Family is big in Arkansas, and it stands to reason that family businesses are, as well.
Generational businesses are the backbone of business in the Natural State, and while we don’t claim to have a comprehensive list of every family operation out there, we nevertheless can shine a spotlight on some of the state’s prominent family-run stores, companies and firms.
Arkansas Money & Politics is proud to once again recognize generational businesses in Arkansas.
Ace Glass Construction
Corporation
Windows/Glass, Little Rock
Akel’s Carpet One
Carpet/Flooring, Little Rock
Albright Ideas
Advertising, Little Rock
Alford’s Carpet One
Floor & Home
Decor, Fort Smith
Anthony Timberlands
Wood Supplier, Malvern
Arkansas Graphics Inc.
Printing, Little Rock
Dale Wilcox founded Arkansas Graphics in 1974, in a little office on East Markham in downtown Little Rock that cost him $45 a month to rent. That once little firm has come a long way in 48 years.
Now run by Dale’s son Kevin Wilcox, Arkansas Graphics continues to evolve and meet the needs of an ever-changing market. From that little office, Dale grew the business, oftentimes doing everything himself, from payroll to ordering supplies. But it was his printing expertise that began to build word-of-mouth momentum.
Today, in addition to being one of the top traditional and digital commercial printers in the region, Arkansas Graphics has added marketing to its portfolio, offering customers variable data, PURLs and QR codes for targeted cross-media marketing campaigns.
Arkansas Mailing Services
Mailing Services
North Little Rock
Bank of England
Banking, England
Blackmon Auctions
Auctioneer, Little Rock
The first-ever Blackmon auction was conducted in 1938 by founder Eddie Blackmon Sr.
The story goes that Blackmon owned part interest in a cattle barn in DeWitt, but the auctioneer who was working for him got into some trouble and was run out of town. In his absence, Blackmon conducted the auction that night, and the rest is history.
In the ‘60s, Tom Blackmon Sr. took over the business, expanding it from a seasonal operation to a full-time business selling farm equipment and adding construction equipment and eventually trucking, logging, railroad and manufacturing equipment. Under his leadership, Blackmon Auctions evolved from a regional business to a full-blown auction company. Blackmon’s son Thomas has led the company since 2010 and added real estate to the Blackmon portfolio.
Blackmon Auctions provides more than 80 years in the industry, an average of 70 auctions a year, and employees who average 15 years of service.
Blakeman’s Fine Jewelry
Jewelry, Rogers
Bray Sheet Metal
Sheet Metal, Little Rock
Bray Sheet Metal is a family-owned business with more than 35 employees. The company has been at its Scott Street location in downtown Little Rock since 1924 and is still run by the original owner’s granddaughter, Mary Bray Kelley, making it a certified Woman-Owned Business. Mary’s son Woody, vice president and manager of the roofing department, is the fourth generation of the Bray family to work at the company.
The Brays are active members of the Little Rock Chamber of Commerce and the Better Business Bureau of Arkansas. Bray Sheet Metal is committed to its community and supports local area businesses and events.
Brown Boys Roofing
Home Improvement, Bentonville
Bruno’s Little Italy
Restaurant, Little Rock
Cavender’s Seasoning
Culinary, Harrison
Starting on their back porch in the late 1960’s, Spike and Katherine Cavender, along with their son and daughter-in-law, Steve and Jane, made “Greek seasoning” for family and friends. As requests for the Greek seasoning grew, Spike decided he was going to “try and sell the stuff,” and if it sold well in their hometown of Harrison, then he would go for it.
Over 50 years later, the family-owned business is continuing to manufacture and bottle tons of Cavender’s Greek Seasoning every day for shipment across the United States and Canada. In 1994, Steve’s daughters, Lisa and Cara, moved back to Harrison to work, creating a third-generation family business. Today, with Cara’s husband Lance Wohlgemuth, the family business has grown to include Lisa’s son, Austin, and Cara and Lance’s daughters, Kat and Emily, marking the fourth generation of family-managed business.
CBM Construction
Construction, Little Rock
CC Jones Produce Trucking
Trucking, North Little Rock
Chi’s Chinese Cuisine
Restaurant, Little Rock
Clark Machinery Company
Construction Services, Fort Smith
Cogswell Motors
Auto Dealership, Russellville
Cooper Family Dentistry
Dental, Jacksonville
Coulson Oil Company
Petroleum Distribution
North Little Rock
Coy’s Southern Eats
Culinary, Hot Springs
Coy’s Southern Eats began as Coy’s Steakhouse in Hot Springs in 1945, where Coy Theobalt set the standard for Arkansas dining. In 1972, the restaurant was sold to Jim Manning and his partners, and a new family came to carry on the traditions. Visitors came from around the world to the Hot Springs restaurant to enjoy the “Best Steak in Arkansas.”
