By Rob O'Connor '95
Associate Editor
Commercial & Community
Across a newly redesigned Harkrider streetscape — featuring four lanes, two roundabouts, and a median — sits Market Square, the commercial center of The Village at Hendrix.
Market Square includes an open green space that is already being used for community events, including the 2010 Conway Symphony Designer House, a local farmers' market, arts programs, outdoor movies and musical performances. For more information on Village events, visit www.hendrix.edu/village.
The open lawn off Market Square is framed by two multi-story mixed-use buildings with upper-floor loft apartments, which house 130 Hendrix students, as well as new commercial tenants, Panera Bread and Za-Za Fine Salad & Wood Oven Pizza Co. (owned and operated by John Beachboard '01).
Village Books — the new Hendrix College bookstore — opened in Market Square in late July. The new 4,900-sq.-ft. location easily offers twice as much space as the former bookstore location inside Hulen Hall. In addition to course textbooks, Village Books has a trade and reference section, new release and children's books, as well as sale books and school spirit items. There is also a coffee and tea bar and seating for students and customers from the community to relax.
One instantly recognizable fixture of Village Books is assistant manager Barbara Jensen, who has worked for Hendrix since 1981. DeeDee Allen is the manager and Clare Walter '10, is the evening manager.
Village Books is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.
Residential
The Village is for more than students and diners. Conway residents old and new — including Hendrix alumnus Dr. David Baker '84 — are making their home in the Village. Three homes now have full-time residents; and two spec homes are complete (with two more awaiting construction this fall). Four homes that have been sold are currently under construction; and two are sold and are awaiting construction to begin. For more information on property in the Village, contact Beth Tyler, Director of Sales and Marketing, at 501-730-5048 or e-mail tyler@hendrix.edu.
Economic & Environmental Development
Southwestern Energy Co. will complete a new regional headquarters (housing up to 500 employees) on a 12-acre site adjacent to The Village by the end of the year. The corporate office location will be connected to The Village by an environmental watershed project which will reclaim, redirect, and widen Gold Creek, as well as purify and recycle water from the site. In addition to its environmental benefits, the watershed will serve as an outdoor classroom and will offer unique hands-on learning opportunities for Hendrix students interested in biology, botany, chemistry, and environmental studies. With 12.7 miles of walking trails, boardwalks, and foot bridges, the watershed will provide additional recreational opportunities for Village residents, Southwestern Energy employees, and the Hendrix community.