LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) – The push to bring more people to Little Rock’s East Village has been in the works for years. Now, new apartments and restaurants are about to open up.
In the East Village, construction can be seen on almost every corner.
"It's one of the hottest upcoming parts of downtown Little rock and really all of Little Rock,” Anderson Penix said.
Penix with the Downtown Little Rock Partnership says the area has been becoming more and more popular.
"Just recently they've announced the new rail yard will have a food truck and beer on tap,” he said. “Cromwell just moved into their new building, you have new lofts going in there.”
The Downtown Little Rock Partnership is so excited about the new developments, they are dedicating a food truck festival to celebrate.
"It's the East Village Street Food Jam,” Penix said. “We hope it just brings people to explore the neighborhood to see how Shall Ave has changed.”
The east village is also getting its own middle school, E-stem, set to open this fall.
"Rebel Kettle and Lost Forty are some of the most popular breweries in town. They've been bringing people into the east village for a long time and word has gotten out and people want to be here,” Penix said.
Rebel Kettle owner Jason Polk opened up shop in 2016.
"The reception has been fantastic. We've grown year over year,” Polk said.
He said opening up in East Village was risky, but he's happy that he did.
"We're just so excited about the future. I didn't see it, my wife did four years ago and I've just been so proud of what she envisioned down here and see it unfold,” Polk said.
The East Village Street Food Jam will take place on June 16 on the Clinton Center lawn.