{"id":2766,"date":"2026-05-11T20:09:45","date_gmt":"2026-05-12T01:09:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/arkansasliquor.com\/?p=2766"},"modified":"2026-05-11T20:21:51","modified_gmt":"2026-05-12T01:21:51","slug":"guess-who-bentonville-name-origin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/arkansasliquor.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/11\/guess-who-bentonville-name-origin\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Is Guess Who? Liquor Store Called \u201cGuess Who?\u201d The Bentonville Story Explained"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>PUBLISH DATE: May 11, 2026 <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you have ever driven through Bentonville, Arkansas and spotted the giant red liquor store called \u201cGuess Who?\u201d, you are not alone in wondering how the store got its unusual name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As it turns out, the story behind Guess Who? is deeply tied to Arkansas liquor laws, Northwest Arkansas growth, Benton County going wet, and one of the most recognizable names in regional liquor retail: Roger Gildehaus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to Gildehaus during an interview shared by <a href=\"https:\/\/flavorsofnwa.podbean.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Flavors of Northwest Arkansas<\/a>, the name \u201cGuess Who?\u201d was reportedly born out of frustration involving Arkansas liquor licensing rules and a public dispute over whether he could legally open another Arkansas liquor store.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The story has become one of the more fascinating pieces of modern Arkansas liquor retail history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"545\" src=\"https:\/\/arkansasliquor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/guess-who-bentonville-arkansas-liquor-store-logo.png\" alt=\"Guess Who? liquor store logo in Bentonville, Arkansas featuring the iconic red question mark branding associated with Roger Gildehaus and the Macadoodles-inspired store concept.\" class=\"wp-image-2767\" srcset=\"https:\/\/arkansasliquor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/guess-who-bentonville-arkansas-liquor-store-logo.png 1000w, https:\/\/arkansasliquor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/guess-who-bentonville-arkansas-liquor-store-logo-300x164.png 300w, https:\/\/arkansasliquor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/guess-who-bentonville-arkansas-liquor-store-logo-768x419.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The logo for Guess Who? liquor store in Bentonville, Arkansas.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"watch-the-original-interview\">Watch the Original Interview<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The original interview clip was shared by <a href=\"https:\/\/youtube.com\/shorts\/rNt65b9A1YU?si=D-PqYQJ2ugDMgbET\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Flavors of Northwest Arkansas Instagram<\/a>. The embedded transcript referenced in this article originated from that interview. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-9-16 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Ever wonder why Guess Who in Bentonville wasn\u2019t named Macadoodles? #Bentonville #northwestarkansas\" width=\"563\" height=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/rNt65b9A1YU?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"al-transcript-box\" style=\"border:1px solid #ddd;border-radius:8px;padding:12px 16px;margin:24px 0;background:#fafafa;\">\n  <summary style=\"cursor:pointer;font-weight:700;font-size:1rem;\">\n    Read the Transcript: Roger Gildehaus Explains How Guess Who? Got Its Name\n  <\/summary>\n\n  <div style=\"margin-top:14px;font-size:0.95rem;line-height:1.6;color:#222;\">\n    <p><strong>Roger Gildehaus:<\/strong> The liquor director in Little Rock, Arkansas was not a friend of mine. It&#8217;s pretty widely known. I was not a friend of his. He went on TV in Little Rock and singled me out and says, \u201cWell, Benton County just voted to go wet, so we&#8217;re going to be getting inundated with people applying for liquor licenses. But Roger Gildehaus cannot apply for one. He cannot open a second liquor store unless he closes his Springdale store.\u201d<\/p>\n\n    <p><strong>Interviewer:<\/strong> On TV?<\/p>\n\n    <p><strong>Roger Gildehaus:<\/strong> On Little Rock TV. So my attorney calls me the next morning and he&#8217;s telling me about this. I went, \u201cWait a minute. My name is not on that Springdale license. It&#8217;s a franchise store.\u201d<\/p>\n\n    <p><strong>Interviewer:<\/strong> Sure.<\/p>\n\n    <p><strong>Roger Gildehaus:<\/strong> And my attorney says, \u201cYou&#8217;re right.\u201d He called over to the liquor board and everything was on deaf ears. \u201cNope, can&#8217;t do it. Can&#8217;t do it.\u201d So through frustration, I said, \u201cI&#8217;m using that five-and-a-half acres of land that we&#8217;ve been paying interest on for five or six years.\u201d<\/p>\n\n    <p><strong>Interviewer:<\/strong> Right.<\/p>\n\n    <p><strong>Roger Gildehaus:<\/strong> And so I called my attorney back and I said, \u201cOkay, here&#8217;s my plan. You tell me if it&#8217;s legal or not.\u201d That&#8217;s what they did, they laughed.<\/p>\n\n    <p><strong>Interviewer:<\/strong> I only laugh because I know the story, but please continue.<\/p>\n\n    <p><strong>Roger Gildehaus:<\/strong> So I told them, I said, \u201cHere&#8217;s what I&#8217;m going to do. I&#8217;m going to design a big store to go on that big tract of land. It&#8217;s going to look just like a Macadoodles. It&#8217;s going to have the same exterior design. But instead of it being green, it&#8217;s going to be red. Instead of it having the name Macadoodles with the leprechaun logo, it&#8217;s going to say \u2018Guess Who?\u2019 with a great big question mark.\u201d And my attorneys were just&#8230; this man and woman&#8230; they were just laughing like crazy.<\/p>\n\n    <p><strong>Interviewer:<\/strong> They were howling.<\/p>\n\n    <p><strong>Roger Gildehaus:<\/strong> Yeah. They said, \u201cAre you really going to do that?