Summary
In this episode of The Bentonville Beacon, host James Bell sits down with return guest Phil Libin, a renowned serial entrepreneur known for his transformative ventures such as Evernote, All Turtles, mmhmm and now, Bentoville. Bentoville is a new concept that promises to revolutionize the dining experience in the Greater Bentonville Area by combining Japan’s culinary art with vibrant, local food culture from Northwest Arkansas. Throughout the conversation, Phil shares his insights on entrepreneurship, outlines his journey from the San Francisco tech scene to Northwest Arkansas and delves into the virtuous cycle and connection of quality of life and quality of work, while shedding light on the philosophy behind Bentoville.
Thanks for tuning in!
Show Notes
Timestamps in this blog are for the audio-only version of the podcast; video timing differs.
(0:52) Introduction to Phil Libin
(3:36) About Bentoville’s Co-Founders
(5:15) The Inspiration and Vision behind Bentoville
(13:11) Bentoville’s Approach to Sustainability and Local Sourcing
(18:47) Belonging and Co-Creation
(21:25) How Phil’s Thoughts on Bentonville and Northwest Arkansas Have Evolved
(25:58) Phil’s #BecauseBentonville Story
(32:15) Advice for Entrepreneurs in Goldilocks Cities
(36:22) Closing Question
Links
Bentonville Economic Development
Greater Bentonville Area Chamber of Commerce
Quotes
“There’s a business hypothesis behind [Bentoville]…And it’s the theme that we were calling the Goldilocks cities. And what it means is over the next decade or so, more and more people will have the opportunity to choose where they want to live and where they want to work and not have those two decisions to be completely tied to each other…And a lot of those people are going to choose places that are optimizing for quality of life.” – Phil Libin, (6:39)
“We want people to think that you don’t have to give up anything. We don’t have to give up much because the perception in the past is…we get a slightly better quality of life, but we’re probably giving up some food and some culture and other things. And we’re saying, no, all of it can be better. Obviously, everything has some trade offs, but you don’t have to make any of those big sacrifices to go to a place that’s meant to be a great place to live.” – Phil Libin, (9:54)
“Bentoville is Japan style food, meaning it’s authentic Japanese food, but the important thing is not that it’s ingredients from Japan or even strict dishes, we’re not trying to make an American’s idea of a Japanese restaurant, we’re trying to make a cool restaurant in Japan.” – Phil Libin, (13:31)
“One of my board members said this quote that really stuck with me. She said, ‘What’s the difference between belonging to something and just being invited?’ And she said you can only belong to something that you help create, so if you want to have a feeling of belonging, you have to help create it. You can’t belong to something that you were a passive participant in…And so we’re really reaching out to the community, to people and to businesses because we want to be in that co-creation process.” – Phil Libin, (19:04)
“Everyone shows up [to Bentonville] without much expectation, and then everyone leaves blown away by how cool it is and how liveable it’s been.” – Phil Libin, (23:05)
Bentonville’s Dining Revolution: Japan’s Culinary Art + Northwest Arkansas’s Ingredients with Phil Libin of Bentoville
In this episode of The Bentonville Beacon, host James Bell sits down with return guest Phil Libin, a renowned serial entrepreneur known for his transformative ventures such as Evernote, All Turtles, mmhmm and now, Bentoville. Bentoville is a new concept that promises to revolutionize the dining experience in the Greater Bentonville Area by combining Japan’s culinary art with vibrant, local food culture from Northwest Arkansas. Throughout the conversation, Phil shares his insights on entrepreneurship, outlines his journey from the San Francisco tech scene to Northwest Arkansas and delves into the virtuous cycle and connection of quality of life and quality of work, while shedding light on the philosophy behind Bentoville.
Improving Quality of Life with Global Cuisine
With a mission to provide world-class, global cuisine in the heart of Northwest Arkansas, Bentoville’s name is a play on words mixing the Bentonville’s name with a bento box, an essential part of Japanese food culture. With a notable group of ten founders, including two Michelin-starred chefs and eight highly accomplished entrepreneurs, Bentoville’s philosophy goes beyond serving delectable food. It’s rooted in bringing Japanese-style culinary experiences to the already popular Northwest Arkansas food culture. It includes further leveling-up an already award winning culinary scene.
“We want people to think that you don’t have to give up anything. We don’t have to give up much because the perception in the past is…we get a slightly better quality of life, but we’re probably giving up some food and some culture and other things. And we’re saying, no, all of it can be better. Obviously, everything has some trade offs, but you don’t have to make any of those big sacrifices to go to a place that’s meant to be a great place to live.” – Phil Libin, (9:54)
Bentoville’s founders have coined the Greater Bentonville Area a “Goldilocks City,” meaning it’s the ideal size for creating an atmosphere that is optimal for both personal well-being and entrepreneurial vigor. This idea of co-creation is evident in Bentoville’s narrative with its partnership with local organizations, like Brightwater and partnering with others to host culinary exploration experiences where dinings foster an emotional connection.
“There’s a business hypothesis behind [Bentoville]…And it’s the theme that we were calling the Goldilocks cities. And what it means is over the next decade or so, more and more people will have the opportunity to choose where they want to live and where they want to work and not have those two decisions to be completely tied to each other…And a lot of those people are going to choose places that are optimizing for quality of life.” – Phil Libin, (6:39)
Blending Japanese Traditions with Local Flavors
At the core of Bentoville’s ethos lies the concept of local-sourcing, meaning that while Bentoville’s menu boasts global cuisine, its dishes are Northwest Arkansas at heart. Bentoville is committed to using Arkansas-grown rice, local high-quality pork and sustainably sourced, high quality seafood, solidifying its appreciation and respect for traditional Japanese cooking techniques and flavor profiles where ingredients are highlighted instead of hidden.
“Bentoville is Japan style food, meaning it’s authentic Japanese food, but the important thing is not that it’s ingredients from Japan or even strict dishes, we’re not trying to make an American’s idea of a Japanese restaurant, we’re trying to make a cool restaurant in Japan.” – Phil Libin, (13:31)
Bentoville’s focus on enriching Bentonville’s already robust culinary landscape with Japanese influence epitomizes the power of food as both a connector and a storyteller.
Get Connected!
Thank you for tuning into this episode of The Bentonville Beacon! Join us weekly for more stories and advice from the entrepreneurs, business executives and community leaders who are sparking the rise of the Greater Bentonville Area. If you are interested in discussing whether your business should have a presence in Greater Bentonville or would like to discuss this podcast, please contact James Bell. You may reach James at jbell@greaterbentonville.com or (479) 273-2841.
Links for Additional Mentions
Bentonville Bike & Pedestrian Master Plan