“We were so blessed to be able to learn from the best,” said Tracy Manning Brown, director of business development for Coy’s Southern Eats, referring to Clarence Clark, Coy’s career block-and-broiler man. “My uncle, Rodney Appling, and I learned so much about aging, cutting and seasoning beef, just from walking in that kitchen.”
Fifty years later, Clay Caffey, Tracy’s son, also found passion for flavor and the grill. In 2018, Caffey began rebranding and reintroducing the original recipes and flavors of Coy’s into food seasonings. Tracy says the famous house dressing and seasoning are only the beginning. “We cannot wait to introduce you to all of Coy’s Southern Eats.”
Cozy Cavern Storm Shelters
Emergency Prep, Austin
Crews and Associates
Banking, Little Rock
Crow Burlingame
Auto Parts, Little Rock
Curry’s Termite and Pest Control
Pest Control, Little Rock
Curry’s Termite and Pest Control has been family-owned-and-operated for five generations. It’s currently owned by Scott and Tammy Curry Pinney, the latter of whom is the great-granddaughter of company founder R.G. Curry. From offices in Little Rock, Pine Bluff and Monticello, Curry’s provides advanced, eco-friendly pest solutions for termite infestations and intrusions from other unwanted visitors. Curry’s may be the oldest pest-control business in Arkansas, but its methods are anything but. Not only does Curry’s provide immediate support for ongoing infestations, but its technicians can provide monthly, quarterly or yearly checkups as well as free preliminary termite inspections as well.
CustomXM
Printing/Promotional
North Little Rock
Daniel Orthodontics
Dental, Little Rock
DASH Heating and Cooling
HVAC, Little Rock
DataPath Inc.
Employee Benefits/Tech
Little Rock
David’s Burgers
Restaurant, Conway
David Alan Bubbus created David’s Burgers as a tribute to his father, David Bubbus Sr., who became a master butcher at the age of sixteen. David Bubbus Sr. grew up in Central Arkansas and began his career in the meat industry at the age of five, working for Johnny Jacobs Meat Market in North Little Rock. In 1963, he managed his first restaurant, the JaMar in Pine Bluff, at the age of nineteen and later opened his own restaurant, El Matador in Pine Bluff in 1967. For over half a century, David Bubbus Sr. has been instrumental in developing numerous restaurants, restaurant chains and even franchises throughout Arkansas while bringing his knowledge, passion and insistence of quality to the plates of millions of patrons.
Diamond Center Jewelers
Jewelry, Fayetteville
Dillard’s
Clothing, Little Rock
DJ’s Auto Repair
Auto Repair, North Little Rock
Doe’s Eat Place
Restaurant, Little Rock
Doe’s Eat Place originated, of course, in Greenville, Mississippi. George Eldridge, a restaurateur and hobby pilot from east Arkansas, for years had been flying friends and clients to Greenville for steaks at Doe’s. Eventually, he decided to “bring the mountain to Mohammed” and contracted the right to bring the name and menu to Little Rock.
Opened in 1988, Doe’s Little Rock maintains the no-frills tradition of the original and has achieved its own renown as a regional — and even a national — favorite. Doe’s remains family-owned and operated. George’s daughter, Katherine Eldridge, assumed ownership in 2012 and is continuing the Doe’s tradition.
Don’s Supply
Restaurant Supply, Little Rock
Duffield Gravel Co.
Quarrying, Mineral Mining
Russellville
The Faded Rose
Restaurant, Little Rock
Feltner’s Whatta-Burger
Restaurant, Russellville
Ferstl Valuation Services
Real Estate Appraisal, Little Rock
Ferstl Valuation Services is an Arkansas-based appraisal company founded by Tom and J.T. Ferstl. This father and son began their business with a simple goal – to offer their Arkansas clients and those in the surrounding states reliable, trustworthy, certified real estate appraisals. Established in 1967, Ferstl Valuation Services is one of the oldest and largest full-service appraisal firms in Arkansas, and has expanded its service offering to include commercial real estate appraisals, residential real estate appraisals, real estate expert testimony and real estate consulting services. And J.T., an Arkansas-licensed attorney, not only understands Arkansas property law, but also is in the unique position to offer clients real estate litigation support and expert testimony.
