If there’s one thing to say about 2020, it’s that it was a doozy for everyone. The ongoing pandemic was especially unforgiving to local businesses, and in July, we gave you a list of businesses that closed, opened, or planned to open. While we have sadly said goodbye to many retail shops, restaurants, music venues + more, we’ve also welcomed some newcomers.
Read on to see the bizzes that have closed, opened, and are coming soon since our last update.
Closed
💒 Ambrose West, 312 Haywood Rd.
The music + wedding venue was listed for sale in September for $2.7 million.
🥫 Bodega on Broadway, 28 Broadway St.
Groceries + provisions, hoping to re-open in a new location in 2021.
🐟 Bonefish Grill, 105 C River Hills Rd.
After 12 years in business, the national seafood chain closed in summer of 2020.
🍔 Burgerworx, 1378 Hendersonville Rd., Hendersonville
The customizable burgers + hot dogs joint opened in Hendersonville in 2014. The downtown location is still open.
🍹 Calypso, 18 N. Lexington Ave.
St. Lucian cuisine + rum bar. The owner closed in the winter and then decided to close for good due to COVID-19. Protip: Table will soon take up residence here.
🐔 Chicken Salad Chick, 4 S. Tunnel Rd.
The Alabama-based chain cited a lease expiration.
🖼️ Eco Depot, 408 Depot St.
Environmental themed gallery/gift shop filled with the work of over 60 local artists.
🍽️ En La Calle, 15 Eagle St.
Limone’s will expand into the space formerly holding the cocktail + small plates bar.
🍕 Flat Rock Pizza, 712 Upward Rd., Flat Rock
Customer loss + lack of funds as the reasoning behind the decision to close in October before celebrating their 22nd anniversary this December.
🛹 Flipside Boardshop, 88 N. Lexington Ave.
Closing its doors after 21 years, the shop will move online to better fit their customer base. The Maggie Valley location remains open.
🥩 Foothills Local Meats, 697 Haywood Rd.
Chefs Kyle McKnight + Stewart Lyon plan to bring a new concept, Your Place at Foothills West, in Jan. 2021.
🎒 Frugal Backpacker, 52 Westgate Pkwy.
The former brick + mortar will shift to an online platform, meanwhile, check-out their sister store, Diamond Brand.
🥤 Fuddruckers, 130 Charlotte St.
The national burger + milkshake chain was here for 34 years before closing.
🍜 Futo Buta, 121 Biltmore Ave.
The Charlotte-based ramen shop opened in the fall of 2019.
🫒 Golden Fleece Slow Earth Kitchen, 111 Grovewood Rd.
The traditional + creative Greek-inspired restaurant was opened by restaurateur Giorgio Bakatsias, a James Beard Foundation nominee, in 2016.
🥕 Half Moon Market, 151 S. Ridgeway Ave., Black Mountain
The corner store sold local + organic wares, plus fresh farm produce, crafts + more.
🍜 Korean House, 112 College St.
Owners Jayson + Kristina Im did everything from food prep to dishwashing to make up for the lost employees before announcing closure.
🎤 Mothlight, 701 Haywood Rd.
Music venue + neighborhood bar. Check out our article for some of our favorite memories of the Mothlight.
🍳 Over Easy Cafe, 32 Broadway St.
After 16 years, the iconic breakfast spot closed, promising to return in the future in pop-up form (and perhaps another brick and mortar.)
🍺 Native Kitchen, 204 Whitson Ave., Swannanoa
Kitchen + social pub that offered patio and backyard seating complete with a garden.
🍽️ Rezaz, 28 Hendersonville Rd.
Owners are focusing on Baba Nahm (1 Page Ave.), which also serves Middle Eastern food + is takeout only.
🥪 Rise Above Deli, 25 Sweeten Creek Rd.
Deli inside of Hillman Beer is now owned by Hillman. Fairview bakery location will remain open.
💃 Room to Dance, 175 Biltmore Ave.
The downtown dance venue designed for older adults, featuring music from all eras, opened right before the pandemic + closed shortly thereafter citing the effects of COVID-19.
🍷 Rustic Grape, 14 Aston St.
Wine + cheese bar that focused on smaller productions and family-run vineyards.
💆 Sensibilities Day Spa, 59 Haywood St.
Aug. 15 will be the last day of business for the spa’s downtown location. The South Asheville location at the Hilton in Biltmore Park will remain in operation.
