15 new places to eat + shop

French Broad Chocolate Factory

French Broad Chocolate Factory

Table of Contents

Who’s setting up shop + shutting their doors in a fast-growing city like Asheville is hard to keep up with. Here at the office, we often wonder “what’s up with all of those businesses we announced last month,” and the list of businesses we’re keeping tabs on keeps growing.

So we figured our readers would be wondering too. Back in September, we dished out the 411 on 20+ businesses that were soon to come, had recently opened, or were saying goodbye.

In our third round, we’ve caught up with up 20 businesses that opened their doors right before the winter set in, shut them by the end of fall, or are planning their grand opening this season.

So, go ahead + bookmark this list for the next time you’re in the mood to try something new. We rounded up 12 recently opened bizzes including a CBD Dispensary in West Asheville, a new art gallery and workspace on Marshall’s Main St., a new 30s-themed bar inside the S&W eatery, and Button & Co. Bagels. Plus, we tell you about 4 soon-to-open spots like a breakfast cafe replacing Tod’s Tasties + and rolled ice cream joint where Edna’s was. We’ll miss 7 mainstays, including bartaco, Farm to Fender, The Toy Box + more.

#JustOpened

🍕 Galactic Pizza | Pizza |📍339 Sardis Rd.

Enka-Candler’s newest restaurant serves up pizza, wings, sandwiches + more under the stars (or star murals), from the owners of DeSoto Lounge and the Admiral.

🏨 Foundry Hotel | Boutique Hotel |📍51 S. Market St.

In the historic foundry building on Asheville’s Block (Eagle and Market Streets). Also the location of Benne on Eagle, a new restaurant from head chef John Fleer.

🍴 Benne on Eagle | Soul food |📍51 S. Market St.

This soul food restaurant is now open in The Foundry, a new hotel off Market St. The menu is a project of James Beard award-winning chef John Fleer of Rhubarb and The Rhu.

🌿 Asheville Dispensary | CBD products |📍919 Haywood Rd.

Asheville Dispensary specializes in CBD products like tinctures, pre-rolled joints, and more. The spot also has a wellness lounge with elixirs, kombucha, and other health-oriented drinks mixed fresh. Curious about what CBD is? Read our coverage on the CBD and marijuana legalization.

🎨 ha! | Arts |📍62 S. Main St.

ha! is a new creative work + gallery collaboration in downtown Marshall that features glass, ceramic, acrylic, jewelry, and more. The owners describe it as a “joyful exploration into creative works… and the fantastical sense of belonging that arises in spaces in between.”

🏬 Aldi East | Grocery |📍480 Swannanoa River Rd.

Aldi East reopened on November 15. The renovations added more square footage, storage, sidewalk + office space.

🍲 Continental Lounge | Southern |📍77 Biltmore Ave.

Continental Lounge opened earlier this fall downtown, headed up by chef Vijay Shastri. The eatery focuses on Southern comfort food using quality ingredients and an “unfussy” approach by Chef Vijay Shastri. Protip: This is the spot in town to get an Impossible Burger.

🍞 Rise Above Bakehouse | Baked goods | 📍 1207 Charlotte Hwy.

The Rise Above Deli has been operating inside Hillman Beer, but the new bakehouse is located in Fairview, and focuses on coffee and fresh breads + pastries made with local organic flour and seasonal ingredients.

🍸 Antidote | Cocktails |📍151 Coxe Ave.

This three-level South Slope cocktail bar shares the building with the Chemist distillery, which takes its cues from the 1920s gin distilling that Asheville was known for during prohibition. Have a few sips and get a sneak peek of the process of making… bathtubs not included.

🍗 Henrietta’s Poultry Shoppe | Fried chicken sandwiches | 📍1 Roberts St.

Fried chicken is the specialty here, with variations like Nashville hot and Korean-style. Pick from sides like pimento cheese hush puppies + backyard slaw.

🍸Save Me The Waltz | Spirits |📍56 Patton Ave.

Save Me The Waltz is a new jazz + craft cocktail bar nestled in the basement of the S&W building. Check out their Facebook page for updates on live music. DYK: The bar is named after an unpublished novel written by Zelda Fitzgerald while she lived in Asheville? We love Zelda… read why here.

🍞 Button & Co. Bagels | Bagel + sandwich |📍32 S. Lexington
Chef Katie Button of Curate has made her mark on the Asheville restaurant scene with her Spanish fusion cuisine. Now she turns her attention to bagels, and elevating the art of the simple sandwich.

