Jonesboro, AR – Jonesboro Right Now – Plans for a new Jonesboro restaurant hit a roadblock Tuesday night after the City Council denied a private club permit over concerns about the proposed restaurant’s proximity to the Math and Science Magnet School.

The ordinance had a 6-5 split vote from the council (with one member absent), halting plans to bring a full-service steak and seafood restaurant to a lot at 2740 N. Church St. that has sat vacant for over 30 years.

Developer Michael Shannon Kee, who signed a 60-month lease for the property, emphasized during the meeting that 141 Prime Restaurant would be a major investment in the city’s northside community.

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During the council’s discussion, Dr. Anthony Coleman said his primary objection was the restaurant’s location adjacent to the school, noting that the school’s superintendent also requested the council decline the permit.

However, another council member, Chris Moore, argued against using school proximity as an automatic disqualifier, pointing out that liquor licenses have been approved for businesses that sit near several schools, including Jonesboro High School.

The lengthy public comment period featured a sharp divide between residents eager for the development and those concerned about safety.

Supporters argued the area is historically underserved and needs high-dollar investments, job creation, and the accompanying tax revenue. To address concerns regarding the school, Kee said the restaurant’s operating hours would be strictly limited to Thursday through Sunday from 4 to 10 p.m.

Despite the proposed hours, opponents pointed out that the school routinely hosts after-school activities, plays, and weekend events that would inevitably mix restaurant patrons with students. Residents also highlighted dangerous traffic patterns where Highway 141 transitions into North Church Street, noting that drivers often maintain highway speeds on the neighborhood road where children frequently walk.

One resident raised concerns about inconsistencies in the application, noting that the address was listed at 2732 N. Church St. on some forms while county data categorizes the zoning for 2740 N. Church St. as residential. Another attendee questioned the necessity of adding yet another liquor permit in a dry county that already has approximately 80 active licenses.

After the public comment period, the council voted on the ordinance, ultimately declining it.

This is not the first time recent commercial development efforts at the location have faced hurdles. On Oct. 13, the Jonesboro Metropolitan Area Planning Commission (MAPC) voted 5-1 on to deny a rezoning request that would have allowed commercial development on the property at 2732 N. Church St., adjacent to the magnet school.

That application sought to change the 1.45-acre property from a single-family medium density district (R-1) to a general commercial district (C-3), with developers noting they were considering using the site for a butcher shop or an unmanned ATM.

Similar to Tuesday’s city council meeting, the MAPC proposal faced heavy opposition from the surrounding community. Residents voiced concerns over introducing broad commercial zoning right next to an elementary school and emphasized their desire to preserve the area’s residential legacy, ultimately leading the commission to side with the neighborhood and halt the commercial rezoning effort.

You can view the full meeting by clicking here. The next city council meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 5 (due to election night).

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