Perry Smith

Perry J. Smith is the founder and president of Minute Man Arkansas LLC, a company that has been working to revive the iconic Minute Man restaurant chain in Arkansas.13 Here are some key details about Perry Smith:

Background and Experience

• Smith is an Arkansas native with a background in the restaurant industry.15
• He was the founder of Matchbox Food Group, a successful restaurant chain.46
• Smith has experience as an entrepreneur and restaurateur, having co-founded Matchbox Food Group in the past.6

Minute Man Revival Efforts

• In 2018, Smith partnered with Linda McGoogan, the owner of the last remaining Minute Man restaurant in El Dorado, to begin reviving the Minute Man brand.2
• Smith opened a new Minute Man location in Jacksonville, Arkansas on September 11, 2020.13
• He introduced some innovations to the menu, such as adding rotisserie chicken, while keeping classic items like charcoal-grilled burgers and Radar Pies.13

Connection to Minute Man's History

• Smith has a personal connection to Minute Man, having eaten at Wes Hall's Minute Man on Cantrell Road in Little Rock as a child in the early 1970s.1
• He expresses a deep appreciation for the brand's history and its importance to Arkansas communities.1

Current Status

While Smith made efforts to revive the Minute Man brand, recent developments suggest challenges:

• The Jacksonville location opened by Smith closed in 2022.23
• As of August 2024, the last remaining Minute Man restaurant in El Dorado also appears to have closed.3

Despite these setbacks, Smith's efforts demonstrate his commitment to preserving and revitalizing an important part of Arkansas restaurant history.