Date: May 2, 2025 | Story: Stephanie Maxwell Newton | Photography: Bailey Dougan |
Local business owners weigh in on what makes South Arkansas such a wonderful place to live, work, and play
Becoming a successful entrepreneur means answering the door when opportunity knocks. That’s exactly what El Dorado natives Alan Tyson and Alex Vaught did last year when they decided to buy Timberlane Meat Market, a well-loved local butcher that announced it would be closing its doors. “We really want to offer something great to the community, and this just happened to be a good fit for us,” Alan says. Having already partnered on a previous food concept, the two purchased Timberlane with plans of opening a larger facility this fall. In the meantime they launched Magnolia Meat Market, a sister store in downtown Magnolia, to service customers in both cities. We spoke with Alan and Alex about reinvesting in their hometown, the importance of community support, and the decision to raise their families in South Arkansas.
Q: Tell us about your two newest business ventures and what makes them important parts of their respective communities.
Alex: Timberlane Meat Market had been open for about 15 years serving fresh-cut meats and beef products. The community loved it. It’s not just the only butcher shop in El Dorado, but maybe the only one for 60 to 75 miles. Late last year Alan found out it was for sale; it was just time for the previous owners to close this chapter. So we partnered to buy it, and we’re building a bigger facility at Haynesville Highway and Timberlane where we’ll be able to offer more fresh, natural food options. This is what led to Magnolia Meat Market. We had access to this building in downtown Magnolia, and we thought, Let’s give it a shot until we open in El Dorado.
Alan: The response has been fantastic. I think Magnolia has been appreciative of a place where they can get good, custom meat cuts. A lot of what major retailers offer is cheap, it’s not consistent, and it’s lower quality. All of our stuff is USDA Choice quality beef. We’re also planning to have local beef as well as chicken, pork, honey, and eggs soon.
Q: South Arkansas seems to be thriving. What do you credit for this growth?
Alex: Community involvement. In both El Dorado and Magnolia, the communities really rally around and support local. Over time we’ve seen businesses fail, and it shows you that if you don’t support local, you won’t have anything—you’ll have to drive farther for restaurants or shops you want to visit.
Alan: I see more people, specifically the younger generation, want to invest back into South Arkansas. For a while, people left and did not come back. Now, families are moving back to open businesses and reinvest here. I see more corporations investing in the area, too, opening plants and offices here instead of moving to larger cities.
Q: Is there anything about this region that you think surprises people?
Alex: Everyone knows everyone! You can walk into a restaurant in El Dorado and you will know at least six people.
Alan: My wife and I moved to Northwest Arkansas for about five years after college and ended up moving back home. We missed the small-town atmosphere. To Alex’s point, we could walk into a place and not know a single person there. Here, on the other hand, you’ll know half the people. It’s a very tight-knit community of people, and it’s been integral to who I am as a person.
Q: Say you’re talking to someone who has never visited this area. What are your can’t-miss stops?
Alan: For both El Dorado and Magnolia, the core and the heart of the city is downtown. Both towns have historic downtown areas that have been renovated, and you’ll find everything from jewelry stores to flower shops to good food to meat markets—a beaucoup of different things. Those areas are essentially the lifeblood of the communities.
Read on for more of our favorite ways to discover El Dorado and Magnolia.
Alan Tyson and Alex Vaught
Johnny B’s in El Dorado
El Dorado’s English phone booth-turned-book-exchange
South Arkansas Heritage Museum in Magnolia
Staff at Off the Rail Cafe
French toast at Off the Rail Cafe
SHOP
In 2024, Jefferson Street Books—a staple of the El Dorado Square since 1988—changed ownership and reopened under a new moniker paying homage to that year. Stop in at The 1988 (shopthe1988.com) to shop new and used books, and keep an eye on their calendar for craft events, book clubs, and silent reading nights. Antiques lovers will want to get lost in The El Dorado House (203.570.8739) and Everybody’s Antiques (870.875.1444), both of which feature booth after booth of vintage pieces, collectibles, and one-of-a-kind finds. Looking to upgrade your closet with fresh, casual styles? Head to Sara’s (870.234.4122) in Magnolia. Sara’s also carries children’s clothes and has a baby registry.
DINE
For a unique dining experience, grab a table at Off the Rail Cafe (870.639.8029), a restaurant housed in an authentic 19th-century rail car. The El Dorado eatery is open daily for breakfast and lunch, and outdoor seating is available. Opened in 1990, JJ’s BBQ (jjsbbq.com) offers barbecued meats in an unassuming atmosphere half a mile from El Dorado’s downtown. While Timberlane Meat Market is set to open in El Dorado this fall (offering lunch, daily specials, and a drive-thru window), Magnolia Meat Market (870.901.3012) is currently open for grab-and-go meals a block from the downtown square.
VISIT
May 3 is the annual Mayhaw Festival (soarkhistory.com), an El Dorado tradition going strong for 33 years. Based at the historic Newton House, the festivities include craft and food vendors, an antique car show, live music, and plenty of canned mayhaw jelly for purchase. The event is free and open to the public. That evening, First Financial Music Hall in the Murphy Arts District (eldomad.com) welcomes up-and-coming country act Braxton Keith. The family-friendly fun continues May 16-17 with the Magnolia Blossom Festival (blossomfestival.org) in Magnolia’s historic downtown square. Enjoy the World Championship Steak Cook-off, Blossom Market (featuring vendors from around the state), and Magnolia Arts Art Show. You can immerse yourself in the past at Magnolia’s South Arkansas Heritage Museum (southarheritagemuseum.org), which educates visitors on the region’s days gone by through a collection of artifacts. Interested in a tee time? Check out Mystic Creek Golf Club (golfmysticcreek.com), a semi-private club with a par-72 course and fully stocked pro shop in El Dorado.
STAY
The Haywood (facebook.com/thehaywoodeldorado), a member of the Hilton brand, offers convenience and style steps from the excitement of El Dorado’s Murphy Arts District. Order a drink at the hotel’s Well Bar & Grill before exploring the city’s nightlife. In downtown Magnolia, The Loft On the Square (theloftsq.com) offers boutique accommodations located in the revitalized Columbia County Bank, providing comfortable suites in the city’s beloved downtown square.
Downtown Magnolia
The 1988
The Haywood
