Date:  February 29, 2024  |   Story: Stephanie Maxwell Newton  |   Photography: Bailey Dougan  |  

Get to know this Arkansas destination through the eyes of a couple of local business owners who call the city home

Carey Thompson and Josh Palmer found the perfect blend of old and new when they opened a gift shop in a 110-year-old potato barn. The property became available as the two were hoping to start their own coffee-roasting business, The Black Bison Company. They purchased the piece of history with the intention of basing operations there; however, it quickly became clear that roasting coffee in a century-old wooden structure would not be advisable. Shifting gears, they moved production off-site while making the barn the face of the company. To fill the space, they opened a retail shop in the location, selling a range of gifts, jewelry, and home décor along with Black Bison coffee by the cup. “Carey had gotten started helping out in a business a few years ago that was coffee-oriented, but it was more of an online business,” Josh says. “With us both being from Fort Smith and having ties here, we wanted to do something a little more local.”

Now, they’ve expanded to open a specialty grocery called The Market by Black Bison just around the corner and are also the new owners of Sweet Bay Coffee, another Fort Smith staple. All locations proudly serve Black Bison coffee. “We’re just trying to provide something that someone otherwise might have to drive to Little Rock, or Northwest Arkansas, or Tulsa to find,” Josh says. Here, we spoke with Carey and Josh to find out more about their business, their favorite area destinations, and what makes their hometown special. Keep reading for their recommendations and more.

“The Fastest Banjo in Town,” a mural by Brazilian artists Bicicleta Sem Freio on the side of the Kress Building in downtown Fort Smith.

Josh and Carey pictured in front of The Black Bison Company’s building; “Potato House” is visible on the wooden sign overhead and speaks to the location’s history.

Q: As Fort Smith natives, are there any pieces of local history that you remember from growing up in the area?
A: We both have memories of going to the Fort Smith Museum of History and the courtroom of Judge Isaac C. Parker. [Editor’s note: Judge Parker became known as the “Hanging Judge” of the Old West due to his reputation for sentencing convicts to death. Furniture and photos from his courtroom are on display at the Fort Smith Museum of History.]

Q: When friends visit from out of town, where do you take them?
A: We love to recommend all the local restaurants. Some of our favorites are Art’s Barbecue and Taliano’s Italian Restaurant. We personally know the owners of each of those and love that they are family-owned and have been part of the Fort Smith community for decades.

Q: Do you have any favorite day trips to take from Fort Smith?
A: Floating on the Frog Bayou near Rudy, Arkansas, is a favorite. Josh has known about it since he was a teenager and had a friend who owned property there. It’s a great half-day float and popular with the local Rudy residents as a swimming hole.

Q: What’s it like running a small business in Fort Smith?
A: We have really seen the community come out and support us, which is huge. There’s a lot of people who come in and say, “We’re so glad you’re trying to do something different!” And I think that’s part of why we keep moving forward—because of the feedback we’re getting. We’re just trying to make Fort Smith have something a little different, and that makes us feel good.

A slice of pizza from food truck Vinnie’s Pies.

Bleu, one of the resident canines at The Black Bison Company.

 StoneHouse at Chaffee Crossing.

Fort Smith Coffee Co. at the Bakery District.

Wares on display at Creative Kitchen.

More Ways to Discover Fort Smith

SHOP
Shopping for someone special? John Mays Jewelers (johnmaysjewelers.com) is an award-winning, family-owned business that’s become the region’s go-to luxury jeweler since opening in 1999. Located on Garrison Avenue, Lux Haus (luxhausinteriors.com) carries an array of on-trend home furnishings, barware, one-of-a-kind accessories, and more. At The Smith (thesmithonline.com), find a stylish selection of jewelry, gifts, and tableware, including favorite brands such as Juliska, Beatriz Ball, and Michael Aram.

DINE
Chef Rachel Cannon’s cuisine shines at StoneHouse at Chaffee Crossing (stonehousecc.com), a refined steakhouse that opened in 2015 in the historic Maness School House. For seafood in a laid-back environment, head to AJ’s Oyster House (479.434.5115). Menu favorites include fried crawfish tacos, crab-stuffed catfish, and, of course, an array of fresh Gulf oysters. Around the corner is Berry Sweet (eatberrysweet.com), a small bakery specializing in cupcakes, macarons, and their specialty “chunky cookies.”

VISIT
Head to the Fort Smith Museum of History (fortsmithmuseum.org) to explore the city’s story through immersive permanent exhibits, including a display of nearby Garrison Avenue’s early days. Opened in July 2023, the United States Marshals Museum (usmmuseum.org) is a brand-new center dedicated to sharing the nearly 230-year-old legacy of the U.S. Marshals program.