On Memorial Day weekend of 2024, the face of downtown Rogers was changed forever by a series of tornadoes that wreaked havoc on businesses and homes.
Unfortunately, some local staples like Suzie Q’s Diner were completely destroyed by the storms, but other local businesses have been able to return to a new normal after months of renovations.
For some of those businesses who were unsure when they would be able to reopen for customers, this season of Thanksgiving is a particularly poignant one.
Cook's Natural Foods is among those grateful for the opportunity to serve the community again after being almost completely gutted by the tornadoes. Cook's officially reopened its store on Walnut Street in May, a year after the storms.
Cook's has been a staple of downtown Rogers since it originally opened in 1995, and specializes in offering food-grade supplements and a variety of healthy food options including organic, non-genetically modified, allergen-friendly, vegan, and gluten-free options.
Cook’s manager, Ashley Cook, says the 2024 tornadoes caused catastrophic damage to the store, ripping off the roof, causing flooding and damage to almost all the merchandise as well as the flooring.
“When we came in, it was a pond inside,” she says, “Basically the only thing undamaged was the walls.”
But she says her family is grateful for the continued support of the community during the time their doors were closed, with customers still purchasing supplements directly and some even showing up to see if they could help in some way.
“It was never a question if we would come back, but when,” Ashley says. “We are grateful for all the customers who kept checking in on us, and we are grateful for all the professionals that helped us rebuild.”
The forced renovation even gave the store the chance to now offer a juice bar and small dining space where customers can enjoy smoothies, wraps, and other organic offerings for lunch.
Another local business that is thankful to be completed with an extensive renovation process is Honeycomb Kitchen Shop, which has been part of downtown Rogers for more than nine years.
Shop co-owner Dana Smith says the business, which carries high-quality kitchen supplies and offers cooking classes, lost nearly 60 percent of its inventory from water damage when the tornadoes damaged the roof and windows of their retail space.
One silver lining was the kitchen space did not take as much damage, and they were able to open that section back up within three weeks.
“We were thankful we were able to still use the cooking space, and we could continue with cooking classes,” she says.
Honeycomb reopened its renovated retail space three months after the tornadoes. Dana says an unexpected positive from the entire process was the discovery of some underutilized space in the kitchen part of the building that could be reimagined as a wine shop to complement both their retail and cooking offerings.
Dana says she and her family are thankful customers were eager to return to downtown Rogers after the tornado to support the impacted businesses like them.
“We were worried people would kind of forget about us, but we had a wonderful grand reopening and people were so intentional about coming to visit and support us. It was so vital to have that.”
For a few businesses in downtown Rogers, the tornado meant a move and a whole new vision for their business.
That was the case for Greenhouse Aleworks, a brewery on specializing in hazy IPA-style beers as well as fruited sour and dessert-style beers. Greenhouse had only been open for five months when the tornadoes completely totaled the building they were renting.
Owners Lauren and Travis Banks were grateful that their brewing equipment was in the only untouched part of the building and able to be salvaged. Lauren says not having to replace their equipment is probably the only reason they were able to continue their dream.
The tornado damage has meant they have had to reimagine a brand new space. They opened a small taproom in Bentonville called Terracotta so they could have some income, but rejoiced when they were able to celebrate the grand opening of their new Rogers location at 113 S. Second St. on Aug. 30 of this year.
Lauren says they mourned the loss of their former cozy space, but she says their new space has brought several blessings, such as being closer to the heart of walkable downtown Rogers.
“We’re especially excited to have a Greenhouse taproom space again—one that feels like us, but even more rooted,” she says. “Our garden patio is a dream come true, a place to sip in the sunshine or under the stars and cafe lights.”
While building their new downtown space, Lauren says the community continued to show up for them again and again.
“The support we received was overwhelming in the most beautiful way. From heartfelt messages and generous fundraisers to friends and neighbors continuing to seek out our beer—first through local distribution, and later at Terracotta. Every gesture reminded us that Greenhouse was never just about a building.”
She said the encouragement they received reminded them that Greenhouse is a feeling rooted in connection, care, and shared joy. She says that feeling is still very much alive and growing.
“We’re incredibly grateful for our friends in the craft beer industry who lifted us up, and for the customers who became chosen family during our year of rebuilding. Their belief in us helped turn heartbreak into hope—and made it possible to plant something new.”
"We had a wonderful grand reopening."
"Every gesture reminded us that Greenhouse was never just about a building."