👠 Studio Zahiya, 90 N. Lexington Ave.
The dance studio has fully pivoted to online classes and do not plan to reopen the in-person studio at this time.
🍷 Tasty Beverage Company, 162 Coxe Ave. #101
The local libations store liquidated their products shortly after announcing their impending closure.
🍻 The Collaboratory, 39 N. Lexington Ave.
Opened by the CANarchy Brewery Collective last year, the restaurant + brewery closed in March + never reopened.
👚 The World of Clothing, 135 Sugarloaf Rd., Hendersonville
Longtime retail establishment, closing April 30, 2021.
🐾 Three Dog Bakery, 21 Battery Park Ave.
A fully functioning bakery for dogs + sold gifts for both dogs and cats.
🚜 Villagers, 278 Haywood Rd.
The good news is that this urban homesteader supply store is not closing, they’re only taking a pause to regroup + restock their online store. Follow them on social media for updates.
🎲 Well Played Board Game Café, 58 Wall St.
Closing after four years in business, the owners hope there will be a future for board game cafe’s elsewhere.
🖼️ ZaPow Gallery, 150 Coxe Ave.
The brick and mortar retail art gallery closed its doors July 11 after being in business since 2011.
Opened
🥘 Addissae (48 Commerce St.) After the pandemic caused the popular Ethiopian eatery to close in May 2020, it reopened again in Oct.
🍖 Bear’s Smokehouse (135 Coxe Ave.), brought Kansas City-style BBQ in a permanent food truck parked on the South Slope.
🥡 Biryani Express (129 Bleachery Blvd.) serves halal Pakistani and Indian fare for lunch + dinner and offers pickup + delivery.
🥪 Grateful Roots Deli (3393 New Leicester Hwy.) transitioned from their food truck to a brick + mortar eatery + grocery store.
🍕 Little Louies (32 Banks Ave.), situated within Buxton Hall, showcases chicken wings, grinders, cheese steak sandwiches + more.
🍕 Pie.Zaa (46 Millard Ave.), brought late-night specializing in 28-inch, New York-style pies to South Slope.
🥗 Tasty Greens (2 Town Square Blvd. #160) set up shop in Biltmore Park Town Square in the front of Monk’s Flask to sling customizable salad + grain bowls.
🐕 Wagbar (320 Merrimon Ave., Weaverville) is a membership-only dog park + bar right off of the I-26 New Stock exit.
Coming Soon
🥟 Cousins Cuban Cafe, 108 Broadway St., Black Mountain
The eatery will serve traditional Cuban fare like croquetas, empanadas, Cuban sandwiches, flan cake, pastelitos pastries + more.
🧘 Down Dog, 51 Sweeten Creek Rd.
Yoga, beer + dogs.
A new ice cream parlor staffed by special needs employees will be opened locally by Ashevillians Pete and Betsy Brewer, who have a child with autism.
🦪 Little Pearl, 15 Peaks Center Ln.
Slated to open Jan. 14, this new spot will offer burgers, beer + a raw bar.
🍣 Miyako House, 122 College St.
The eatery is taking up residence in the former Korea House space and will serve Asian foods like sushi + noodle dishes.
🍗 Nani’s Rotisserie Chicken, 1 Page Ave. Suite 147
The latest venture from Chai Pani Restaurant Group brought superior yard bird to the Grove Arcade in November.
🍽️ Neng Jr.'s, 701 Haywood Rd.
The progressive Filipinx restaurant will feature classic dishes in a meat-and-three format.
☕ Rowan Coffee, 66 Broadway St.
This biz’s mission is finding balance + pushing the industry towards progressive business practices, sustainability, quality + service.
🍖 Smoke Black Mountain, 131 NC-9
The mobile food truck will be parking behind Black Mountain Brewing this January to serve up barbecued meats – think sausage, brisket + pulled pork, as well as smoked venison, rabbit, lobster + duck.
🍝 Vinnie’s Neighborhood Italian, 1981 Hendersonville Rd.
The beloved Italian restaurant will open a new location this summer in South Asheville. The spot will be located at the former Iannucci’s Pizzeria location.
A national health insurance company that primarily works with Medicaid + Medicare plans is set to open in the previous Blockbuster space on the corner of Tunnel Rd. + Kenilworth.
Let us know any places we missed in the comments below.
