ASHEVILLE – A deli sandwich shop to return after being flooded by Tropical Storm Helene; the owners of a downtown bookstore and champagne bar to sell their business; a local coffee shop closes after nearly two years; a craft distillery and cocktail bar introduces a coffee shop concept; and a downtown food hall reveals the name of its new beverage and pie bar.
Zella’s Deli to reopen in Asheville
Zella’s Deli and Catering will soon reopen in its third location, following its 2022 debut at 48 College St.
In March 2024, the sandwich eatery’s downtown location closed and was relocated to 2372 U.S. 70 in Swannanoa. However, the building was destroyed when the Swannanoa River rose a historic 27.33 feet during Tropical Storm Helene.
Zella’s Deli & Restaurant along Tunnel Road in Asheville, June 3, 2025.
Signage was installed, teasing the opening of Zella’s Deli & Restaurant at 611 Tunnel Road in East Asheville.
For more, visit zellasdeli.com and @zellasdeli on Instagram. Follow the Citizen Times for updates.
Battery Park Book Exchange & Champagne Bar for sale
Buy a book, buy a bar ― Battery Park Book Exchange & Champagne Bar owners are ending a chapter in their lives to begin another full of epic adventures.
Donna Wright said she and her husband, Thomas, plan to retire to travel, relax and spend more time with family and friends.
“It’s been a wonderful 16 years, and we’ve gone through some ups and downs and changes ― the pandemic and storms ― and survived it all,” Wright said.
She said that last fall’s Tropical Storm Helene impacted the business’s revenue when it was closed for several weeks and amid the decline in downtown tourism that followed. Yet it was not the catalyst for the retirement plan.
The patio at Battery Park Book Exchange & Champagne Bar at Grove Arcade in downtown Asheville.
The couple is seeking a buyer for the Grove Arcade bookstore and bar at 1 Page Ave. downtown, which they’ve owned for 16 years.
However, there are stipulations.
Wright said the contract with the new buyer will include an agreement that the business will work with the landlord to maintain the business substantially as it is ― a bookstore, champagne bar and bistro, as well as keep the 11 staff members.
“It’s a cornerstone for the city. We’ve gotten a lot of interest so far, and everyone who’s expressed interest is someone who knows and loves the bookstore,” Wright said.
Battery Park Book Exchange & Champagne Bar, which also sells retro cocktails, will remain open. The Wrights recently renewed their lease for one year to allow time for the candidate search.
Wright said she and her husband would work with the new owner during the transition.
“We look forward to continuing to be customers. We plan to stay in Asheville and keep supporting our town. We’ll be seeing you around the bookstore, just on the other side of the counter,” Wright said.
Overlook Coffee Collective closes
Overlook Coffee Collective served its last cup of coffee on June 1 at 800 Brevard Road at Tanger Outlets.
The locally owned shop debuted at what was then Asheville Outlets in 2023. In November 2023, Tanger Outlets purchased Asheville Outlets for $70 million.
According to Overlook Coffee Collective’s social media post on April 30, the business’s lease was not renewed, and the owner, Carrie Prado, was informed that a Starbucks would occupy the space in its place.
Antidote Coffee Bar
Antidote Bar at Chemist Spirits, a South Slope Prohibition-era cocktail bar and distillery located at 151 Coxe Ave., has expanded its offerings to serve daytime customers.
Antidote Coffee Bar is now offering coffee, tea and craft cocktails and mocktails, incorporating the two, beginning at 8 a.m. daily.
The Antidote cocktail bar is set in a new, three-story building with a rooftop and front patio.
The menu features an espresso martini and the matcha colada, a tropical drink prepared with “house-made caramelized banana, coconut, pineapple and lime balanced with the fresh and earthy taste of matcha.”
Chemist Spirits founder Debbie Word said in a news release that the expansion is a result of Tropical Storm Helene.
“As a female-owned small business, we wanted to help the community as we reopened. We started offering free coffee and Wi-Fi to the neighborhood in the days immediately following Hurricane Helene. Since then, it kind of stuck, and we decided to lean into it as part of our own business recovery efforts,” Word stated.
For more, visit antidote.bar and follow on Instagram @antidote.bar
Coming soon: Periscope
Opening day is nearing for The S&W Market’s new mezzanine beverage concept. The name has been announced to be Periscope.
Chris Faber, owner of The Times Bar, which is on the first floor of the food hall, is overseeing operations. Faber told the Citizen Times in April that Periscope’s menu will feature local beers, craft cocktails, wine, zero-proof drinks and more.
According to the bar’s website, New Stock Pantry pies will be served, too.
Periscope will take the place of Highland Brewing’s downtown taproom that closed in May.
For more, visit periscopeavl.com and follow @periscopeavl
Tiana Kennell is the food and dining reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Tips, comments, questions? Email tkennell@citizentimes.com or follow @PrincessOfPage on Instagram/Bluesky.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Zella’s Deli reopening, Antidote Bar adds coffee, champagne bar for sale
