PRAIRIE GROVE -- Downtown customers, local residents and other visitors in the area will have a new place to stop and enjoy homemade cinnamon rolls and other baked goodies within the next few weeks.
Fat Rolls, owned by Jean and Jacob Aldridge, will open at 116 N. Mock St., in a building that is more than 100 years old. In the past, the building has housed an antique shop, saddle shop and Model T repair service.
The couple is putting their natural talents and education to work in their new business. Jean Aldridge recently graduated from NorthWest Arkansas Community College with a baking arts degree. Jacob Aldridge holds a bachelor of arts degree in sculpture from the University of Arkansas, is a graphic artist and enjoys woodworking.
They started renovating the building in September, working on weekends and evenings with their three small children. Recently, their efforts have gone full-time as they prepare to open the bakery.
Renovations include installing a kitchen and built-in cabinets, remodeling the bathroom and new paint. The building already had wood floors and one inside wall of the 3,500-square-foot room is a beautiful brick wall. The high ceilings and glass windows in the front give a large, airy feeling to the bakery.
Jean said one corner will be set aside for children and a back patio will be renovated to give customers a place to eat outside. They want Fat Rolls to be a place where families like to spend time.
She said they also expect to receive a lot of foot traffic from customers to Prairie Grove's downtown antique stores and flea markets.
Their specialty will be cinnamon rolls, with other flavors available. Other items on the menu will include ham/cheese rolls, pizza, cookies, cakes and brownies. The baked goods will be made from scratch, Jean said.
The two were joking around one day about opening a bakery and selling cinnamon rolls. Then, they decided, why not?
"A joke turned into a dream," Jean said.
They have not finalized when the shop will be open but it will either be 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. or 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fat Rolls will be closed Sundays and Mondays.
The business has a website, fatrollsbakery.com and a Facebook page.
General News on 02/10/2016