Harps to soon open store near ACHE campus

Springdale-based Harps Food Stores^[1] plans to open on Oct. 8 its new location near the Arkansas Colleges of Health Education^[2] (ACHE) campus. The store will employ at least 80, with 30 of those being full-time workers, according to Harps.

The grand opening event is set for 10 a.m., on Oct. 8. When the store opens, it will be the 160th Harps store operated by the grocer.

A building permit valued at $12.2 million was approved Nov. 22, 2024, by the city of Fort Smith for the 39,350-square-foot store that will also include a Harps Express fuel station. The contractor is Commerce Construction, Inc. of Springdale. Harps declined to provide a total cost for the new location.

The store, located at 6400 Veterans Ave., and open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., also will include a deli, fresh sushi, curbside pickup and online ordering through the Harps website.

“We are excited to expand our presence in Fort Smith,” Kim Eskew, Harps chairman and CEO, said in a statement. “This new location reflects our continued commitment to providing quality, value, and service in every community we serve.”

ACHE sold Harps the 5.5 acres for the new location in 2024 to help diversify retail options for medical students, other people affiliated with the medical school, and those living in nearby residential areas.

“We’re excited to welcome Harp’s grocery store to the ACHE campus,” said Les Smith, ACHE chief of staff. “Having access to their fresh, high-quality foods right here on campus will be a tremendous benefit to our students, faculty, staff, and the entire community. This partnership reflects our commitment to fostering health, convenience, and wellness for everyone we serve.”

Harps, which has four other stores in Fort Smith, is a 100% employee-owned company that operates 159 stores in Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Oklahoma. As the largest employee-owned company in Arkansas, Harps employs more than 6,700 people.

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