Bono's population growth is one part of a broader set of changes to its commercial corridor.
Over the past year and a half, a sit-down restaurant and a convenience store closed, Pit Stop Barbecue relocated outside city limits, a national pizza chain broke ground on a downtown corner lot, and a family restaurant reopened after more than a year of rebuilding following a kitchen fire.
Bono's Growth and Business Changes
Bono is growing fast enough that it made the news this year. As of May 2026, the city's population had climbed more than 25 percent since the 2020 Census, putting it over 3,000 residents. Mayor Danny Shaw told KAIT: "A lot of people want to move from Jonesboro and live in a smaller community." The city is betting the trend holds. This year it broke ground on a new wastewater treatment plant sized to handle growth for the next three to four decades, not just the next few years.
The population figures describe one part of the town's recent changes. The businesses on the commercial strip also changed during the same period.
Recent Changes on the Strip
The city newsletter reported that The Bistro House and the 63B Kum and Go closed, while Pit Stop Barbecue relocated outside Bono's city limits. It described the empty storefronts as "ripe for future businesses." These changes occurred during a period of population growth.
Here's the same half mile of Main Street and US-63, one year apart:
| Spot on the Strip | What Happened |
|---|---|
| The Bistro House | Closed |
| 63B Kum and Go | Closed |
| Pit Stop Barbecue | Relocated outside city limits |
| Domino's Pizza, corner of Main and College | Opened |
| La Casa De La Fiesta | Reopened after more than a year |
During this period, the strip saw two closures and a relocation, as well as an opening and a reopening. Together, those changes reshaped its business mix.
Businesses That Remained Open
While the other businesses changed, three Bono businesses remained open: Fox's Pizza Den, tucked into North Bono, with sit-down and takeout service; Sonic Drive-In; and SnowBrew Coffee.
Their continued operation offers a contrast to the closures, relocation, opening, and reopening on the same corridor.
La Casa De La Fiesta Reopens
A kitchen fire in early February 2025 forced La Casa De La Fiesta to close, as KAIT reported. KJNB later reported that the restaurant remained closed for more than a year while the building was rebuilt.
KJNB reported that the restaurant reopened with new decor and a party room. At the grand reopening, one longtime customer told KJNB:
"I've known the owners for about 14 years, and they have become some of my best friends."
The customer's quote reflects a long-standing relationship with the owners.
Domino's Expansion in Northeast Arkansas
A commercial lot at 200 N. Main Street, at the corner of Main and College, was purpose built for the new Domino's store, with Bono-based Aspen Prime Construction handling the build.
Around the same time, the same operator opened two more Northeast Arkansas locations: one in West Paragould and one in Brookland, which opened March 30, 2026. The two openings marked the franchisee's 39th and 40th locations across the region.
The strip saw business closures and a relocation alongside a new franchise opening and a restaurant reopening. These changes show how its business mix shifted during the period.
Businesses on Bono's Main Corridor
If you're planning where to eat this week, here's what that leaves you with along Bono's main corridor:
- Fox's Pizza Den, North Bono, sit-down and takeout
- Sonic Drive-In
- SnowBrew Coffee
- Domino's Pizza, corner of Main and College
- La Casa De La Fiesta, now with a party room for bigger groups
The old Bistro House and Kum and Go buildings remain empty, as the city newsletter described them.
Bono is growing, and its main corridor has seen closures, a relocation, an opening, and a reopening. Following those changes offers one way to see how the town's commercial mix evolves alongside its population.
I live and work in this stretch of Northeast Arkansas every day, and I like keeping an eye on the small stuff that tells the real story behind the growth numbers. If you're curious about what's happening in your corner of Bono, or anywhere else around Jonesboro, I'm always glad to talk shop. You can find more of this kind of ground-level read on Northeast Arkansas towns over at Kay L Doss, and if you ever want to turn the conversation toward a move of your own, reaching out costs you nothing but a text.
