TEXARKANA, Ark. - Red Carpet Employment Agency has been in business since 1994. Established in a building that previously housed the first 7-Eleven in Texarkana, the owners, Aggie and Dwayne Butler, are now teaming up with Main Street Texarkana to give the building a new look that hearkens back to the old.
"Its funny, Ina (McDowell, MST executive director) called me, complimenting us on our flower beds, put together by my son," said Aggie Butler. "She informed us about the matching funds available for exterior work on downtown businesses. We visited with experts on exterior redesign Later, we heard from Hannah Ratzlaff (exterior design consultant) of Main Street Arkansas. She sent me a set of design concepts for the redesign of the place, with the idea of a new look nodding back to the convenience store origins of the building, the original 7-Eleven design. The design we ultimately went with was not quite 7-Eleven, but is a clean design looking like that sort of place.
The Butlers got their start running an archery retail outlet, Archery World, with establishments located in Texarkana and Shreveport. They sold the business and considered new opportunities.
"We eventually lit upon the old 7-Eleven building," she said. "At the time, it was vacant. One fortunate thing was this was a 7-Eleven that did not have gas pumps, so that made the refurbishment much easier. We bought it for $5,000 from the previous owner in 1993 and opened Red Carpet Employment Agency, Jan. 17, 1994."
As for how their business is going now, things are good for them and those looking for a job.
"Lots of jobs are now available, folks," she said. "Lots of our clients are looking to hire. It is looking like we may be coming out of the COVID situation. Let's do what we need to do to keep everyone safe, but let's get back to work."
(Red Carpet Employment Agency is located at 221 Laurel St.)