Marion, Arkansas

Source:  www.marionar.org ,   Marion, Arkansas

Where Small-Town Charm Meets Big-City Access

Combining the delights of small town living not far from everything else

The city of Marion might be only 15 minutes from the bustle of downtown Memphis, but its quiet streets and easy pace reflect the best of small town American charm. Mayor Tracy Brick says this blend of proximity and peace has shaped the city for decades, close enough to world-class entertainment, dining, and culture, yet far enough to preserve the comfort and ease of a simple lifestyle. 

“We are a small rural community located in a great proximity to big city entertainment areas and features,” Mayor Brick shares. However, this quaint city is also experiencing growth, as it welcomes new housing, industry, and retail establishments. “Marion has tripled in population in the last 20 years, and we have seen a steady increase in housing,” she continues. 

“We do tend to lag a little bit with a commercial focus mainly due to our proximity to a big city, but we have a small town atmosphere, safe and easy to maneuver in the town, but close to anything your heart desires, across the Mississippi River.”

This favorable location has become even more valuable in recent years, as people seek a more relaxed quality of life with easy access to employment and amenities. “As the city of Memphis increases their major employers, we definitely see an uptick, because people will live here and the cost of living is lower in the state of Arkansas than it is in the city of Memphis,” Mayor Brick adds.

Attracting Dining and Retail

As Marion welcomes growth, efforts are focused on strengthening retail, restaurant, and hospitality offerings. The city has partnered with Ricky Hayes of Retail Attractions, to help bring in new establishments. Beth Wilson, Director of Economic Development shares, “We want to get our name out there that even though we’re close to Memphis and Jonesboro, we still have a large community and communities around us that could benefit with some retail here.”

Wilson notes that an amendment regarding dry cities and counties has already helped make the community more attractive to restaurants. “The legislation passed a new amendment to allow the restaurants to come to city council and apply to be a private club,” she relays. “That eliminates the year-long waiting time. We are really pushing that because that has been a hindrance for some of our full service restaurants to come to Marion. So, we’re really getting that out and promoting that we’re open, and ready for business.”

One success story is Scooters Coffee, currently the top coffee franchise startup in the U.S., which opened last year and quickly became a local favorite. The results have been remarkable, with Marion posting the highest opening month sales of any Scooters location nationwide. “The community here is very supportive of the businesses,” emphasizes Freddie Thorne, Director of Planning and Community Development. “Hopefully that trend will lead to more businesses coming in, when they see the support that we give.”

The opening of the flagship location of Cortez Mexican Restaurant is another highly anticipated addition to the community. “The owner of that restaurant currently owns seven restaurants across the Mid South,” details Thorne. “It’s about a $2.3 million project. It should be one of the nicest restaurants we have in town.” The hope is that this location, away from Marion’s primary commercial area, will spark new growth along a mostly residential corridor in the city.

A Hub of Commerce and Hospitality

With an ideal location at the crossroads of Interstates 55 and 40, the city benefits from steady traffic in every direction, making it a natural overnight stop for travelers moving north-south or east-west across the country. Roughly two decades ago, a major development project transformed more than 100 acres of farmland in Marion into a thriving commercial district. “Currently there are four or five restaurants in that area and four hotels,” Mayor Brick expands. “We have two Marriott flags, a Hilton and a Best Western, and the fifth hotel, a TownPlace Suites, is about to break ground.” 

With exceptional  hotel occupancy rates, averaging above 90 percent even during slower periods, it’s no wonder this area continues to grow. Thorne highlights, “The current owner of the one that’s being built, that was his main incentive for building here. He builds hotels all over the world, and he just is amazed that we keep a 90% capacity. Apparently, in the hotel world, that’s a pretty good rate.”

Expanding tourism opportunities in Marion is a primary goal, and the $15 million Sultana Disaster Museum is expected to draw ten thousand visitors annually. It will be the anchor on a planned museum trail that will extend up and down the Mississippi River Delta, telling the story of the 1865 explosion and sinking of the Sultana steamboat, a tragedy that claimed between 1,500 and 1,800 lives. “The Sultana is classified as the greatest maritime disaster in US history, and it’s an incredible story,” portrays Mayor Brick. “We’ve had a small museum in town for 10 years, and this one should be opened in April of 2026.”

Building for the Future

As the city moves ahead with residential and commercial growth, efforts are underway to ensure the infrastructure is also in place. On the utility side, Entergy serves the community’s energy needs, while  two major fiber companies provide access to high speed internet. “We have some aging infrastructure, and so we are slowly working on replacing those,” acknowledges the mayor. “I’ve been in office since January 2023, and I have spent approximately $800,000 on waterline replacement so far. The voters in Marion just passed a sales and use tax bond issue, and $15 million out of that bond will be dedicated to water and sewer projects.” Plans include a new water tank to improve pressure in a growing area, upgrades to an existing well to increase capacity, and the installation of a new sewer lagoon on 40 acres of recently acquired land.

Housing demand is strong, with home prices ranging from $350,000 to $1 million. “We have in the pipeline anywhere from 300 to 500 new homes that could happen in the next four years,” Mayor Brick conveys. “We’re trying to get prepared. We’re going to extend a huge water line to an underserved area that is east of the main part of the city. That is another area that we have for potential growth. We’re spending money here as fast as we can.” The biggest challenge is not land or infrastructure but builders. “Everybody wants to have a custom home built, and these builders can only do so many. So we are short on builders,” Thorne admits.

On the planning side, the city is working with an outside consultant to update existing land use maps and zoning regulations, making it easier for development of new subdivisions and improvements in older established areas. “We’re in the process of trying to figure out some zoning district updates to simplify some issues we have in Marion,” says Thorne. 

“Being an older community, some of the zoning classifications that we have just don’t meet the needs for that area. We’re trying to make it a little easier for them, instead of having to jump through hoops to get special permission from the planning commission and whatnot.” 

In terms of industry and logistics, Marion’s location offers plenty of connectivity, including a prime location at the intersection of Interstates 40 and 55, just 20 minutes from Memphis International Airport, a Union Pacific intermodal yard, a BNSF line, and river access only 10 miles away. “We have a landowner that is very interested in offering his land for sale, for industry,” Wilson reports. 

“Once we get that going, we will definitely get more attention. We’re really excited, just with all the companies wanting to come and have American based facilities. We have plenty of land, and we are ready for the opportunity to help investors to set up shop here.”

Looking Ahead

For Mayor Brick, the priorities over the next 18 months include residential development and infrastructure upgrades that keep pace with growth. Along with that, attracting more retail to the area is top of mind. “We would like to provide plenty of shopping opportunities for our residents and also start to establish ourselves as a secondary trade destination to the bigger city across the river from us,” she imparts. 

Tourism will also be a focus, with the hopes of attracting an additional hotel, along with commercial and retail to serve visitors to the city. “Marion tripled its size pretty quickly, and we outgrew our resources fast,” Thorne concludes. “We are trying to get stuff updated as fast as possible, so that we’re not behind or lacking. We don’t want to slow growth down.”

At a Glance

Marion, Arkansas

What: A small but vibrant city, just 15 minutes from Memphis

Where: Crittenden County, Arkansas

Website: www.marionar.org