Ep. 97 - B Team Recap: Bourbon, Bentonville & Broken Chairs

A hundred episodes later, the energy feels different, in the best way. We unpack a year that stretched us and grounded us: restaurant openings that set a new bar for Bentonville, a brewery moving in next door to the new campus, and community events that turned goodwill into real impact. Along the way we laugh through the chaos, Bobby’s empty chair, a fire alarm mid-haircut, and a not-so-secret “VIP stash” moment; because the inside jokes only work when the community outside the studio is growing with us.Food shaped the year’s rhythm. Compton delivered big-city polish with local soul, Mezzaluna continued to shine, and Great Harvest reminded us how far courage can go when first-time guests bring passion and pastry. We spotlight expansions at MJ’s and Peddler’s Pub, and look ahead with Flyway Brewery coming just a stone’s throw from our front door. It’s a sign of a city maturing: better rooms, deeper menus, and owners who treat hospitality like craft. We talk frankly about location challenges, closures that still sting, and the lessons they leave behind for builders and operators.Bourbon kept the stories flowing. From special-pick Eagle Rare to a Weller full proof that sparked a legendary cabinet caper, we relive the sips that earned reverence and the blends that belong in the penalty box. Those pours became rituals: reasons to gather, reflect, and plan the next road trip to the bourbon trail. Gentsgiving hit a new peak, powered by generous people and tight logistics, and proved that humor, clarity, and heart can move a room to give more than they planned.We also get personal. A Razorback-red watch gifted to a dad in a tough year, kids dropping by for ice cream and causes, and a cohost determined to show up for every recording in 2026. That’s the fuel for season three: add Jim to the regular lineup, film on-site at local institutions, and keep telling stories where Bentonville, bourbon, and business meet. If you’re new here, welcome to the table. If you’ve been with us from the start, you helped build it.Enjoy the recap, then tell us what you want next: a guest to book, a bottle to try, or a place we should record. Subscribe, share with a friend who loves Northwest Arkansas, and leave a review so more people can find the B Team.