Early in 2018, when the POA's newest dining venue opens, it will be a cross between a sports bar and a speak-easy, director of business development Tommy Lee said during a tour of the building last week. The space was most recently leased as an Italian restaurant called Cafe Amici.
The new restaurant will be operated by the POA, with both Lee and food and beverage operation manager Scott Redington involved. In fact, all the salaried POA food employees will work at both Lakepoint and the Country Club, Lee said. He has already hired a kitchen manager who worked as executive chef for a POA for which Lee also once worked.
Lakepoint, located in the old Yacht Club building on Marina Drive, has a more upscale menu. At the Country Club, the menu will feature casual, comfort food, with most entrees under $15.
The bar, which is U shaped, will seat about 30 people. There will also be tables and chairs for a total of about 90 customers, Lee said. Also, there is outside seating on the patio for about 30 people.
The kitchen will retain the same footprint, but there will be some new equipment, Lee said.
Outside, the awning has been removed, and it will be replaced by a permanent structure, general manager Tom Judson said.
Stepping in through the front door, the welcome center will be on the left, a space that once housed the POA human resources department. Human resources employees always spent a lot of time answering questions when visitors arrived, Lee said. When completed, the welcome center will include a membership services employee, several flat-screen televisions -- which will show scenes from throughout Bella Vista -- and all the information a newcomer would want, Lee said.
The common area is directly in front of the entrance, a few steps down. It will be furnished with large, round tables and captain chairs, as well as a large smartboard, mounted over the fireplace. It will be available for rent and can be rented out without closing the restaurant, he said.
The pro shop is moving into the building, on the right-hand side where golf operations used to be, Lee said. The restaurant is also on that level. The pro shop will have merchandise from each golf course and maybe some items for trail users and other Bella Vista items.
The project has been delayed by a shortage of labor, Lee said, but he thinks it can be completed in January 2018. He doesn't expect it to be difficult to staff the restaurant after the holidays when people are more likely to be job hunting.
General News on 11/22/2017