuilding the entire city. and I think everybody should do what they can to make this whole thing happen here,” Green said.
Miller said Hot Rods is expected open next Friday.