The Legendary AQ Chicken House in Springdale: A Comeback Story With a Twist

Have you ever had one of those meals that sticks with you for years? That’s what AQ Chicken House has been for generations of Arkansans. As a food blogger who’s tasted my way through most of Northwest Arkansas, I can’t tell you how excited I was when I first heard that this iconic Springdale institution was making a comeback. But the journey hasn’t been without its hiccups…

The Rise, Fall, and Promised Return of an Arkansas Institution

AQ Chicken House isn’t just any restaurant – it’s literally part of Arkansas history. Established way back in 1947, this Springdale landmark served up its famous crispy fried chicken for over 75 years before closing its doors in March 2023. For those wondering, the “AQ” stands for “Arkansas Quality” – and quality is exactly what made this place special

I still remember my grandpa telling stories about special family celebrations at AQ. It wasn’t just a place to eat; it was where memories were made. Birthdays, anniversaries after-church Sunday lunches – AQ Chicken House was THE place for these moments in Springdale.

When the restaurant closed, it felt like losing a piece of Arkansas culture. The original location at 1207 N. Thompson Street was even demolished to make way for (ugh) a car wash. Talk about a gut punch to nostalgia!

But then came the exciting news in October 2023 – AQ Chicken House would be making a comeback! The Lundstrum family (local Springdale residents Tom and Robin) along with their daughter Gracie and son-in-law Jacob Lively announced plans to revive the beloved restaurant through their company, Catalyst Capital.

The Lundstrum Family: Keeping It Local

What makes this revival story special is that it’s truly a family affair with deep Springdale roots:

• Tom and Robin Lundstrum have called Springdale home for over 50 years
• They’ve been entrepreneurs in Northwest Arkansas for more than 35 years
• Their daughter Gracie and son-in-law Jacob Lively moved back to NWA specifically to partner on this venture
• The family has personal memories at AQ (Tom even had his bachelor party there in 1986!)

As Tom Lundstrum put it: “This has been a dream for a long time for him. He hates to see things that make Springdale, ‘Springdale’ go away.”

Robin added that “There are legacy restaurants and legacy buildings in Springdale, and this is one of them.”

I love this commitment to preserving local culture. In a world where every town starts to look the same with identical chain restaurants, it’s refreshing to see families fighting to maintain what makes their community unique.

The Original Plan: A 2025 Grand Return

Initially, the revival plans looked promising. The family acquired the brand in late 2023 and started working on designs for a new location on the west side of Springdale near the Walmart Supercenter on Elm Springs Road. They even submitted building plans to the city of Springdale last summer with some pretty impressive renderings.

The original announcement had us all looking forward to 2025 for the grand reopening. The promise was to bring back not just the food but the warm, welcoming atmosphere that made AQ special. As Jacob Lively guaranteed, “One of the most important things is there will be a toy chest.” And Robin Lundstrum assured us all that there would be “chicken over the coals” – the signature dish that put AQ on the map.

AQ Chicken’s Legendary Status

Just how big a deal was AQ Chicken House? Well, it wasn’t just popular with local families – it once hosted a sitting president! When Bill Clinton was president, he celebrated his 47th birthday at the restaurant in 1993. According to the Los Angeles Times, after dinner Clinton appeared at the restaurant door and was serenaded with “Happy Birthday” by about 125 people.

Clinton was reportedly “beaming” after the celebration, saying: “It was great to see all my friends, and to be in the AQ.” He even admitted with a smile, “I ate too much.” The birthday cake was described as “a plain white cake” and “a beautiful thing.”

That’s the kind of place AQ was – good enough for presidents but welcoming enough for everyday folks.

The Setback: Plans Stall in 2025

Unfortunately, this comeback story has hit a major roadblock. According to a recent update, the revival of AQ Chicken House has stalled, and the family announced they won’t meet their projected 2025 opening date.

The reason? It’s a familiar story in today’s economy – rising construction and material costs made the previously announced site off Elm Springs Road financially unfeasible. It’s a bummer, but I gotta respect the family for being transparent about the challenges.

