By Emily Merrell, Photography by Melissa Donner 

The Arkansas State University Pavilion, or “The Pav” as it is affectionately called by generations of A-State alumni, is getting a major facelift. It will soon house The Den Zone, a bar, restaurant and venue designed to enhance campus life by giving students a safe and conveniently located space to have fun and build community connections.

The Den Zone, which is expected to open on Homecoming weekend in late October, is being developed by Jerry Rapert, owner and operator of SHJ Holdings.

Rapert, who has his own fond memories of The Pav from his time at A-State, hopes to give students a more all-encompassing experience at The Den Zone.

“My goal is to offer a place for students to not only have fun, but a place that provides a much more expanded set of offerings to meet the needs of all students, at all times,” said Rapert. “We want to be the place they feel at home from their first campus visit, through graduation, as alumni, and even the point at which they bring their kids and grandkids to their first campus visit. We want students to enjoy an affordable meal, to study either inside or outside by the water, to enjoy listening to music and watching sporting events and big ASU victories on the big screen—all within walking distance for most students. But we also want to offer a place to dance the night away on the weekends.

“We are specifically designing our offerings so that we provide a space and activities for students before 10 p.m. – and then have our consistent nightly offerings after that. While we have invested a great deal of time in crowdsourcing ideas from other businesses and settings, what is absolutely unique about The Den Zone is that it is the perfect combination of the past, present and future. You can’t talk to alumni from the past five decades without them bringing up a memory from The Pavilion. We are energized to have the opportunity to build on that irreplaceable heritage while also bringing state-of-the-art technology to the venue, meeting the needs of the present and building for the future.”

A-State Chief Marketing and Communications Officer Todd Clark says that The Den Zone is part of a greater vision and plan for the future of A-State.

“The idea for The Den Zone grew out of a commitment by Chancellor Todd Shields and the executive cabinet to provide students with more entertainment and social options on or near the A-State campus,” said Clark. “By renovating the historic pavilion into a modern entertainment venue, we’re creating a space that honors our past while meeting today’s student needs.

“Long-term, this project is part of a broader vision to establish an entertainment district similar to what the University of Tennessee and the University of Iowa have developed. These types of spaces not only enhance campus life but also provide a safer alternative for students by keeping entertainment closer to home. A-State leadership has been working on the broader vision of an entertainment district for a couple of years. During that time, we’ve explored different options and had conversations with entrepreneurs in this space about potential partnerships. The Den Zone is one of the first visible steps in that long-term plan.”

The Pav, which was built in 1978, has undergone extensive renovations during the last few months in order to best accommodate The Den Zone. It will have a full-service kitchen and bar and has been designed as a multi-purpose entertainment venue.

“The biggest hurdle has been the scope of the renovations,” said Clark. “Transforming the pavilion into a modern entertainment venue required major updates, including building a functional restaurant kitchen, overhauling the restrooms and ensuring compliance with ADA requirements. And, as with any historic building, we’ve uncovered evidence of its age at nearly every turn, which adds layers of complexity to the project.”

Arkansas State is funding the renovations, with the total cost of the project estimated at $900,000. SHJ Holdings will then rent The Pav from A-State.

“This project represents a significant investment in enhancing student life, and we believe it will pay dividends by creating a more vibrant campus environment for years to come,” said Clark.

Both Rapert and Clark emphasized that The Den Zone has been intentionally designed after evaluating what A-State’s stakeholders would like to see on campus. Rapert says that he went on a ‘listening tour’ around A-State, talking to students, administration and alumni to gauge how to best meet everyone’s needs.

Clark added, “This project reflects what we’re hearing from students; they want more vibrant, accessible spaces to connect. By keeping those experiences on or near campus, we’re building school spirit and ensuring a safer environment for our students.”

The Jonesboro City Council recently approved The Den Zone’s private club permit, and Rapert says the club’s nonprofit will benefit the Red Wolves Foundation, a philanthropic organization that provides private financial support for our student-athletes at Arkansas State University through scholarships, facilities and other operational needs.

“As Red Wolf fans, we have a strong heart for the Red Wolves Foundation and that will be our focal point in year one,” said Rapert. “However, we will build on this and scale up to include other nonprofits and student organizations.”

The Den Zone’s anticipated opening is during homecoming weekend, Oct. 25-27. Rapert and A-State officials are optimistic that The Den Zone will provide the Red Wolves with a place to create unforgettable memories at The Pav for years to come.