Join our host, Allen Woody, and local shop owners, Megan Matteri and Toni Patton, as we dive into the Downtown Bentonville shopping scene.
Hear about how each of them are inspired to keep their respective shops, In Season and Blue Moon Bentonville, unique and appealing, and learn about their favorite local eateries to fuel up at while shopping. Experience the charm of Bentonville's vibrant retail and dining scene in this fun-filled episode that will leave you eager to explore Bentonville's streets and stores.
Join our host, Allen Woody, and local shop owners, Megan Matteri and Toni Patton, as we dive into the Downtown Bentonville shopping scene.
Hear about how each of them are inspired to keep their respective shops, In Season and Blue Moon Bentonville, unique and appealing, and learn about their favorite local eateries to fuel up at while shopping. Experience the charm of Bentonville's vibrant retail and dining scene in this fun-filled episode that will leave you eager to explore Bentonville's streets and stores.
Welcome to Visit Bentonville's podcast in New American Town. As always, we're coming to you from the Hackston Road Studios off the bustling Bentonville Square and I'm your host, Alan Woody, Joining me in studio. Today I have Megan and Tony. Megan is with in season here in Bentonville and Tony is with Blue Moon here in Bentonville. And, ladies, you got to be getting jazzed up for holidays. This is our time to shine, most definitely my wife's already got the what the, the lifetime movies rolling.
Speaker 2:That's hard in the season.
Speaker 1:Yep, yep, I mean we're getting there. So tell us a little bit about some of the things coming up to each of your prospective businesses. We'll start with you, megan.
Speaker 2:Well, we are already hustling and bustling this season as it gets closer to Thanksgiving and then Christmas, and we have been just really overrun with tourism and which is awesome. It's awesome with the new exhibit down at Crystal Bridges. It has been an incredible experience.
Speaker 1:I just went there this week and saw that new one, the Annie Leibowitz two. Yes, really yes, oh my gosh, amazing yes.
Speaker 2:And people from all over the world are coming just to see Annie's exhibit and it has brought an amazing tourist to come in and specifically shop for women's apparel.
Speaker 1:Nice.
Speaker 2:Gifts. Some of our unique things that are stored in season would be Arkansas food. People love to sample that and take home back with them, because everyone loves food for gifts.
Speaker 1:Yes, food is awesome.
Speaker 2:Ranging from all over the state to so from fun fact I eat food every day.
Speaker 3:I love that. Did you know that? Yeah, it's true, so I'm a big fan.
Speaker 2:So we're yeah. It's just an exciting time to be in retail.
Speaker 1:Absolutely, Tony. Tell me a little bit about what you got going on at Blue Moon.
Speaker 3:Well, we're very similar. We have women's clothing and we also see people from all over the country. It's always fun to find out where people are visiting us from, and lots of mountain bikers and lots of people in town for Crystal Bridges and just incredible.
Speaker 1:Is that what makes it and we're going to veer from the holidays a little bit how exciting is it to own, you know, a really cool boutique or shop in an area like downtown Bentonville? That's just always kind of a bustle. It doesn't seem like you guys even have to wait for the holidays. There's just a new crop of shoppers come in about every Sunday or Monday.
Speaker 3:That's true. We get a little bit of a lull in January and February and then it picks up mid-March and we're busy the rest of the year and we literally see people from all over the world. It's just really cool to meet people and find out where they're from and why they're here and share Bentonville with them, and tell them oh, go here, you know, go there to the shop or go to this restaurant or whatever.
Speaker 1:So I get off topic easy. If I go in there, what restaurant do you recommend to people?
Speaker 3:Oh gosh, I like this.
Speaker 1:We're going to get difficult here.
Speaker 3:Some of my favorites would be Table Mesa Oven and Tap Tusk and Trotter.
Speaker 1:You can't lose.
Speaker 3:Peddler's Pub.
Speaker 1:Yes, ma'am, one of my favorites.
Speaker 3:I always tell them you can't go wrong with any of the restaurants downtown.
Speaker 1:No I can't?
Speaker 3:It just depends on what you're hungry for.