\u201d I said, \u201cUh, yeah, I am. I&#8217;m putting a liquor store in. I&#8217;m designing it. Customers are going to know when they walk through the front doors and they hear the clerks&#8230; because the store is going to be laid out just like Macadoodles.\u201d<\/p>\n\n    <p><strong>Interviewer:<\/strong> 100%.<\/p>\n\n    <p><strong>Roger Gildehaus:<\/strong> Which it is. And the customer is going to say, \u201cHey, welcome to \u2018Guess Who?\u2019\u201d instead of \u201cHey, good morning, welcome to Macadoodles.\u201d<\/p>\n\n    <p><strong>Interviewer:<\/strong> Right.<\/p>\n\n    <p><strong>Roger Gildehaus:<\/strong> And my daughter pretty much runs the store, and my wife. And they told me those first few years, people would come in and say, \u201cYeah, right, this is Macadoodles.\u201d I said, \u201cDo not correct them. It&#8217;s not our job to correct them. They want to say it&#8217;s Macadoodles? Good with us. Because that&#8217;s what we want them to think.\u201d So, that&#8217;s how \u201cGuess Who?\u201d came to be.<\/p>\n  <\/div>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"what-is-guess-who-liquor-store-in-bentonville\">What Is Guess Who? Liquor Store in Bentonville?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Guess Who? is one of the largest liquor stores in Northwest Arkansas and has become a recognizable destination for bourbon, whiskey, wine, beer, and spirits shoppers visiting Bentonville.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The store is located near Interstate 49 and has become known throughout the Arkansas bourbon community for:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Large inventory selection<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Wide whiskey availability<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Big-box liquor store layout<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Competitive pricing<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Extensive wine and beer offerings<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Strong visibility in Northwest Arkansas<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Official Website:<br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.guesswhobentonville.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Guess Who? Bentonville Official Website<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Instagram:<br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/guess.who.bentonville\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Guess Who? Bentonville Instagram<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But many Arkansas shoppers have long noticed something unusual:<br>the store feels remarkably similar to a Macadoodles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That was reportedly intentional.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"what-is-macadoodles\">What Is Macadoodles?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/macadoodles.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Macadoodles Official Website<\/a> is a regional liquor store chain founded by Roger Gildehaus in Pineville, Missouri in 1997.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Macadoodles became known throughout Missouri, Oklahoma, and Arkansas for:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Large-format liquor stores<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Warehouse-style shopping<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Massive beer and wine selections<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Customer-focused service<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Destination-style liquor retailing<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The company expanded aggressively across the region and eventually entered Arkansas through franchise-style arrangements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the key Arkansas locations was a Macadoodles store in Springdale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That Springdale location would reportedly become central to the creation of Guess Who? in Bentonville.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Additional Background:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marketwatchmag.com\/macadoodles-2016-retailer-of-the-year\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Market Watch Magazine \u2013 Macadoodles Retailer of the Year<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/talkbusiness.net\/2023\/07\/roger-gildehaus-thriving-in-retail-for-50-years\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Talk Business Interview with Roger Gildehaus<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"720\" src=\"https:\/\/arkansasliquor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/macadoodles-logo-related-to-guess-who-bentonville.jpg\" alt=\"Macadoodles liquor store logo founded by Roger Gildehaus and connected to the Guess Who? Bentonville story.\" class=\"wp-image-2768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/arkansasliquor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/macadoodles-logo-related-to-guess-who-bentonville.jpg 720w, https:\/\/arkansasliquor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/macadoodles-logo-related-to-guess-who-bentonville-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/arkansasliquor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/macadoodles-logo-related-to-guess-who-bentonville-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Macadoodles logo, the regional liquor retail brand founded by Roger Gildehaus.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"the-arkansas-liquor-law-dispute-that-allegedly-created-guess-who\">The Arkansas Liquor Law Dispute That Allegedly Created Guess Who?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>According to Gildehaus during the interview, the conflict reportedly began shortly after Benton County voted wet in 2012.