First Arkansas Bank & Trust
Banking, Jacksonville
First Arkansas Bank & Trust (FAB&T) is a family owned and locally managed bank with 21 locations in central and north central Arkansas. Since its inception in 1949, FAB&T has been deeply committed to serving the financial needs of the customers of the area, and even more deeply committed to investing time and resources into the communities which it serves. FAB&T proudly boasts the ability to offer seven-day-a-week banking with QūB, an interactive teller machine which provides live customer support with extended banking and service hours. FAB&T also provides live, local customer call center support on a 24/7 basis, to provide customers with the convenience they need and deserve.
First Security Bank
Banking, North Little Rock
Fort Thompson Sporting Goods
Sporting Goods, Sherwood
Freyaldenhoven Heating & Cooling
HVAC, Conway
Freyaldenhoven Heating and Cooling has been successfully serving Conway and surrounding communities since 1970. The company was formed when two brothers, Bob and Buck Freyaldenhoven, started working together to fix air conditioners for their friends and family. The Freyaldenhovens developed their business over the years and eventually retired in 1999. Their sons, Scott and John, followed in their footsteps and grew the business into one of the largest heating-and-air-conditioning companies in Faulkner County.
In 2006, the company created its mechanical division to serve commercial customers. Freyaldenhoven is also one of the largest Trane dealers in the state of Arkansas. The company is a Trane comfort specialist and has a showroom with the latest Trane systems for customers to see and hear.
Fuller & Son Hardware
Hardware, Little Rock
Garrett Excavating
Construction Services, Benton
Gaston’s White River Resort
Resort, Lakeview
Generations Bank
Banking, Fayetteville
George’s Chicken
Food Manufacturing, Springdale
Graham Hardware
Hardware, Wynne
Grandeur Fasteners Inc.
Manufacturing, Danville
Gwatney Chevrolet Company
Car Dealership, Jacksonville
Harp’s Food Stores
Grocery, Springdale
Harrell Bancshares
Banking, Camden
Hathaway Group
Real Estate, Little Rock
Hugg & Hall
Equipment Rental, Little Rock
Hugg & Hall Equipment Company was originally formed in Arkansas in 1956 as Lift Truck Sales & Service Corporation. The company was a distributor for Clark Equipment Co., a manufacturer of industrial forklifts.
Charles Hugg purchased the company in 1970, operating from two locations, Little Rock and Fort Smith. A company that started with only 22 employees has grown to become one of the largest in the South, operating out of 12 locations with more than 500 employees.
Hum’s Hardware and Rental
Construction Services
North Little Rock
Humphrey Funeral Service
Funeral Home, Russellville
Innerplan Office Interiors
Office Interiors, North Little Rock
Iriana’s Pizza
Restaurant, Little Rock
Jan-Pro Cleaning Services
Cleaning, North Little Rock
Dave Hughes opened Jan-Pro of Arkansas in 2005, the same year his son, Nolen, was a senior in high school. Nolen worked in the business during its first few years, learning how to clean and eventually becoming a floor care technician, in addition to taking care of various customer needs. After graduating from the University of Central Arkansas, Nolen started his own venture with College Hunks Hauling Junk and Moving. He owned the business for nine years before eventually selling it in 2018.
“After selling my business, I looked into several other career opportunities before deciding that coming back to Jan-Pro was going to be the best fit,” Nolen said. “We opened Jan-Pro of NWA in 2019 and have really expanded our presence throughout the state of Arkansas. It has been a real joy to grow our business and meet our customer needs wherever we have locations in the great state of Arkansas.”
K Hall & Sons Produce
Grocery, Little Rock
Kitchens Pediatric Dentistry
Pediatric Dentists, Little Rock
Kittle’s Garage
Automobile, North Little Rock
Leonard’s Hardware
Hardware, Russellville
Lewis Ford Sales Inc.
Car Dealership, Fayetteville
Lexicon
Construction, Little Rock
The late Tom Schueck founded what was to become Lexicon, Inc., in his Little Rock garage in 1968 with $200 in the bank and a pregnant wife at home. Thanks to his family’s dedication to “Building America,” Lexicon has grown into one of the nation’s leading fabrication and construction companies with more than 2,000 employees. On March 3, 2020, Schueck passed away at age 78. He was the chairman of Lexicon.
