The Central Hub, a new restaurant and entertainment venue, will soon open its doors on the east side of the Magnolia Square in an historic building that was constructed in 1883. Warnock Furniture was the last business to occupy the building. The establishment will feature brick oven pizza, live musical entertainment, billiards, and a great atmosphere. Live music will once again be played and heard in the downtown area. The Central Hub will be open for business from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. on Thursday through Saturday, and from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Sunday through Wednesday.
The building is separated into two different entities with an outside entrance for each side and an inside wall running down the middle of most of the length of the structure. The two sides are connected from the inside at the back of the building. There’s also a back entrance to accommodate people who park in the old Cameo parking lot, which was leased by the Central Hub so that there will be plenty of parking available for its patrons.
One side of the Central Hub is dedicated to billiard tables with seating along a row of tables next to the inner wall, and the other side has the restaurant part of the operation with generous seating. There’s also a bar area at the back of the building in the billiard room where alcoholic beverages will be available for patrons who aren’t sitting at tables in the restaurant. Both sides have a stage for live music, and the decorations are unique to say the least. An antique 1946 Famous James motorcycle made in England sits atop the entrance just inside the billiard room. The front entrance to the building is stunning, and a focal wall composed of a variety of different guitars adds to the ambiance.
Kevin Barker, the owner and person who envisioned the project, recently discussed the idea behind the new venue, and his reasons for wanting to invest in the downtown area. “I really wanted to bring people in Magnolia and the surrounding area together and give them something to do. In the past I remember the downtown area as being the place people wanted to go on the weekends. Whether it was shopping, eating, or seeking entertainment, thousands of people would come to the square in those days. We need that to happen again for more than just one weekend a year. I want to give people a reason to come to the square and gather together, again.”
One of the things Barker wanted to accomplish when he envisioned the project was to bring live music back to the Magnolia scene. “At one time many years, ago, on any given weekend, live music would be available at many different locations in the Magnolia area.” That’s something Barker would like to see happen, again, and he wants to do his part. “We’ll be having live music on a weekly basis in the restaurant. I’ll have different types and genres of music and will hopefully have something for everyone. Every Thursday night we’d like to have a live band do acoustic shows while people are dining.” There’s also a 1925 Steinway piano on the stage in the restaurant side of the building that will be used for playing music.
Barker also envisions The Central Hub being a place where people will be able to hang out for extended periods of time. “We really don’t have a place where people can come in and enjoy themselves for hours at a time. We want to provide people in the Magnolia area with a place to hang out with their friends and have entertainment options and other things to do during the time they spend here.”
Barker has never owned a restaurant but has been in business for many years. “I’ve never had a restaurant before,” Barker stated, “but I’ve had a lot of rental property over the years and I try to do things right. And I have a vision for what I want this place to become. I’ve spent a lot of money to get this building in shape. I’ve been complaining to the city about the downtown area for some time, and I wanted to help keep the area nice. So, I decided I needed to step up and do something. We need to preserve our downtown and perhaps we can turn it into a historic district before it’s all said and done.”
There are also other projects on the horizon. Barker loves music and he is looking for a way to get bigger name groups to come to the area. They have before. At one time, Southern State College, now Southern Arkansas University, was on the Dick Clark tour. Popular acts such as The Letterman, Paul Revere and the Raiders, The Four Seasons, B.J. Thomas, Gary Lewis and the Playboys, Bobby Goldsboro, Sam the Sham and The Pharaohs, and many other artists played live music concerts here. Many of these individuals and groups are in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
“There are many musical acts that travel near this area, and I’d like to see them stop here for a performance. That’s something I’m looking at in the future, but it’s also something that would benefit Magnolia. It would bring people from other places to spend their money here. That would be a big plus for our economy any way you look at it.”