In addition to Wal-Mart's direct impact, the region is blossoming because of all the people and companies that relocate to do business with Wal-Mart. "The vendors and the vendor's vendors create a natural multiplier," Silverberg notes, pointing out that several Fortune 500 companies have opened offices in the area to serve Wal-Mart.

But Wal-Mart is not the only successful, homegrowncompany in the region. Transportation company J.B.Hunt and food processor Tyson Foods also callNorthwest Arkansas home. "Wal-Mart is obviously afactor, but there are other growth drivers too,"Silverberg says.

With such strong companies, theRogers-Lowell-Bentonville area is the fastest-growingregion in Arkansas. By 2025, the region's populationis expected to surpass Little Rock, the state capital."With its demographics and psychographics, a lot ofretailers are starting to notice the area," Silverbergtells GSR. "Rogers is a really fresh market for a lotof retailers. And, a lot of retailers had a hole inthe market."

Currently, the Rogers-Lowell-Bentonville area isserved by only one mall, which is 14 miles away."Retailers took a look at the only competition, whichis the mall, and see that the market is ripe,"Silverberg says, adding that retailer response toPinnacle Hills Promenade is better than expected."It's as good, if not better, that any other centerswe have under development," he notes.

Indeed, once retailers delved into the market data andstarted to get a handle on it, demand has escalated,Beaty says. "Retailers initially go through the sameprocess and in Rogers, the rooftops aren't there rightnow, but they're coming," he says. "They really haveto rethink the process and think about where themarket is heading rather than where it is now."

In particular, the Pinnacle Hills submarket, whichstraddles Interstate 540, is the fastest growingcommercial area. In addition to Centre Pointe atPleasant Grove and Pinnacle Hills Promenade, hotelmogul John Q. Hammons is constructing a $30 million,230-room Marriott Hotel and a $25 million,125,000-square-foot John Q. Hammons Center in thePinnacle Hills area. The hotel will be the firstfull-service Marriott Hotel in Arkansas, and it willbe linked to Hammons' existing $45 million, 250-suiteEmbassy Suites Hotel by the John Q. Hammons Center.

"Rogers and the surrounding area is on its way tobecoming a destination shopping area," Beaty says.

Silverberg adds: "It's such an incredibly unique area.Almost everywhere you look there's construction. It'slike it has this growth vibe and it's at such aninfant stage. There's so much incredible opportunity."