Mark Watkins has owned Cotton Eyed Joe's in Noel for 25 years, and now he would like to slow down and eventually retire, if he can find a buyer for the place.
Watkins said he is in no hurry to close the doors, but if a buyer came along who was willing to keep him on, learn from him and keep the restaurant the same, he would be delighted.
"I would love to retire, but I would hate to see this stop," he said. "The sad thing is, if I did, I would probably miss it."
He said he would like to work an eight-hour shift, rather than the morning-to-night routine he is working now.
"I don't want to quit work. I think a person has to have something to do," he said.
Watkins moved to Noel in 1987, when he started a greenhouse business with a relative. Five years later, in 1992, he had the opportunity to take over Cotton Eyed Joe's. His brother-in-law had started the restaurant and gave him the chance to take charge of it. The menu at the time consisted of barbecue and burgers. Watkins expanded it, adding steaks, chicken, catfish, sandwiches, a kids' menu and more.
"I think they can pretty much get whatever they want within reason," he said.
The restaurant also has a patented barbecue sauce recipe that Watkins ships to a lot of places, he said.
Watkins enjoys cooking and does most of the cooking himself; however, he has an experienced crew that allows him to take time off on occasion, he said. Some of his employees have worked for him for many years.
"In a way, it's kind of like family, I've known them so long. Good people," he said.
Some regular customers will request a certain employee to cook their steak to get it just the way they want.
"They do a good job," Watkins said.
The customers are a major part of what attracts Watkins to his job.
"I love the people. I've always liked serving people and working with people. I've always said I never met a stranger. I've met a lot of good friends in here from all over the country," he said.
Watkins said he has met people from all over the United States and also the Ukraine and Russia. Most customers come from within a 50-mile radius -- Grove, Gravette, Anderson, Bella Vista, Bentonville, Neosho and Siloam Springs.
"Some of the biggest rewards are the people I've met. Great, great people. It's rewarding to watch the kids grow up and meet the people and become friends with them."
Watkins will be 73 in February, and -- while he says he does not feel 73 -- he is ready to have more time to spend with his family. His son Mark Watkins Jr. works with Lindsey and Associates Realtors, and he has listed the building for sale. Now it all depends on whether a buyer steps forward.
"I'm not looking any time soon to close the doors," he said. "It's really hard to give it up."
General News on 09/08/2016