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At the time, Northwest Arkansas was rapidly growing, and Bentonville represented a major opportunity for liquor retail expansion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, Arkansas liquor laws historically contained strict ownership and permit limitations involving liquor store operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>During the interview, Gildehaus claimed a liquor official publicly stated he could not open another Arkansas liquor store because of the existing Macadoodles franchise relationship in Springdale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to the transcript, Gildehaus disputed that interpretation and believed his name was not directly attached to the Springdale liquor permit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The disagreement reportedly escalated from there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Gildehaus explained:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cThe liquor director in Little Rock, Arkansas was not a friend of mine.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>He continued by describing how he allegedly responded to the situation by creating an entirely new liquor store concept that customers would immediately recognize.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/youtube.com\/shorts\/rNt65b9A1YU?si=k_v8hPKVYLoAx221\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"578\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/arkansasliquor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/roger-gildehaus-guess-who-bentonville-origin-story-578x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Roger Gildehaus discussing the origin story behind Guess Who? liquor store in Bentonville Arkansas during an interview with Flavors of Northwest Arkansas.\" class=\"wp-image-2769\" srcset=\"https:\/\/arkansasliquor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/roger-gildehaus-guess-who-bentonville-origin-story-578x1024.jpg 578w, https:\/\/arkansasliquor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/roger-gildehaus-guess-who-bentonville-origin-story-169x300.jpg 169w, https:\/\/arkansasliquor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/roger-gildehaus-guess-who-bentonville-origin-story.jpg 585w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 578px) 100vw, 578px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Roger Gildehaus explains how Arkansas liquor laws and the Macadoodles franchise dispute reportedly led to the creation of Guess Who? liquor store in Bentonville.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n{\n  \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n  \"@type\": \"VideoObject\",\n  \"name\": \"Ever wonder why Guess Who in Bentonville wasn\u2019t named Macadoodles?\",\n  \"description\": \"Roger Gildehaus, principal owner\/operator, explains why Guess Who? 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Called \u201cGuess Who?\u201d<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This is where the story becomes legendary in Arkansas liquor retail history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to Gildehaus, he intentionally designed the Bentonville store to resemble a Macadoodles location.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>During the interview, he explained the concept:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Similar exterior design<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Similar customer experience<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Similar store layout<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Similar operational feel<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>But instead of using the Macadoodles name and branding:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The building color changed from green to red<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The leprechaun logo was removed<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The name became \u201cGuess Who?\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A giant question mark became the branding<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Gildehaus reportedly told his attorneys:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s going to look just like a Macadoodles.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>He then described how customers would walk into the store and immediately assume it was still a Macadoodles location.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to the interview, employees were even instructed not to correct customers who referred to the store as Macadoodles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That, according to Gildehaus, is how Guess Who? got its name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"why-guess-who-and-macadoodles-feel-so-similar\">Why Guess Who? and Macadoodles Feel So Similar<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>For years, Arkansas shoppers have debated the similarities between the two stores.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to Gildehaus\u2019 own description in the interview, the similarities were deliberate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That reportedly included:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Overall store flow<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Product placement philosophy<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Shopping experience<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Scale and appearance<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Customer-service style<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>For longtime Northwest Arkansas liquor shoppers, the connection became difficult to ignore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This has helped turn Guess Who? into one of the more recognizable liquor store identities in Arkansas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"benton-county-going-wet-changed-northwest-arkansas-liquor-retail-forever\">Benton County Going Wet Changed Northwest Arkansas Liquor Retail Forever<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>To fully understand the story behind Guess Who?, it is important to understand how significant Benton County\u2019s wet\/dry vote was for Arkansas alcohol retail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Before Benton County voted wet:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Residents often crossed state lines into Missouri<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Major