FORT SMITH - More building permits released this week by the City of Fort Smith have indicated more restaurant developments are headed to Phoenix Avenue. The city said Friday that the Shoppes At Leigh Avenue will house a Gusano’s Pizzeria, a Baskin Robbins ice cream franchise, and a beer and wine retailer.
Gusano’s has been a popular pizza chain that has seen continued growth over the last decade, starting in Little Rock. The restaurant now boasts locations in Northwest Arkansas, Joplin, Texarkana, and Pittsburg, Kansas.
Baskin-Robbins was founded in 1945 in Glendale, California by Burton Baskin and Irvine Robbins, ice cream enthusiasts and brothers-in-law, whose passion inspired what is now the world’s largest chain of ice cream specialty shops. What was once a selection of 31 flavors—Baskin-Robbins “31®” stands for a different ice cream flavor for each day of the month—has grown to more than 1,300 in its flavor library.
The chain formerly had a location in Fort Smith, which was located near Creekmore Park.
The building project is being constructed at a cost of $1,600,000.
New Life Church
New Life Church has applied to build a $4,500,000 worship center at 1900 North 62nd Street. The campus is part of a multi-location church based in Conway and founded by Pastor Rick Bezet. It currently has locations across Arkansas, and one in Florida. The current worship center is located at 9000 South Dallas Street.