The Hot Springs Village Property Owners Association made the following announcement on Saturday, March 13, 2021:
Hot Springs Village Enters Food and Beverage Lease Agreement With Xplore Restaurant Group, LLC
“The Hot Springs Village Property Owners Association Board of Directors has authorized its Interim General Manager to enter into a lease agreement with Greg Jones, Xplore Restaurant Group, LLC, to operate the DeSoto Club, Granada Grill, and Isabella Café. Details are being finalized and the full transition should be complete by the first week of April 2021. Mr. Jones has been a member of the Hot Springs Village POA since 2003. He has a proven track record for successful restaurant management at Xplore Lakeside Café, Beehive, and Artfully Baked and Brewed.
“Mr. Jones and his team will meet with all current POA Food & Beverage employees and attempt to retain them. The POA will review job placement opportunities within the POA for current employees who are not retained by Mr. Jones.Interim General Manager John Paul said, ‘While we are pleased to enter this lease agreement with Xplore Restaurant Group, our main concern is assisting our employees as we make this transition.’”
Click here to visit Xplore Lakeside website.
Click here to visit the Beehive Neighborhood Hangout website.
Click here to visit the Artfully Baked and Brewed website.
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Brad Beaumont
03/13/2021 — 4:07 pm
My wife and I moved here five months ago. We love every restaurant in the village including the ones Mr. Jones owns. I’m sure he will do a great job. He has invested his life into Hot Springs Village and I will support him in that venture.
Dennis Simpson
03/13/2021 — 6:53 pm
Brad, I am confident the villages needs and will gain more great news residents like you and your wife. We are happy to have you and thanks for your ALWAYS positive comments.
Paul Dimitry
03/13/2021 — 4:42 pm
With management domain over six restaurants in the Village, I can only hope that some diversity in format will make each location unique.
Joseph Vlasek
03/13/2021 — 4:59 pm
How big a subsidy is Mr. Jones receiving in exchange for his excellent leadership skills?
Ernest Armentrout
03/13/2021 — 5:03 pm
Will the POA still be subsidizing while under this lease. And was this lease opportunity advertised for other entrepreneurs to bid?
HSVP C
03/13/2021 — 6:25 pm
Greg Jones has granted an interview. Be sure to read the article on this website. Thank you.
Dennis simpson
03/13/2021 — 6:57 pm
It may come as a shock to you.. but no one else has ever offered to assume the responsibilities of these other restaurants all at the same time.. I’m certain the pla was not turning down multiple offers.. the reason the pla has been running these properties as they default status was because no one else would and we are responsible for keeping them available for golfers
Steve Bender
03/13/2021 — 5:38 pm
About time the POA gets out of the restaurant business.
Knowing the quality of the food that Greg’s other restaurants have, I have absolutely no doubt that he will succeed.
Dennis simpson
03/13/2021 — 6:55 pm
Agreed and great point
Kathy D Miramontes
03/15/2021 — 8:56 pm
I agree completely!
Bryan Murphy
03/13/2021 — 7:04 pm
Lets get a great breakfast going at one of them. Holler at me if you need suggestions!
Dennis simpson
03/13/2021 — 7:41 pm
It may come as a shock to you.. but no one else has ever offered to assume the responsibilities of these other restaurants all at the same time.. I’m certain the pla was not turning down multiple offers.. the reason the pla has been running these properties as they default status was because no one else would and we are responsible for keeping them available for golfers
Ernest Armentrout
03/13/2021 — 7:45 pm
First, Cheryl Dowden, thank you for doing this interview and keeping our community informed.
First, I believe that this could be a very positive adventure, not just for Mr. Jones, but also for the POA and residents in general. This will/could provide a source of relief to the fiscal position for the POA.
As we are already aware, an entrepreneur, taking the risks for their adventures will most likely be more aware of how to run their business, and how to manage it. Greg has an already proven success in the restaurant business. I am looking forward to what Greg can bring to what should be a, pleasurable experience for the residents and provide a positive experience for potential new resident visiting.
While there will be many opinions, as usual, positive and negative. how about this……how about we step back, let the smoke clear, give a little leeway, give this new opportunity a chance to succeed………Greg Jones…..good luck….
Tom Blakeman
03/14/2021 — 12:34 pm
In 2020 POA lost (subsidized) food and beverage to the tune of approximately $600k. It was a similar loss in 2019. Budget for 2021 projected a loss of $387k. Those subsidizations, which have been going on for a long long time, mean property owners did not get much of that deferred maintenance done that everyone talks about for roads, buildings, golf courses, etc.
Let’s all hope this new deal brings those losses to zero or at least close. As one of the ones who have been calling for POA to get out of the restaurant business I’m very hopeful that this new venture with Mr Jones will succeed in a big way.
Lorri Street
03/14/2021 — 12:58 pm
Just to be absolutely clear on this agreement with Mr. Jones…the POA will NOT be subsidizing any part of these three new food/beverage leases?
Who can/will answer this question? And along with the answer please provide us Property Owners the monthly subsidy cost savings we will reap from the three new leases broken down per each restuarant.
Thanks much…
Lorri Street
03/14/2021 — 1:13 pm
One more thought to share with Mr. Jones. When the DeSoto Club was renovated a few years back to the tune of 1mil+ the new flooring created an acoustical nightmare for the hearing impaired. No window coverings nor carpet allows for NO sound reverberating dampening. For people who wear hearing aids (which a large population of our Villagers do) this makes for the most unpleasant dining atmosphere as sounds are greatly (sometimes painfully) amplified as they bounce around bare rooms.
Thanks for considering…Lorri Street, retired Speech-Language Pathologist.
Jack McKinney
03/15/2021 — 2:08 pm
Who is the pla everyone is talking about? The subsidies that the P.O.A. should offer to X-plore are three existing restaurants that were built and subsidized by present and past property owners. Each year of my 29 years in the Village has cost well over $300,00 per year.
It’s time to eliminate subsidies and require that each restaurant sink or swim. This is what happens in the real world. We don’t subsidies Home Plate or Tanners to name a few of the many sink or swim restaurants outside of our gates.
Sue Posner
04/05/2021 — 4:01 am
Correct there should be no POA subsidies for commercial or charged amenities such as restaurants. Tangible amenities within are an enhancement to enjoyment and value of a developed land. Property owner assessments for non profit services such as police, fire, roads, maintenance of common properties/buildings, HSV employees. Utilities are separate essential services. Agree commercial or charged amenities must hold their own in a “sink or swim” reality and hope that they can succeed.