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.