It’s been quite a week for Mountain Home’s Downtown Entertainment District, which saw Rio Burrito open last weekend and will see Rapp’s Barren Brewing Company open its new home this weekend.In between those events, the first installment of the 2021 Baxter Summer Music Series drew a crowd of several thousand people downtown to Hickory Park, and the first show of the Friday Night Live concert series is expected to draw another concert crowd to the park this Friday.Rio Burrito, located at 609 South Baker Street inside the Baker Street Market, held several days of soft openings before holding its official grand opening last Saturday. The eatery offers diners a Chipotle-like experience where the food is made to order in front of the customer. The Baker Street Market features an open-air community space with rooftop seating on top of the building.
Rio Burrito owner Mark Bertel talks about the turnout for their grand opening.
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Bertel says the opening day turnout was so large that the eatery actually ran out of food.
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Rio Burrito will be open from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. this Friday and Saturday and will transition into its regular operating hours of 11-8 Tuesday-Saturday starting next week.
Rapp’s Barren Brewing Company will officially reopen in its new home at 601 South Baker Street Friday evening. The brewery and taproom has held several nights of soft openings leading up to this weekend’s grand opening.
Rapp’s Barren co-owner Russell Tucker talks about the emotions leading up to opening night.
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Rapp’s Barren is relocating from its original location on East 9th Street into the Baker Building, the second-oldest building in Mountain Home and the oldest building in downtown Mountain Home. A year-long remodeling plan has seen the addition of a balcony and the conversion of the building’s second floor into more of an open-air area that overlooks the first-floor seating and lounge area.
Tucker talks about the Baker Building renovations.
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With the move, Tucker says Rapp’s Barren will become a gastro pub and offer patrons in-house lunch and dinner options.
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Tucker says moving into a larger building will also allow the microbrewery to expand from a single-barrel brewing operation into a five-barrel operation.
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Rapp’s Barren will be open from 11 a.m.-9 p.m. on weekdays and from 11 a.m.-10 p.m. on weekends.
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