liquor retail growth occurred near the border<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Large-format liquor stores thrived outside Arkansas<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Northwest Arkansas had fewer local retail options<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Once Benton County legalized alcohol sales, it created one of the most important liquor retail expansion opportunities in Arkansas history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The result was rapid growth in:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Bentonville liquor stores<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Rogers liquor stores<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Northwest Arkansas whiskey availability<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Arkansas bourbon culture<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Regional alcohol tourism<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Guess Who? emerged directly during that period of transformation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"who-is-flavors-of-northwest-arkansas\">Who Is Flavors of Northwest Arkansas?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The original interview clip referenced in this article was shared by <a href=\"https:\/\/flavorsofnwa.podbean.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Flavors of Northwest Arkansas<\/a>, a Northwest Arkansas media platform focused on restaurants, food, beverage culture, and local personalities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The platform has developed a strong following for long-form interviews covering:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Northwest Arkansas restaurants<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Arkansas food culture<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Hospitality businesses<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Beverage industry personalities<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Local entrepreneurs<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Instagram:<br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/flavorsofnorthwestarkansas\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Flavors of Northwest Arkansas Instagram<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Podcast:<br><a href=\"https:\/\/flavorsofnwa.podbean.com\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">Flavors of Northwest Arkansas Podcast<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>YouTube Podcasts:<br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@FlavorsOfNorthwestArkansas\/\">Flavors of Northwest Arkansas YouTube<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"additional-reporting-on-guess-who-and-ownership-questions\">Additional Reporting on Guess Who? and Ownership Questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Additional historical reporting related to Guess Who? and ownership discussions in Northwest Arkansas can be found here:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.4029tv.com\/article\/special-report--whos-behind-guess-who\/4393394\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">40\/29 News Special Report \u2013 Who\u2019s Behind Guess Who?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"max-width:900px;margin:30px auto;padding:18px;border:1px solid #ddd;border-radius:12px;background:#f8f8f8;text-align:center;\">\n  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.4029tv.com\/article\/special-report--whos-behind-guess-who\/4393394\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">\n    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/kubrick.htvapps.com\/vidthumb\/3600d7ce-64c2-4804-848d-d850ad7d8674\/3600d7ce-64c2-4804-848d-d850ad7d8674_image.jpg?crop=1xw:1.0xh;center,top&#038;resize=1200:*\"\n         alt=\"40\/29 News video: Special Report Who's behind Guess Who?\"\n         style=\"width:100%;height:auto;border-radius:10px;\">\n  <\/a>\n  <p style=\"margin:12px 0 0;font-size:15px;\">\n    Watch the original 40\/29 News report:\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/www.4029tv.com\/article\/special-report--whos-behind-guess-who\/4393394\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">\n      Special Report: Who&#8217;s behind Guess Who?\n    <\/a>\n  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"final-thoughts\">Final Thoughts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether you view it as clever branding, Arkansas liquor lore, or one of the most creative responses to a regulatory dispute in Arkansas alcohol history, there is little question that Guess Who? has become one of the most recognizable liquor stores in Northwest Arkansas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And thanks to the recent interview shared by Flavors of Northwest Arkansas, Arkansas shoppers now have a much clearer understanding of how the store reportedly got its unforgettable name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For longtime Arkansas bourbon and liquor enthusiasts, the story offers a fascinating glimpse into:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Arkansas liquor law history<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Benton County\u2019s transition to wet status<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Northwest Arkansas retail growth<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The evolution of large-format liquor stores in Arkansas<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Most importantly, it finally answers the question many Arkansas shoppers have asked for years:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Why is Guess Who? called \u201cGuess Who?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"frequently-asked-questions-about-guess-who-bentonville\">Frequently Asked Questions About Guess Who? Bentonville<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block\"><div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1778546789977\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">Why is Guess Who? liquor store called Guess Who?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">According to Roger Gildehaus, the name came from a dispute involving Arkansas liquor licensing and the similarities between Guess Who? and Macadoodles.