Described as a “city under a roof,” the Arcade created a lasting impression on its opening night in 1914. Newspaper reporters admired its modernity, and the mayor proclaimed that the Arcade “compare[d] favorably with the greatest marketplaces of the world.”[1] Opening stores included Allen’s Confectionery, Altheimer Dry Goods Company, Cooperman Bros. Grocery, and Terry Dairy Company.
Over time, specialty stores gradually replaced grocers. The Arcade transformed into a modern mall, including a department store, bookstore, beauty salon, and gift shop. With fewer people shopping downtown, however, the building deteriorated as revenue and upkeep declined.
In the late 1950s, urban renewal began to take hold in Little Rock, and the Arcade seemed to be a relic of a past that did not fit with the city's future. Deemed too expensive to rehabilitate, owners slated the Arcade for destruction. Shopkeepers vacated the building by December 31, 1959. [2] Within the next month, owners demolished the building.
Today, the Arcade's name lives on through a joint venture between the Central Arkansas Library System and Moses Tucker Real Estate. Like its predecessor, the arcade houses a variety of organizations and businesses, and its location in the River Market District resonates with its original marketplace roots. The new building continues to reflect Little Rock's growth as a city by reviving memories of historic buildings while meeting the needs of 21st-century Arkansans.
*The banner photo shows the interior of the Arcade, 1957.
[1] “New City Market Opened to Public,” Arkansas Gazette, June 26, 1914, 7.
[2] Owens, Patrick J., “Arcade Tenants Hate to Go – They’ll Miss Friendly ‘Hole,’” Arkansas Gazette, January 4, 1960, A1.