A major entertainment development nearing completion in Pine Bluff will carry a name that many longtime residents may already recognize.
The go-kart and family entertainment complex being developed by The Generator will be known as Big Top Xtreme featuring Big Banjo Pizza, a nod to the former Big Top Pizza restaurant that served as a popular destination for family outings, arcade games and birthday celebrations for generations of Pine Bluff residents.
Deltaplex News’ own Greg Horne recently spoke with The Generator CEO Ryan Watley, who said the decision to revive the Big Top name was driven by the memories many residents still associate with the former restaurant. The name was selected with the support of the Ratliff family, which owns the rights to both the Big Top and Big Banjo brands.
The development will also include Big Banjo Pizza, bringing another longtime Pine Bluff restaurant name into the project. The Ratliff family has been involved in the venture through both the licensing of the names and additional support tied to the development.
Located on the site of a former hotel property, the project is the result of years of redevelopment efforts involving The Generator — formerly known as Go Forward Pine Bluff — and the Pine Bluff Urban Renewal Agency. The facility is expected to offer go-kart racing, miniature golf, paintball, arcade games and food service, creating a new family entertainment destination on the city’s east side.
According to Watley, discussions about incorporating the Big Top name into the project began more than a year ago. The concept was intended to connect the new attraction with a piece of Pine Bluff history while introducing the brand to a new generation of residents and visitors.
Big Top and Big Banjo were originally founded by brothers Dickey and Russell Ratliff. While Big Top closed in the late 1990s, Big Banjo remains in operation and has remained one of the region’s most recognizable restaurant brands. The continued presence of the Big Banjo name, combined with the return of the Big Top brand, creates a direct connection between the new development and two businesses that played a significant role in the community for decades.
The project has transformed property that once housed a deteriorating hotel into what organizers hope will become a long-term entertainment destination. Construction is entering its final stages, with final equipment, furnishings and site work continuing as the opening approaches.
While an official opening date has not been announced, organizers are targeting a summer debut and have indicated the facility could open as early as July.