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1778546801318\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">Is Guess Who? related to Macadoodles?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">According to Gildehaus, the store was intentionally designed to resemble the Macadoodles shopping experience while using separate branding.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1778546812830\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">Who owns Guess Who? in Bentonville?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Guess Who? was developed by Roger Gildehaus and his family following Benton County going wet.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1778546827022\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">Where is Guess Who? located?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Guess Who? is located at 3609 SE Guess Who Dr in Bentonville, Arkansas.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1778546839095\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">Why was Benton County going wet important?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">The legalization of alcohol sales in Benton County created major retail growth opportunities for liquor stores in Northwest Arkansas.<\/p> <\/div> <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ever wondered why Bentonville\u2019s famous liquor store is called \u201cGuess Who?\u201d Roger Gildehaus shares the story involving Macadoodles, Arkansas liquor laws, and one unforgettable branding strategy.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2769,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_gspb_post_css":"","_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","_EventAllDay":false,"_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":false,"_EventShowMapLink":false,"_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":[],"_EventVenueID":[],"_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":false,"_VenueShowMapLink":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[135,136],"class_list":["post-2766","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-breaking","tag-hot"],"blocksy_meta":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Why Is Guess Who? 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liquor store called Guess Who?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"According to Roger Gildehaus, the name came from a dispute involving Arkansas liquor licensing and the similarities between Guess Who? and Macadoodles.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/arkansasliquor.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/11\/guess-who-bentonville-name-origin\/#faq-question-1778546801318","position":2,"url":"https:\/\/arkansasliquor.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/11\/guess-who-bentonville-name-origin\/#faq-question-1778546801318","name":"Is Guess Who? related to Macadoodles?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"According to Gildehaus, the store was intentionally designed to resemble the Macadoodles shopping experience while using separate branding.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/arkansasliquor.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/11\/guess-who-bentonville-name-origin\/#faq-question-1778546812830","position":3,"url":"https:\/\/arkansasliquor.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/11\/guess-who-bentonville-name-origin\/#faq-question-1778546812830","name":"Who owns Guess Who? in Bentonville?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Guess Who? was developed by Roger Gildehaus and his family following Benton County going wet.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/arkansasliquor.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/11\/guess-who-bentonville-name-origin\/#faq-question-1778546827022","position":4,"url":"https:\/\/arkansasliquor.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/11\/guess-who-bentonville-name-origin\/#faq-question-1778546827022","name":"Where is Guess Who? located?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Guess Who? is located at 3609 SE Guess Who Dr in Bentonville, Arkansas.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/arkansasliquor.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/11\/guess-who-bentonville-name-origin\/#faq-question-1778546839095","position":5,"url":"https:\/\/arkansasliquor.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/11\/guess-who-bentonville-name-origin\/#faq-question-1778546839095","name":"Why was Benton County going wet important?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"The legalization of alcohol sales in Benton County created major retail growth opportunities for liquor stores in Northwest Arkansas.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"}]}},"modified_by":"Justin Jones","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/arkansasliquor.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2766","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/arkansasliquor.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/arkansasliquor.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arkansasliquor.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arkansasliquor.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2766"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/arkansasliquor.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2766\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2773,"href":"https:\/\/arkansasliquor.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2766\/revisions\/2773"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arkansasliquor.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2769"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/arkansasliquor.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2766"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arkansasliquor.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2766"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arkansasliquor.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2766"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}