Today, under the guidance of President and CEO Patrick Schueck, the Lexicon family of companies combines a commitment to excellence with cutting-edge robotic technology, safety and superior craftsmanship to complete iconic steel fabrication, construction, energy, industrial, commercial and public projects. Those companies include Custom Metals, Heritage Links, Lexicon Energy Services, Lexicon Fabricators and Constructors, Lexicon Industrial Contractors, Prospect Steel and Steel Fabricators of Monroe.
Lift Truck Service Center
Heavy Equipment, Little Rock
Lindsey’s Hospitality House
Restaurant, North Little Rock
Maple Leaf Awning and Canvas
Outdoor, Sherwood
Martinous Oriental Rug
Company
Decor, Little Rock
Mays, Byrd & O’Guinn PLLC
Legal, Little Rock
McCauley Services
Pest Control/Electrical, Bryant
McClendon’s Appliance
Repair, Benton
Meyers Supply and Chemical
Janitorial Equipment Supplier
Hot Springs
Miller’s Drug Store
Pharmacy, Malvern
Moon Distributors
Distribution, Little Rock
Mossy Oak Properties/Delta Land Management Co.
Real Estate, North Little Rock
Nabholz
Construction, Little Rock
Nabholz began almost by accident. In 1949, Bob Nabholz was building a home for his future bride. But someone made an offer on the home, and he accepted, using the profits to build more houses. Commercial projects followed, and Nabholz Construction was born. The company was a family endeavor from the beginning, with brothers Bob, Ed, Tom and Charles all contributing to the growing business. In 1951, the company’s in-house millwork shop was established and four years later, Nabholz Construction was incorporated in the state.
Today, Nabholz, led by CEO Jake Nabholz, employs more than 1,000 workers with locations in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri.
National Custom Hollow Metal Doors & Frames
Hardware, Little Rock
Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort
Entertainment, Hot Springs
Parrish Delivery Services
Mail/Courier, Little Rock
Family-owned and operated since 1991, Parrish Delivery Services reached its 30-year anniversary in August of 2021, thanks to the professionalism, dedication and hard work of owner Gary Parrish and his staff.
Parrish Delivery Services provides courier services throughout Arkansas and nationwide, is licensed by the Department of Transportation (DOT), and is completely insured, covering bank transit, medical deliveries, electronics and general cargo. The company’s 25,000 square foot warehouse also accommodates mailing, warehousing and distribution services. Parrish Delivery handles small, medium and large deliveries, both standard and rush (as in delivering items that should have been there yesterday). Deliveries are made locally in the Little Rock
Peneprime of Arkansas
Asphalt, Little Rock
Peters Family Living
Furniture, Russellville
Pettus Office Products
Office Supplies, Little Rock
Phelan Orthodontics
Orthodontics, Little Rock
Phil Wright Autoplex
Auto Dealership, Russellville
Pine Bluff Sand and Gravel
Construction Services, White Hall
Poe Travel
Travel, Little Rock
Power Technology Inc.
Lasers, Alexander
Ranalli Farms
Grocery, Farm Equipment, Feed
Springdale
Red River Auto Group
Auto Dealership, Jacksonville
Refrigeration and Electric
Supply Co.
Hardware, Little Rock
Richards Honda Yamaha
Automotive, Little Rock
Riggs CAT Heavy Equipment Dealer
Heavy Equipment, Little Rock
Ritter Communications
Telecommunications, Searcy
Roller Funeral Homes
Funeral Home, Little Rock
The history of Roller Funeral Homes goes back more than 140 years and has always been about family. Renata Jenkins Byler is the third generation of the Roller family and carries on the traditions of her grandfather, a visionary in the funeral profession and founder of Roller Funeral Homes. A family of more than 300 employees represents the face, heart and soul of Roller Funeral Homes. Roller was the first to bring pre-arranged and pre-funded funerals to Arkansas and the first to bring a crematory. For 22 years, Roller Funeral Homes has been named the best funeral home in Arkansas.
Russell Chevrolet and Honda
Automotive Dealership
Sherwood
Brett Russell runs the show at Russell Chevrolet in Sherwood, one of the 200 largest Chevy dealers in the United States. Bret took over from his father, Bob Russell, who carried on the family business from his father, John Russell, who launched the dealership in 1963. After John’s retirement, Bob took over the Chevrolet dealership, and his brother Rick assumed control of the Honda dealership. The third generation of Russells runs the family dealerships today.
