OUR GOAL:
Raise $650,000 in first-round funds to stop the foreclosure of the Ravington building, scheduled for February 19, 2026. 

Deadline for Round 1 funding is Feb 17th at noon.

OPEN HOUSES AT  THE RAVINGTON
293 N Main St., Centerton, AR

Monday, February 2 | 11:00 AM–2:00 PM

Tuesday, February 3 | 4:00 PM–7:00 PM

Wednesday, February 4 | 11:00 AM–2:00 PM

Thursday, February 5 | 4:00 PM–7:00 PM

Friday, February 6 | 11:00 AM–2:00 PM

Mark your Calendar for Friday, February 13, from 6-11pm
The Meteor@The Ravington
293 N Main St., Centerton

It'll be a celebration, or a wake.
It'll be just one night,
or the beginning of something beautiful

Either way, there will be live music, dancing, and general reveling!

Confirmed Local Artists Include:

PRESS RELEASE
Community Rallies to Save Meteor Guitar Gallery and The Ravington

January 30, 2026 — Centerton, AR — A historic events venue and a beloved grassroots music institution are coming together in what organizers describe as a singular opportunity for community-centered development in Northwest Arkansas.

The Ravington, a longtime wedding and events venue in downtown Centerton, and Meteor Guitar Gallery—formerly a cornerstone of Bentonville’s independent music scene—have announced a collaborative vision to create The Meteor @ The Ravington, a community-owned venue dedicated to live music, weddings, cultural events, and local connection.

But time is short.

Due to financial hardship stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, The Ravington building is currently in foreclosure, with a public auction scheduled for February 19, 2026, at the Benton County courthouse. A local team of operators, investors, and community leaders is now working urgently to raise $650,000 by February 17 to halt foreclosure proceedings, pay back taxes and judgments, and preserve the building for community ownership.

A Community-Owned Model

The vision for The Meteor @ The Ravington centers on a community investment model, welcoming both large and small investors to collectively own and steward the historic property. The initial $650,000 raise will stabilize the building and stop foreclosure, allowing a second, more deliberate round of fundraising to complete the long-term ownership and operational structure with full community participation.

“When The Meteor lost its home in Downtown Bentonville, it was a huge blow to our entire community,” said Beth Day, Executive Broker at The Brandon Group Real Estate and a lead organizer on the project. “Then the foreclosure of The Ravington was another hit to local small business owners already under pressure. Seeing these two stories come together feels deeply meaningful—and more than coincidental.”

The loss of Meteor Guitar Gallery’s original location reflects a broader global trend impacting independent music venues. Grassroots venues play a critical role in developing artists and cultural life, yet they often operate on thin margins that make them vulnerable to displacement in rapidly growing real estate markets. When neighborhoods revitalize, arts spaces are frequently priced out—an effect commonly known as commercial gentrification.

Rather than repeating that cycle, the team is exploring a community-ownership approach inspired by successful models abroad, where local stakeholders collectively purchase and protect cultural spaces to ensure long-term stability.

“We see the same pressures here that pushed The Meteor out of downtown Bentonville,” Day said. “This is an opportunity to try something different.”

Les Key, founder of Meteor Guitar Gallery, shared:

“Leaving the original Meteor building broke my heart. But from the first walkthrough of The Ravington, it felt like home. It has character, history, and a kind of vibe you can’t replicate in new construction. We want to protect what already exists and make thoughtful upgrades so more people can experience it.”

Ramsay Ball, principal at Cignus Real Estate, helped bring the group together and structure the investment effort.

“This is what thoughtful development looks like—aligning real estate, culture, and community values so everyone benefits over the long term,” Ball said.

City Support and Community Need

The project team has completed significant due diligence, including a Phase I environmental study, survey, inspections, and preliminary plans for kitchen upgrades and the addition of a bar. They have also met with the City of Centerton, including Mayor Bill Edwards and the Planning Department, who expressed enthusiasm for the vision and emphasized the city’s growing need for arts, culture, and gathering spaces.

Open Houses for the Community

The public is invited to tour the building, meet the team, ask questions, and learn more about investing at one of several upcoming open houses at The Ravington, 293 N Main St., Centerton, AR:

Monday, February 2 | 11:00 AM–2:00 PM

Tuesday, February 3 | 4:00 PM–7:00 PM

Wednesday, February 4 | 11:00 AM–2:00 PM

Thursday, February 5 | 4:00 PM–7:00 PM

Friday, February 6 | 11:00 AM–2:00 PM

A Call to the Community

This effort is not yet a done deal. Organizers emphasize that reaching the $650,000 goal will require a concerted community effort—but they remain hopeful.

“If we succeed,” Day said, “we don’t just save a building—we prove that community-owned, values-driven development is possible here. And that’s worth fighting for.”

PROJECT DETAILS

The project team is exploring a community-led acquisition of The Ravington, a historic events venue located in downtown Centerton, Arkansas.

The immediate objective is to prevent a scheduled foreclosure sale on February 19, 2026, by satisfying the existing mortgage and related obligations. The total purchase price for the property is $1,000,000.

Planned Capital Phases (Preliminary)

This project is being evaluated as a three-phase capital plan, each phase contingent on the successful completion of the prior phase:

Phase One: Preservation & Control
Target: $650,000
Purpose:

• Satisfy the existing mortgage and related obligations

• Halt foreclosure proceedings

• Secure ownership of the property
  
  

Phase Two: Ownership Completion
Estimated Target: $350,000
Purpose:

• Retire the remaining balance of the purchase price through seller financing

• Finalize long-term ownership structure
  
  

Phase Three: Capital Improvements
Estimated Target: $200,000
Purpose:

• Bar and kitchen buildout

• Roof replacement and repairs

• Safety, systems, and code-related upgrades
  
  

The property was appraised in 2024 at approximately $1.69 million. Future phases are intended to strengthen the building’s long-term viability and community use.

Importantly, Phases Two and Three would only be pursued if Phase One is completed by mid-February. If Phase One is not completed, the project will not proceed.

Current Status

At this time:

• No securities are being offered

• No funds are being accepted

• No commitments are being requested

The project team is working with legal counsel to evaluate appropriate structures for a community-aligned investment and to prepare attorney-reviewed disclosure and offering documents.

How You Can Help Right Now

We are currently seeking non-binding expressions of interest only to better understand whether sufficient community support exists to justify moving forward.

If you would like to:

• Learn more about the project

• Share ideas or resources

• Indicate potential interest (without obligation)

• Request more Information, Including due diligence already completed,

we invite you express your Interest using the button below. You will be directed to a Google Form where we will gather some contact Information.

Any future investment opportunity, if pursued, would be presented only through formal, attorney-reviewed offering documents for consideration by you and your financial and tax advisors.