🍫 French Broad Chocolate Factory & Tasting Room | Chocolates + desserts |📍821 Riverside Dr.

French Broad’s new space is pretty much the real-life equivalent of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, serving up sipping chocolates, ice cream, brownies, truffles + more, plus beer and wine. Tours through the factory are offered multiple times a day.

🥣 Garden Party | Gifts and sundries |📍474 Haywood Rd.

Stylish objects for your space, including handmade + vintage items.

#ComingSoon

🍴 All Day Darling | Casual breakfast, lunch + dinner |📍102 Montford Ave.

Tod’s Tasties in Montford was shuttered all summer, but it will reopen soon for breakfast + lunch under the name of All Day Darling. The old-new grub hub is a project by Jacob Sessoms of Table and Jay Weatherly of High Five Coffee, and features an expanded kitchen, a gluten-free fryer, redesigned patio, and a production room. Old Tod’s menu favorites like the tater tots will stay. Opening is slated for mid-December.

🏨 Arras Residences | Hotel |📍7 Patton Ave.

The name might not sound familiar, but if you’ve been downtown in the last year, you have definitely seen the progress of the old BB&T building. The redesigned landmark will contain 128 hotel rooms + 54 condos, while the ground floor will house a restaurant and bar. The Arras is on schedule to open in early 2019.

🛀 Bada Bastu | Spa |📍230 Short Coxe

Bada Bastu is a Scandinavian-inspired spa with three steps: hot, cold, relax. The spa includes a steam sauna room with heated seats, eucalyptus steam, a Nordic shower room, cold plunge pool + relaxation lounge. Massages and tea are also available. Sounds like just the thing for these cold winter days coming up...except for maybe the cold plunge part. Opening date TBA.

🍦 Rolled & Roasted | Ice cream |📍870 Merrimon Ave.

Already located in the food court of Asheville Mall, Rolled and Roasted will move into a second location: the old Edna’s Coffee building on Merrimon Ave. DYK: rolled ice cream is ice cream that has been stir-fried in the southeast Asian tradition? Opening date TBA.

#NowClosed

💍 John Laughter Jewelry | Fine jewelry |📍1800 Hendersonville Rd. |

Jeweler John Laughter has been in the business for five decades (in other words, since he was sixteen) and has decided to close up shop to spend more time with family. His original Waynesville location at 146 N. Main St. will also close.

🍗 King Daddy’s | Breakfast |📍444 Haywood Rd.

King Daddy’s Chicken + Waffles served breakfast to its customers for the last time on September 20th, and then reopened as Early Girl West on September 26th after a change of ownership + management.

🛒 Kmart | Shopping |📍1001 Patton Ave.

The closing of Kmart’s Patton Ave. location comes on the heels of the closing of Sears at the Asheville Mall. (The two are owned by the same company.) The Kmart at 980 Brevard Rd. is open for the time being.

🌮 bartaco | Mexican fusion | 📍121 Biltmore Ave.

The hip, California-style chain’s Asheville location shuttered after it was bought out by another company, Del Frisco’s, for a cool $325 million.

🧸 The Toy Box | Toy store |📍793 Merrimon Ave.

In business for three decades, the Toy Box will close on Dec. 22 so owner Gary Green can retire. He was hoping to sell the shop so the business could continue but couldn’t find a buyer. Everything is discounted until the store closes.

🍔 Farm to Fender | Casual farm-to-table |📍3080 Sweeten Creek Rd.

The owners have closed the cafe to focus on their catering operations and food trucks, which will be at New Belgium and other spots around town on Wednesdays.

🍦TCBY | Frozen yogurt |📍1800 Hendersonville Rd.

Another long-running spot in Asheville, the Arden location of TCBY was open for 21 years. Owner Christian Reeves shares his memories of two decades in business, noting, “I have seen kids turn into Moms. I have witnessed bravery at its best with those that have beat Cancer and those who still won in the end. I have seen kids taken, way to soon and kids that grew up and are changing the world. But one of the memories I will always cherish is the joy a child gets from a cup of frozen yogurt.”

I’m sad to say goodbye to the places that are closing. I have fond memories of TCBY from middle and high school, and I loved sipping on margaritas beside bartaco’s cozy fire.

But I’m excited to say hello to these new spots, and I’m planning to be first in line with Bada Bastu day spa opens (treat yo’self). I’ve already taste-tested Continental Lounge + their Impossible Burger is delicious.

What are you excited about that’s now open – or opening soon? And what spots did we miss? Hit reply to respond to this message, or let us know over on Instagram or Facebook.

Ali + Stephanie

More from AVL Today