Speaker 1:If they've made it down here because it is a very competitive restaurant scene, then they're all really good. They are really good. They're such a good variety.
Speaker 2:There really is. I know I typically refer everyone to Barclayda. I just love that restaurant I love the owners. I think they're amazing. He's a Bentonville native.
Speaker 1:Got to talk to him. I had him on the podcast a couple months ago. Really cool story with those two Moving from New York.
Speaker 2:They're wonderful.
Speaker 1:Really amazing stuff. But let's talk a little shopping. Let's get how is the shopping scene here in downtown Bentonville? And now you could spend probably a whole morning literally shopping all around the square.
Speaker 2:Yes, and the more retail, the more shopping, the better I think, agreed. I would love to see downtown Bentonville be a true shopping destination at some point. We love all the restaurants and fun bars, but the more shops that are downtown, the more people are likely to come and make it a shopping destination.
Speaker 3:Go to Blue.
Speaker 2:Moon. Okay, this, you know, this store has X, y and Z. We have this and this and this. So I think that it's really important. Everyone has their own unique taste, which we do because we all buy differently, and I think that just keeping it fresh and just different options is really important because it reaches a whole spectrum of, you know, clients.
Speaker 1:Is that an extra challenge for you guys in the retail space here? Because it really downtown Bentonville kind of really does have almost it's almost like a mall, because you've got so many great options as far as shopping goes and dining goes in the bar scene that you've really created its own district. But does that make you guys up your game competitively to stay in the scene?
Speaker 2:I, you know, a little friendly competition is great for everyone. Um, mom and I focus on a lot of European brands and I tend to buy because I, you know, kind of have everything. I, okay, what is someone who has everything? What are they looking for? What? What is something unique and new on the market?
Speaker 1:You sell fishing boats.
Speaker 3:Maybe, hey, I can make that happen.
Speaker 2:Park it outside.
Speaker 1:In season boat broker.
Speaker 3:It could happen, it could be a thing.
Speaker 1:And what about you at Blue Moon?
Speaker 3:Um, I feel like Megan does you know? She said we, we um kind of support each other, we collaborate. Yes, there's a competitiveness, but we each have our own flavor and so we send, like customers say where can I find this, or where can I find that and or where else is there to shop? I'm always telling them in seasons down here, you know, this Southern style is here, go, make sure you go next door to remedy road and all the different stores and and it's just fun to let them know all their different options. And uh, and we tend to focus on, um, we're kind of like the mid range budget price as far as our clothing lines and, um, so and very comfortable, casual feel. And then, of course, the local souvenirs. You know Bentonville t-shirts and and gifts and and a lot of razorback staff where, oh, you can't lose that, we're very well, you can't lose.
Speaker 2:Not this season.
Speaker 1:Yeah, we'll just stick with basketball.
Speaker 2:How about that?
Speaker 1:How about that basketball team? All right?
Speaker 3:You can really hit a shot, absolutely, absolutely. But yes, we do have a strong razorback section with.
Speaker 1:And it is cool and it's different from so. I come from a lot of businesses that are competitive and very exclusive, like when I was in radio. We didn't really encourage you to listen to other radio stations when you know I'm in real estate now, we don't encourage you to. You know what use other realtors.
Speaker 2:It'll be great it will. It's a great one. Check it all out.
Speaker 1:So it is kind of cool to see a cooperative almost because, like you said, you don't have everything for every person right now and knowing the other stores and shops in the area kind of make you guys a more powerful network.
Speaker 2:Well, absolutely, and if you know everyone else succeeds, then we succeed too, and that's a really important lesson to you know, learn and be a part of In what I like to call like small, big town. I really that really actually works.
Speaker 1:It's on the nose really small big town Really kind of is, and we're kind of on the vibe of your small part of that, whereas if you go a little bit to the south you get a lot more of big town.
Speaker 3:So that's, really cool.
Speaker 1:What makes what is your favorite part about the experience? When you see we all serve locals a little bit different, because they tend to know exactly where they're picking and choosing, but when you see somebody new to Bentonville or a visitor, you know what's kind of the first thing that pops into your mind as something that you can't wait to share about our home.
