As new Arkansans, we have set out to see the local sites in Northwest Arkansas! It is a gorgeous part of the United States. The US Census lists the entire state of Arkansas as the part of the Southern region of the US, but here, in Centerton, only10 miles from the Missouri border it definitely seems more like the midwest.
It is very different from Southern Louisiana. People used to remark how odd they thought it was that liquor was sold just anywhere, at anytime in Louisiana. I didn’t know that it wasn’t like that everywhere! There are liquor bottles in Walmart, Target, groceries, gas stations, right at the checkout, next to the kids items, beer too, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
You can get it to go in drive through daiquiri bars. You can have it delivered to your house, buy it online. And while the legal age is 21 years old , you can drink younger if your parent or guardian is there, or you are in a private home. But in Arkansas you can’t buy packaged alcohol on Sunday . Monday through Friday only between 7AM and 1AM, and 7 AM to midnight on Saturday. And no buying alcohol on Christmas at all. Culturally it makes a very for a different attitude and atmosphere. Because of the differences, and our wish to start new, (see Living Hurricane Ida: Part One:Devastation , Living Hurricane Ida: Part Two: Evacuation , and Living Hurricane Ida: Part Three: Fruition ) we are really enjoying exploring every day.
One of the interesting facts in this area is that is the home of the very first Walmart store , which Sam Walton opened in Rogers, Arkansas on July 2,1962. Now Walmart is the “world’s largest company by revenue” . Everywhere you go here there are Walmart Supercenters, Neighborhood Walmart’s, small markets called Walmart To Go, Walmart Gas Stations, and owned by Walmart, and named after the founder Sam’s Club and Sam’s Club Gas Stations. There are even Walmart banks called Arvest Banks! Another interesting store is entire large Walmart’s called Walmart Pickup that are just for picking up online orders.
At the original site where Sam Walton began his five and dime business which developed into Walmart, there is a Walmart Museum. It has so many interesting displays, including Sam Walton’s office, interactive shopping cart sections, movies, Sam’s pickup truck, even his wife’s wedding gown! There is a little diner attached that sells hot dogs and shakes and a gift shop. I bought a tiny replica of a Walmart shopping cart and some post cards.It is a very interesting way to spend the afternoon, and is located in beautiful downtown Bentonville Square.
