For those living near Maumelle Park and Two Rivers Park, a restaurant involves a bit of a drive. No longer, however, as the Pinnacle Valley Restaurant officially opened its doors to customers last Thursday.
Owners Gina and Mike Fullerton are within walking distance of the restaurant’s location, 8501 Pinnacle Valley Road, and have had their eye on the property for a spell.
“With the park traffic, the outdoor enthusiasts that are out here … we just thought, out of all the things this property could be, it would be a great restaurant,” said Gina Fullerton. Naturally, once the yoga studio that most recently occupied the property called it quits, the Fullerton’s jumped at the chance to chase their dream.
They had a very specific aesthetic in mind, as both had jobs requiring frequent travel, and the two subsequently developed a bad taste in their mouths for chain restaurants. “We knew we wanted to be a family oriented restaurant where we could get to know our customers because we’re seeing them on a regular basis. Ideally, you can walk, you can bike, you can bring your family and bring your kids,” she said.
The space, while servicing breakfast, lunch and dinner, also offers a grab-and-go convenient store concept for the area. The idea is to service cyclists in need of an energy bar, or a family picnic in need of charcoal.
The restaurant comes equipped with a deck, a party room, and a bar. Audio and visual equipment make the party room area a prefect place for a conference or a birthday party. Fullerton is particularly excited about the deck, which she says, “is the perfect place to enjoy the outdoor weather when dining.”
The menu offers a little bit of everything from hamburgers to steak and chicken to pasta. There are soups, salads, sandwiches, and dessert options as well, including a sticky toffee pudding.
Early on, the goal is to be an everything made fresh daily family restaurant. “We make hand-patted hamburgers with fresh ground beef, we offer fresh, homemade cinnamon rolls, … our catfish is Arkansas raised … those little things really matter to us.”
Check it out for yourself – Pinnacle Valley Restaurant is open from 7 a.m. – 8 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays.