Simmons Foods
Manufacturing, Siloam Springs
Sissy’s Log Cabin
Jewelry, Little Rock
Since 1970, family-owned and -operated Sissy’s Log Cabin has been known for its exemplary customer service and extraordinary selection of fine jewelry and antiques. Today, Sissy’s has evolved into the Mid-South’s largest family owned jewelry store with showrooms in Pine Bluff, Little Rock, Jonesboro, Conway, Memphis and now west Little Rock.
Under the direction of three generations of Jones family members, each store offers the renowned “Sissy’s Experience” as customers browse curated collections of timepieces, diamond jewelry, estate jewelry and fine gifts. With a deep respect for founder and matriarch Sissy Jones’ vision, son Bill and family are charting the course for what’s next. With the recent expansion to west Little Rock and plans for a stand-alone relocation in Memphis, the future of Sissy’s is golden.
Smith Ford
Automotive, Conway
Smith North Little Rock
Funeral Home
Funeral Home, North Little Rock
Sol Alman Company
Recycling, Little Rock
Sportstop Inc.
Sports Apparel, Little Rock
Star Bolt Inc.
Fasteners, North Little Rock
Stephens Inc.
Finance, Little Rock
Stephens is a leading family-owned investment firm comprising the businesses of investment banking, advisory, sales and trading, research, insurance and wealth management. Founded in 1933, Stephens’ U.S. operations are headquartered in Little Rock with additional locations in strategic domestic markets and a European presence in England and Germany.
Stephens is committed to building long-term value for corporations, state and local governments, financial institutions and institutional and individual investors. Stephens’ affiliates include: Stephens Inc. (offers securities products; member NYSE SIPC), Stephens Investment Management Group, Stephens Insurance LLC, Stephens Capital Partners LLC and Stephens Europe Limited.
T&S Sawmill
Lumber Products, Clarendon
Tipton & Hurst
Floral, Little Rock
Truly one of the state’s iconic businesses, Tipton & Hurst has been around since 1886, and has evolved and innovated to meet the needs of its community. Tipton & Hurst was built on a foundation of family — it puts its name on everything it does, working to make sure that every plant, flower, gift and interaction meet the Tipton & Hurst standard of excellence.
With an award-winning team and vast resources including a wholesale warehouse and a network of premier suppliers around the world, Tipton & Hurst continues to lead the market, with locations in Little Rock, North Little Rock, Conway and Pine Bluff.
Triple S Alarm Company
Security, Little Rock
Triple-S Alarm Co. Inc. was founded in 1975 by Seth Ward and Rick Edwards. What began as solely a residential security company, is now one of the largest family-owned security companies in the South. In 1980, Rick and Mary Edwards purchased all the stock in the company and has grown the company to what it is today. Triple-S has expanded its knowledge in the business to include mass notification, access control, video surveillance, nurse call, audio / video solutions, paging/intercom systems, U.L. certifications, testing and inspections, and its own in-house U.L. Central Monitoring Station.
Tyson Foods
Food, North Little Rock
Underwood’s Fine Jewelers
Jewelry, Fayetteville
Venesian Inn
Restaurant, Tontitown
War Eagle Boats
Aluminum Boat Manufacturing
Monticello
Wardlaw Orthodontics
Orthodontics, Little Rock
Warren’s Shoes
Women’s Shoes, Paris
Welsco Inc.
Welding, Little Rock
Welsco was founded as Welder’s Supply Company by R.G. Harrison in 1941 with the backing of his father, Claude Harrison. Although Harrison did not have experience in the gas industry, he saw a growing demand for gasses and welding supplies in south Arkansas. In 1959, Stephen Harrison and Richard Harrison, sons of R.G., joined the company and eventually took over in 1965. Over the years, the Harrisons worked together to grow the company across Arkansas, but Richard ended up selling his company shares to Stephen in 1985.
Today, Welsco, owned and operated by Stephen’s daughter, Angela Harrison, is one of the largest independent welding-supply and industrial-gas distributors in the country with locations in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana and Missouri.
Whisinvest Realty
Commercial Real Estate
Little Rock
WT Equipment
Farm/Outdoor Equipment
Fayetteville
Wilson Law Group
Legal, Little Rock
Wilson Real Estate Auctioneers
Auctioneer, Hot Springs
Wooley Auctioneers
Auctioneer, Little Rock
WWW/AFCO Steel Inc.
Construction Steel Fabrication
Little Rock
Xpress Boats
Boat Manufacturing, Hot Springs