BENTONVILLE — The Spark Cafe ice cream food truck is set to return to the Bentonville Square after catching fire late last year.
Raven Washabaugh, Walmart spokesperson, said via email Monday while Walmart doesn’t have specifics to share on the truck’s current status or when it will return, it’s focused on ensuring the truck continues to serve the community in “the best way possible” when it does come back.
The Spark Cafe ice cream truck had been part of the Walmart Museum’s operations in downtown Bentonville, serving ice cream on the southwest corner of the Bentonville Square while the museum on the corner of Main Street and Central Avenue underwent renovation that started Nov. 1, 2022. The revitalized museum — along with a revamped Spark Cafe and Walmart founder Sam Walton’s original 5 & 10 store — reopened to the public March 14.
Washabaugh said Walmart will share more details about the truck’s return and how it will complement the Spark Cafe in the future.
Capt. Justin Pinkley, spokesman for the Springdale Fire Department, said the department responded to the truck fire at 10:07 a.m. Dec. 26 in the southbound lanes of Interstate 49 between the Wagon Wheel Road and Elm Springs Road exits.
Pinkley said Monday the department classified the fire as accidental. While he couldn’t provide an exact cause, the report on the incident states the vehicle experienced a mechanical and/or electrical failure in the engine area.
No driver was with the vehicle when firefighters arrived, according to Pinkley. He said Monday the driver noticed smoke coming from the engine area, pulled over to the side of the interstate and quickly exited the truck with a passenger to their supervisor’s vehicle, which was following closely. The supervisor called 911, and they all got off the interstate to get away from the passing traffic. There were no injuries.
Pinkley said — per a witness statement — the truck was being taken to a shop in Fayetteville at the time of the fire.
Fire Chief Blake Holte has said the truck’s engine compartment and cab were on fire when firefighters arrived. It took firefighters about 15 minutes to extinguish the fire. The entire front of the truck was destroyed.
Arkansas State Police assisted on the scene with traffic control, according to Holte. The Lowell Fire Department brought a water tender, sometimes known as a water tanker, to provide additional water.
