ASHEVILLE – A River Arts District bar closes after seven years; a North Asheville bakery closes but a new business moves in; West Asheville bar owners acquire one business and plan for another; Western North Carolina makers and restaurant receive national accolades; more food news and events.
Cheers to Bottle Riot
After seven years in business, Bottle Riot, the chic wine bar and listening lounge that exuded coolness in the River Arts District, will not reopen due to severe flood damage sustained in Tropical Storm Helene. The French Broad River rose more than 24 feet, breaching the businesses and leaving caked mud and destruction.
Bottle Riot will open for one night only for “One Last Riot” to close out the business, which will permanently close due to Tropical Storm Helene damage.
The bar was one of several tenants in the commercial strip, neighboring Ananda West hair salon, The Wedge Brewing Company’s Studios taproom, Records in the RAD and The Bull & Beggar restaurant.
Bottle Riot will hold “One Last Riot” ― the final night for guests to celebrate and close out the business ― from 2-8 p.m. Nov. 22 at 37 Paynes Way, Suite 9. Pleasure Chest will play music beginning at 5 p.m.
“The devastation from Hurricane Helene, paired with no support from insurance, has led us to the difficult decision to close our doors. But before we go, we want to bring together our beloved community for one last night — a chance to say thank you and goodbye in true Bottle Riot style,” the social media announcement from co-owners Lauri and Barrett Nichols read.
Wine, beer, THC and nonalcoholic beverages will be available. Guests are advised to bring drinking vessels.
To-go bottles of limited edition and exclusive wine, Bottle Riot merchandise and commemorative glassware will be sold. For more, visit bottleriot.com and facebook.com/bottleriot.
Geraldine’s Bakery closes, new bakery opens
Geraldine’s Bakery, which opened in 2013, permanently closed at 840 Merrimon Ave. due to financial losses attributed to Tropical Storm Helene.
“This decision is incredibly difficult, and we’re so grateful for the love and loyalty you’ve shown us over the years,” stated the social media announcement, posted on Nov. 9.
Pastry cigars at Geraldine’s Bakery on Merrimon Avenue are made with chocolate (shown) as well as almond and raspberry.
On Nov. 13, a new tenant opened at the location, Mattie Lou’s Café and Bakery.
Mattie Lou’s is open 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday, serving French classics, comfort pastries and more baked goods with a twist, and a full coffee menu. Breakfast tacos will be added later.
Preorder a Thanksgiving Day pie from Mattie Lou’s via the ordering form at @mattielousbakery on Instagram.
The return of The Malvern and Daytrip
The bar formerly known as The Malvern and then rebranded as Little Louie’s, a hoagie and perogies-centric restaurant and bar, is reverting to its prior name and dive bar aesthetic with new owners at 1478 Patton Ave.
In August, Brandon Davis and Davie Roberts opened DayTrip, a 1970s disco-inspired bar on Amboy Road but it was decimated by the Sept. 27 storm and subsequent French Broad River flooding.
The entrepreneurs vowed to return with DayTrip 2.0 and are closer to bringing it to fruition. Davis and Roberts are the new owners of The Malvern and will reopen the West Asheville bar in December. It will debut with a three-month pop-up for DayTrip called “DayTrip: Winter Vacation” ahead of the bar moving into its new, permanent location in March in an undisclosed location.
Little Louie’s will soon return as The Malvern, a neighborhood dive bar, with new owners.
Then, The Malvern will resume operations as the neighborhood bar, sans the Philly-style food.
For more, follow @the.malvern and @daytrip.avl on Instagram.
Also, DayTrip and Burial Beer are collaborating to host the DayLit arts market, hosting Asheville and Western North Carolina artists who have lost studio and gallery space and revenue due to Helene, noon-5 p.m. Nov. 17 at Burial’s South Slope campus, 40 Collier Ave.
Award-winners in Western North Carolina
Garden & Gun, a Southern culture and lifestyle magazine, announced its 15th annual Made in the South Awards recipients, an awards series celebrating small Southern makers.
Eda Rhyne Distilling Company, an Asheville distillery, won in the drink category for its Appalachian Fernet.
The win comes as Eda Rhyne recovers from Helene. Its distillery and tasting room were devastated by the flood in the historic Biltmore Village.
A batch of Appalachian Fernet ages at Eda Rhyne Distillery in Asheville, North Carolina.
Garden & Gun also acknowledged Raleigh Adams, recognizing the Boone-based artist as the runner-up in the home category for his garden planters.
PyreLogs, of Asheville, is a runner-up in the outdoors category for its reusable campfire bases.
Garden & Gun will feature the 2024 Made in the South Awards winners and runners-up in its December 2024/January 2025 issue, available on newsstands on Nov. 21. Read it now at gardenandgun.com.
Asheville restaurant on New York Times, Eater ‘best’ lists
Good Hot Fish, owned by Chef Ashleigh Shanti, author of the new cookbook “Our South: Black Food Through My Lens,” is one of the 50 establishments named on the New York Times’ 2024 Best Restaurants in America list.
The South Slope eatery, which opened in January, also made Eater’s Best New Restaurants in America in 2024 list.
The modern day fish camp, at 10 Buxton Ave., will reopen on Nov. 15 with a limited menu and non-seafood daily specials, like oxtail and fried chicken plates, and the occasional late-night popup. The hours of operation are 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Monday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday.
More food and beverage news:
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Guajiro Cuban Comfort Food’s new food truck opens Nov. 16 at Hi-Wire Brewing’s Biltmore Village taproom, 2A Huntsman Place, with a limited menu, sans coffee. The hours are 10 a.m.-9 p.m. daily, or until supplies last. For more, follow @guajiroavl on Instagram.
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Wrong Way River Lodge and Cabins has reopened for overnight guest bookings, and its coffee and provisions shop, River Lodge Canteen, is open to the public 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily at 9 Midnight Drive. On Nov. 17, Wrong Way will host the “Wrong Way Revival” community party with smoked barbecue and live bluegrass music. Proceeds from food sales will benefit Wrong Way employees, who were impacted while the business was closed due to Helene.
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The Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation, the charitable foundation supported by Dunkin’ coffee company, has granted $25,000 to Feeding America for MANNA FoodBank in Asheville. The organization has continued to provide food and supplies to Western North Carolina communities impacted by Helene. In October, the Dunkin’ Community Cruiser delivered more than 700 free cups of coffee to front-line emergency and repair crews, including Asheville Fire, Asheville Police, American Red Cross and several volunteer and donation centers. More than $5,400 in promotional gift cards were given to relief crews and the Salvation Army of Western North Carolina in gratitude for their hard work and dedication in supporting their community.
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Tiana Kennell is the food and dining reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. She is a graduate of Michigan State University and covered the arts, entertainment and hospitality in Louisiana for several years. Email her at [email protected] or follow her on Instagram @PrincessOfPage.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Merrimon Avenue bakery closes, RAD bar’s last hurrah, more food news
