West End Bakery returns, Hatchett Goods in the works, Another Round Disc Golf to open retail shop, Wicked Fresh Maine Lobster food truck gets going, more
Also, updates on The Low Down, LaBella Associates, Fermenti and more
This story sponsored by Citizens Fuel Co., a family-owned Asheville company.
Let’s jump right into some of what’s happening around town. This information is gleaned from construction permits filed with the city of Asheville.
West End Bakery aka The West End has reopened on Haywood Road in West Asheville. Chef Don Hutchins of Subculture Supper Club announced earlier this month that he had purchased the business and was bringing the bakery back, cinnamon buns and all.
Carolina Firewood Company supplies customers with firewood that’s been kiln dried for 36 hours, a process that removes moisture and in turn cuts down on smoke and creosote buildup in chimneys. Founder Andy Potter, a serial entrepreneur, started the business during the pandemic and is working to build it up.
The folks at the Montford Deli in the Montford neighborhood plan to take over the former Nick’s Grill restaurant space at 1461 N. Merrimon Ave. The plan is to close the Montford Deli spot inside the Montford Convenience store at the end of January and reopen in about three months.
Soup & Sips, a new food truck specializing in homemade soup, is up and running. It’s the work of Jenny Farmer, who says she’s long dreamed of opening a soup restaurant.
Wicked Fresh Maine Lobster food truck is planning on setting up Thursdays through Saturdays at the 7 Clans Brewing taproom location, 66 Sweeten Creek Road, starting now through the end of March.
The Culinary Gardener is hiring a farm hand. Evan Chender cultivates exquisite vegetables on a 2-acre farm near Asheville. He follows an intensive style of regenerative agriculture that allows the farm to be highly productive on a small scale, with a strict focus on quality. Go here to read the job posting and apply. Annual pay is $32,000-$34,000, depending on expereience.
Headspace Elixirs, a non-alcoholic bar, has opened inside Lotus Herban Spa on Biltmore Avenue in downtown Asheville.
Telco Community Credit Union is planning to build a 2,250 square foot building with a drive through at 2 Vanderbilt Park Drive off of Hendersonville Road. (There’s a collection of doctor’s offices there.)
LaBella Associates, an architect, is planning to move into the former Keith Wright photography studio space at 795 Haywood Road. Wright tells me that his work is often done outside of a studio, so he decided to lease out his space.
The Low Down is the name of the new basement bar going into the former Black Cloud location at 723 Haywood Road.
Recent openings: Taco Boy restaurant has opened in the former Zia Taqueria space at 521 Haywood Road. Old Europe pastry and coffee shop has moved into its new location at 18 Biltmore Avenue, which is right across the street from its former location.
A new 2-story building is proposed for 680 Haywood Road, a spot that’s now a pile of rubble after the car wash there was demolished. Reevan Enterprises LLC’s plans call for a 2-story building with four retail units on the first floor, with offices on the second floor, and 40 parking spaces.
Underground Fitness, which has been located on Biltmore Avenue, is planning to open at 217 Coxe Ave. in the former South Slope Crossfit location.
Mother AVL, the bread and wine shop at 20 Artful Way in the River Arts District, has announced plans to open a new bakery and kitchen where they can share European-style fare highlighting bread and wine while offering more seating and parking. Construction permits show the new spot to be 224 Short Coxe Ave., unit 110.
Hatchett Goods is coming together at 95 Weaverville Road, unit 107. It’s the work of Essy and Logan Hatchett, who will share the space with coffee roaster Flowermouth Coffee Roaster. The plan is to open with a coffee program, then expand into selling wine and home goods. Essy opened Trade & Lore coffee shop on Wall Street in downtown Asheville seven years ago. Logan is a certified sommelier.
Citizen Vinyl, the state-of-the-art record pressing plant, recording studio, event space, eatery, and bar in downtown Asheville, has announced new hours. For the first quarter of the new year, the multipurpose gathering space will be open daily 9 a.m.-3 p.m. The venue’s café and cocktail bar, called Session, is also introducing a new menu featuring dishes such as a chicken salad melt, French dip sliders, Bavarian-style roasted pork, a baby kale salad with roasted root vegetables, and a half grilled-cheese sandwich with a cup of soup as a daily lunch special.
Orale’s Bar and Grill, a Mexican restaurant, has opened at River Ridge Shopping Center, 800 Fairview Road.
Another Round Disc Golf plans to open a disc golf retail shop and tap room at River Ridge Shopping Center in February.
Starbucks is planning to open a coffee shop at River Ridge Shopping Center. Starbucks is also planning to open a drive-thru coffee shop at 1 Medical Park Drive, a location that’s off of Sweeten Creek Road.
I Think Studios, a company that specializes in branded content and visual storytelling, is planning to open in a space at 76 Glendale Ave. This new office building, which I first wrote about here, is home to several creative small businesses.
Mosaic Realty is planning to build a 2,0000-square-foot office building at 420 Riverside Drive, right along the French Broad River.
Permits have been pulled to start construction on a 5-story, mixed-use building at 159 Riverside Dr. that includes 134 apartments, a restaurant and retail space. Asheville City Council approved the project a couple of years ago.
There’s a plan to build a new 3,200-square-foot mixed-use building at 818 Haywood Road. That location was once home to West Asheville Community School. The existing bungalow would be refurbished for residential use, according to the permit.
Fermenti has announced it will celebrate the opening of its flagship brick-and-mortar location at 175 Weaverville Highway in from 4-7 p.m. on Feb. 4. The plan is to create a space to cultivate community around fermented foods. There will be classes and workshops. Other local food makers will be featured at the shop.
Wells Fargo is looking to cut the amount of space it leases on the second floor of its 1 Haywood St. location in downtown Asheville. The bank currently leases the entire second floor (18,846 square feet) and wants to cut that in half and return the space to the landlord to potentially lease to another tenant.
Movement Bank is taking over the former Sun Trust Bank location at 2397 Hendersonville Road. The bank is based in Danville, Va., and operates branches in Fort Mill, S.C., and Randleman, N.C. The bank also has loan production offices in Charlotte, Greensboro, Asheboro, and Asheville.
ServisFirst Bank Western North Carolina has opened in Ridgefield Business Center, 1200 Ridgefield Boulevard, suite 254. The business park is adjacent to Asheville Outlets. The bank was founded in Birmingham, Ala., in 2005.
Thanks for reading,
-j