Speaker 3:Just how quaint our downtown is, and I, especially, I'll tell them you know, you've got to come back at Christmas.
Speaker 1:It's like being in a hallmark movie.
Speaker 3:And whether it's you know marked when I'm telling them this or what. But but yeah, just how quaint and sweet and people are so polite and friendly and our city does a great job of keeping the area clean and looking beautiful and year-round it's just a beautiful little town.
Speaker 1:It does seem to get better month by month. By month it does. It's kind of amazing.
Speaker 2:It does, and I believe that most of the people that we've met coming into in season are that are moving from all over the country. They are so genuinely happy to be here and I love that attitude coming in just because I was born and raised here, so you know when I was growing up.
Speaker 1:Oh wow, you're always get off my lawn. I drove through the square.
Speaker 2:I didn't even have to stop at a stop sign because there was literally no car. Okay. So I love seeing all the people that are so happy to be here and they appreciate all of the art and the music and what a different scene it is now than growing up.
Speaker 1:I still really think Someone should be grateful for it. And the vast majority of our buyers are coming here from other places and they are thrilled to be here and it is such a cool vibe. Yes, like to, because you deal with some buyers that don't want it Like they didn't want it. This was not their idea. That's just not the case with our community. People coming here can't wait to experience. You know exactly what we have from the shopping to the restaurants, to the culture, to the bike trails everything. They're legitimately excited to be a part and it feels ground floor right. They're not as ground floor as you, megan.
Speaker 3:We know you're the OG.
Speaker 2:She's an AO. You're the original Bentonville the parents. But yes, I caused a little ruckus back in my high school days.
Speaker 1:Oh, tell us.
Speaker 2:I'm just kidding.
Speaker 1:No, I want to know now.
Speaker 2:My mom's favorite story is probably I just got my license and I drove around the square backwards and my little cabriolet girl. And my mom got like 10 phone calls like backwards.
Speaker 1:Is it in reverse?
Speaker 3:You know, when you're 16 you're so silly and no, I was never silly enough to drive that there was no traffic.
Speaker 1:I'm pretty impressed I had a car.
Speaker 3:I got in trouble for a moment Without a backup camera, I'm sure no backup camera.
Speaker 1:Not in those days. That's real back and out.
Speaker 2:I know, I'm just driving around the square backwards.
Speaker 1:Now you're part of the pedestrians. You back into every parking space now, don't you?
Speaker 3:Absolutely. She is that girl in a big, huge truck back into a tiny square.
Speaker 1:Ladies, thank you so much for joining me today. I really enjoyed our talk. Is there anything we missed?
Speaker 2:Just come shop downtown Bentonville for all of your seasonal gifts and you really are supporting local when you come through our doors and we're just so appreciative to be where we are and be on the forefront of so many other wonderful things.
Speaker 1:I guarantee you come to the square to shop. You're going to have a great time. You're going to come away with that special gift for that person that's really hard to buy, for that person who has everything Megan's got boats.
Speaker 3:I got you, so go to in season. There you go. My husband will be your next customer.
Speaker 1:Yes, tony's husband is going to be right there to buy that boat and he has everything.
Speaker 3:He doesn't even like to shop. Okay.
Speaker 1:To be clear, they don't have boats in season yet.
Speaker 2:Wait till 2024.
Speaker 1:Their lineup is going to be amazing.
Speaker 2:Maybe some boat ornaments there we go Nice save, I'll send you my address.
Speaker 1:I can't wait to see that. Ladies, thank you so much for joining me today. Really enjoyed our time and really appreciate you guys for being there. And thanks for everybody for listening. Remember you can catch all of our new American Town podcast episodes on streaming channels, following our social platforms or going to visit Bentonvillecom. And don't forget to follow Visit Bentonville on Facebook, instagram, twitter, linkedin, youtube and TikTok. We've got so many great events coming to Bentonville in 2023. Check out our event calendar and plan your trip today. Thanks for tuning in. We'll see you next time.