Jonesboro, AR – (JonesboroRightNow.com) – A new restaurant is coming to the property where Ryan’s Buffet once stood.
According to plumbing project records submitted to the Arkansas Department of Health, a Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux will be coming to 2809 E. Highland Drive, the former location of Ryan’s Buffet.
Rob Hester, owner of StoneBridge Construction, which is the general contractor for the project, also confirmed to JRN that Walk-On’s was being built on the site.
“The new building required complete demo of the existing building as well as the parking lot. The restaurant will be a great addition to Jonesboro, approximately 6,000 square feet, with completion scheduled for summer 2026,” he told JRN.
Ryan’s Buffet closed in 2016, K8 News reported. The site was later the home of Bayird Pre-Owned Super Store.
Haag Brown Commercial Real Estate and Development posted on Facebook that demolition of the former Ryan’s Buffet building had started to make way for a “new to Jonesboro” brand. The post added that the real estate company was set to officially announce the development on Wednesday.
“This deal has been over 6 years in the making,” Haag Brown’s post said. “We’ve recruited this company hard, explored multiple sites, and worked through countless challenges….and we’re thrilled to finally bring them to the heart of Jonesboro’s retail market.”
Haag Brown’s post listed Gamble Land Company as the owner and developer of the property, StoneBridge Construction as the builder, and Eric Boen as the tenant broker. It also indicated the building is set to open in 2026.
Walk-On Sports Bistreaux is a sports bar and restaurant chain featuring Louisiana-inspired food. It has over 75 restaurants, with most of them located in the southern United States. According to its website, in Arkansas, the restaurant has locations in Conway, Little Rock, Fayetteville, Rogers, and Fort Smith.