Northwest Arkansas is getting first-row seats to The Aronson, a mixed-used, cinema-inspired development with 214 rental homes, restaurants, entertainment, and an Alamo Drafthouse Cinema + Drive-In. The community will be developed by Catchlight Entertainment, a strategic partnership between ITEX Group and Time Warp Enterprises.
Offering 214 residences, the community will include a mix of single, duplex, and triplex homes with several garden-style apartment buildings. Residents will have convenient access to bike parking, home offices, and dedicated garages in addition to a clubhouse, a fitness center, playgrounds, dog parks, and a pool.
"The Aronson will be a beacon of community and fun for all of Fayetteville and Northwest Arkansas," says Chris Akbari, Catchlight partner and CEO of ITEX. "Residents will be able to enjoy the convenience of mortgage- and maintenance-free living in an upscale bike- and pedestrian-friendly community filled with parks, green spaces, and a host of modern amenities."
On the commercial side, the development will be anchored by Arkansas' first Alamo Drafthouse Cinema + Drive-In. It will also be the company's first permanent drive-in theater. Slated to open in 2024, the cinema-eatery will feature 798 luxury recliner seats across eight indoor theaters and a drive-in screen with parking for cars and bikes with a view from the beer garden. The venue will offer food, local beers on draft, and craft cocktails.
The development’s name is a nod to Arkansas native and cinema pioneer Max Aronson. Recognized by his screen name Gilbert “Bronco Billy” Anderson, Aronson had three roles in the early cinema hit "The Great Train Robbery" before founding Essanay Studios in 1906. By 1914, he was considered "The King of the Movies." The following year, he recruited rising star Charlie Chaplin to Essanay, where he produced the early classic "The Tramp," among other Chaplin productions.
As a vertically integrated management, construction, and development company, ITEX manages over 7,400 luxury and affordable housing units and has developed over 8,000 units in over 60 communities.
