LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — As we get ready to say goodbye to another year, the city of Little Rock is saying hello to a new experience.
Bobby Forrest Jr. the owner of Xperience Kitchen and Lounge, has been hard at work preparing to open his soul food restaurant this Friday, December 29.
"For this to actually work out and then now it's actually opening is crazy. I just really wanted to bring that vibe downtown where more young people can come out and eventually other people will come so we can expand the city of Little Rock," Forrest explained.
For Forrest, opening this new chapter of his life has also given him a chance to leave behind a legacy for generations to come.
"I have a son on the way in March so I'm able to give him something back but also something to give my family to be proud of," he described.
Forrest's mission is also aligned with the city and Mayor Frank Scott Jr, where just this month the mayor unveiled the downtown master plan with a focus on bringing people back to the area.
"I love Arkansas. I lived in Houston and I loved Houston but I'm glad that Little Rock can also look like these other cities and progress daily into becoming a place where people would always want to come visit or stay," he said.
Xperience Kitchen and Lounge is located across the street from the State House Convention Center and Forrest hopes to make Xperience a destination for the next generation.
However, the plan didn't come without its share of challenges and setbacks.
"All the banks said no when I was trying to get a bank loan for this, they told me like no because restaurants fail but I just kept pushing through and was able to get the money. You can do whatever you put your mind to," Forrest said.
He was able to push through with the help of his team including Executive Chef Christopher Jones, who explained how the opportunity was a dream come true.
"I am so passionate about this and I would have done this if I didn't make any money because that's how I started just doing it as a hobby, and turning a hobby into something that I really enjoyed. Being able to actually make a living off a hobby is extraordinary," Jones said.
He is confident people from all over will get the chance to taste his food and enjoy the new "Xperience."
"Going from house to a food truck to actually being in a building. [Is] definitely a moment. I'll literally peek around the corner just to see their first bite and kind of see, like, if they make a face or if they say dang that's good. All of that just gives me an adrenaline rush," Jones said.
Xperience Kitchen and Lounge's grand opening will be this Friday, and it is expected to be a full house.