A new bakery and cafe called Saltine has opened its doors at 659 E. Huntsville Road in south Fayetteville, filling the space that was briefly home to Cafe Lavande. The new spot is the brainchild of James and Aubrey Isom, a couple who moved from Nebraska just a few months ago with plans to bring a fresh, seasonal menu to the neighborhood.
Saltine is kicking things off focusing on breakfast and morning coffee, offering a variety of pastries like muffins and cinnamon rolls along with toasts and sourdough breads made in-house. The restaurant aims to highlight seasonal ingredients with a rotating menu that shifts throughout the year, promising a bit of surprise for regulars. Though lunch service isn’t available yet, the Isoms plan to add it down the line.
The brightly painted building on Huntsville Road stands out in a part of south Fayetteville that has seen a fair bit of change over the last few years. That stretch has been home to several restaurants cycling through, but Saltine’s approach of combining a bakery and coffee shop with a neighborhood vibe could carve out a more permanent place.
Saltine held a soft opening this week, with plans for a grand opening celebration on Tuesday, September 18. Locals interested in checking it out before then can follow their progress and menu updates on Instagram, where the Isoms have been sharing photos of their baked goods and coffee creations.
James and Aubrey Isom’s move from Nebraska to Fayetteville adds to the growing number of entrepreneurial transplants fueling the city’s food scene. Their focus on fresh, seasonal ingredients is fitting for a town already known for its appreciation of farm-to-table dining and local produce markets like the Fayetteville Farmers’ Market downtown.
Saltine’s arrival contributes another option for south Fayetteville residents looking beyond the more commercial corridors. With its colorful facade and carefully crafted menu, the cafe aims to be a spot where folks can grab a quality morning bite or take a break with a cup of coffee made from thoughtfully sourced beans.
This opening joins a string of new businesses and cultural happenings in Fayetteville and greater Northwest Arkansas, including recent developments in arts, music, and local food scenes. It arrives simultaneously with shifts in traffic and growth patterns around Huntsville Road and nearby neighborhoods, making it a promising addition to that evolving part of town.
Source: Fayetteville Flyer