In a Facebook announcement posted this July, the owners explained that while they’ve had opportunities to relocate AQ to other cities in Northwest Arkansas, they’re committed to keeping it in Springdale where it belongs. As they put it, “this brand was born in Springdale – and that’s where it belongs.”

The family is now “actively working to secure a new location in the heart of Springdale” and remains “committed to bringing AQ back the right way.” I appreciate that they’re not rushing to open something that doesn’t honor the legacy properly – quality over speed seems to be their approach.

What Made AQ Chicken House Special?

For those who never had the chance to experience the original AQ Chicken House (and for those eagerly awaiting its return), let me tell you what made this place so darn special:

• That chicken! – AQ was famous for its crispy pan-fried chicken, sometimes served alongside spaghetti (an unusual but delicious combo)
• The atmosphere – It wasn’t fancy, but it was warm, welcoming, and felt like home
• Community hub – As Tom Lundstrom explained, “Where people gather, they start to form an identity in the social network. You’d meet there after church with your friends and family…”
• Uniqueness – In Tom’s words: “it’s not a cookie cutter place to go eat; it was unique and had real good homemade food.”

When the Arkansas Times reviewed the restaurant back in 2007, they called it “A-OK” – which might sound like faint praise, but trust me, that’s high marks from a publication known for being picky about food!

The Vision for the New AQ

While the reopening has been delayed, the vision for what the new AQ Chicken House will be remains clear. The Lundstrum and Lively families want to create something that honors the past while looking to the future.

They’ve described their approach as “reimagining” AQ while preserving the familiar atmosphere and memories. It won’t be an exact replica of the old restaurant (the original building wasn’t in a condition that could be economically renovated), but it will capture the essence of what made AQ special.

The family is even involving the community in this revival process. As Gracie Lively explained: “We know it’s really important to everybody in Northwest Arkansas. There is a spot on our website that says if you think you have a product or a service, if you’re a local architect, or engineer or designer or somebody like that, and you think ‘oh, I have thought about this before’ or ‘hey, now that I know it’s coming back, I have a whole vision for it,’ we would love to hear from them.”

They’re also collecting stories from patrons about their AQ memories. Whether it was a family tradition, first date, or celebration, they want to hear how AQ was part of people’s lives. They especially love when people share pictures! These stories will help inform how they rebuild the AQ experience for new generations.

The Legacy Lives On

Despite the setback with the reopening timeline, I’m still optimistic about AQ’s future. The passion behind this project is obvious, and the family’s commitment to doing it right rather than doing it fast speaks volumes.

As they stated in their update: “The timeline may have shifted, but the mission hasn’t.” They remain grateful for everyone’s “continued patience, support, and the stories you keep sharing with us.”

For those of us who love Arkansas food traditions, this is definitely a story worth following. The Lundstrum and Lively families seem determined to bring back not just a restaurant but a piece of Springdale’s cultural identity.

My Personal Take

I’ll be honest – I’m disappointed by the delay, but I’d rather wait longer for an authentic revival than get a rushed, watered-down version of AQ Chicken House. The soul of these beloved institutions can’t be faked, and it sounds like the new owners understand that.

What impresses me most is their insistence on keeping AQ in Springdale despite offers to move it elsewhere. That shows integrity and a real understanding of what makes this restaurant special – it’s not just about the food, it’s about the place and the community.

So while we might have to wait beyond 2025 to taste that famous chicken again, I’m still eagerly anticipating the day when AQ Chicken House returns to Springdale. When it does, you can bet I’ll be among the first in line, ready to create new memories in a place that’s helped define Arkansas dining for generations.

If you want to follow along with AQ’s comeback journey, you can check out their website at aqchicken.com or follow them on social media @AQchickenhouse. And if you have your own AQ memories to share, they’d love to hear them!

Have you ever eaten at the original AQ Chicken House? What dish would you most want to try when they reopen? Drop a comment below – I’d love to hear your stories while we all wait (somewhat impatiently) for this Arkansas classic to make its triumphant return!