ASHEVILLE – A downtown brewpub will reopen and seek workers downtown; a South Slope brewery will close and relocate; a pizza restaurant reopens after Tropical Storm Helene floods River Arts District; a rooftop café opens with Blue Ridge Mountain views; and a craft cocktail lounge reopens with new owners.
Wicked Weed Brewing’s Funkatorium reopening soon
Wicked Weed Brewing’s sour and barrel-aged brewpub, Funkatorium, is on course for a May reopening at 147 Coxe Ave. after closing due to Tropical Storm Helene, which arrived in Asheville on Sept. 27
The Asheville-founded company, since acquired by Anheuser-Busch, owned by A-B InBev, was preparing to reopen in November, but staff reported layoffs at Funkatorium and the adjoining restaurant, Cultura, in October.
Wicked Weed Brewing’s Funkatorium in Asheville’s South Slope, November 4, 2024.
Wicked Weed Brew Pub at 91 Biltmore Ave. downtown and taproom at 145 Jacob Holm Way in Candler reopened in October.
As of March 20, Funkatorium and Brew Pub’s website had more than a dozen job openings, including for cooks, hosts, servers, bartenders, and managers. Apply at wickedweedbrewing.com/careers/ to secure a time slot for an in-person interview at Wicked Weed’s job fair, which will be from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. April 1 and Noon-6 p.m. April 2 at Funkatorium.
Cultura is available for private event bookings.
Catawba Brewing closing South Slope taproom
Catawba Brewing and Taproom, at 32 Banks Ave., is moving to a new, unconfirmed location after its 10-year lease at the South Slope site ends.
In 1999, Catawba began brewing in Thirsty Monk’s basement on Coxe Avenue and Patton Avenue. In 2015, the brewery moved to Banks Avenue.
Meggie Hanchette, territory director of sales, said the building’s landlords expressed plans for different developments at the address, and the brewery was not provided the option to renew its lease, nor was it prepared to renew for another decade.
Catawba Brewing Co. will leave its Banks Avenue home where it opened 10 years ago after its lease was not renewed.
She said Catawba’s eight-person staff is retained full-time as the brewery seeks and transitions to a new home.
“Catawba has always been an Asheville and North Carolina brand, and we’re not going anywhere, despite what some people might say,” Hanchette said. “We’re still a big part of this community, and we’re excited for the next phase.”
On the weekend of March 22, Catawba will host its final hurrah at the Banks Avenue taproom from Noon-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday and Noon-8 p.m. Sunday. It will celebrate the 10th anniversary of its PB&J Time brew, a raspberry peanut brown ale, and the release of its peach and peanut butter ale.
Popular beers, like White Zombie, will be brewed at the new location. Catawba’s brews are available at restaurants, bars and stores.
Hanchette said Catawba will continue to focus on community support and engagement with local food vendors, artists, non-profits, and other breweries. Most recently, the brewery rallied to collect and distribute donations during Tropical Storm Helene. The new location will continue to support local businesses and creatives by hosting food trucks, pop-ups, art markets and comedy shows.
Catawba’s Biltmore Village location, which Hanchette said had limited hours due to low traffic volumes, was destroyed during Tropical Storm Helene. In 2023, Catawba closed its Charlotte taproom after three years and the Wilmington taproom after a year.
For updates, visit catawbabrewing.com and follow @catawbabrewing_avl on Instagram.
Fresh West Pizza restaurant reopening
On March 19, Fresh West Pizza reopened at 342 Depot St., in the River Arts District, after closing during Tropical Storm Helene. The district was impacted when the French Broad River rose to 24.67 feet, leaving a trail of devastation.
“The River Arts District is more than just buildings — it’s a vital creative ecosystem,” Mark Tomczak, owner of Fresh West and the original Fresh Wood Fired Pizza and Pasta in Black Mountain, said in a news release. “By reopening our doors, we hope to provide not just exceptional, locally-sourced food and drinks, but also a sense of continuity and hope as recovery efforts continue throughout the district.”
Fresh West Pizza has reopened in the River Arts District in Asheville.
The pizzeria’s regular hours are Noon-8 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday.
Online ordering and delivery from its full menu are available. Fresh West has pledged 10% of its proceeds during reopening week to the River Arts District Artists Relief Fund, supporting local artists whose studios and livelihoods were impacted by Helene.
On March 29, Fresh West will host a community gathering to celebrate its resilience. Guests may purchase pizzas for half off.
For more, visit freshwoodfiredpizza.com and follow @freshwoodfiredpizzawest on Instagram.
Luminosa debuts rooftop café and brunch
The Flat Iron Hotel has elevated its pastry and coffee program, moving operations from the ground level inside Luminosa restaurant to the historic landmark’s ninth-floor rooftop, 20 Battery Park Ave. downtown.
Caffé on the Rooftop is open 7 a.m.-Noon Friday and 7 a.m.-2 p.m. Satuday and Sunday.
On March 22, brunch service resumed following Helene, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. View the menu and RSVP at luminosaavl.com. Follow @luminosaavl on Instagram.
Margaret Walker (nee Boerner), Mitchell Walker, Logan Hatchett, Essy Hatchett and Michelle Nelson are the new owners of Sovereign Remedies in downtown Asheville.
Sovereign Remedies craft cocktail bar reopens
On March 21, Sovereign Remedies’ grand reopening celebration marked the downtown craft cocktail bar’s new era at 29 N. Market St. downtown.
Former employees Logan Hatchett, Essy Hatchett, Margaret Walker (nee Boerner), Mitchell Walker and Michelle Nelson purchased the bar from the original owner, Charlie Hodge, following Helene.
Guests are invited to check out the renovations and revamped menu from 4-10 p.m. Monday, Thursday and Friday, 4-Midnight Saturday, and 2-8 p.m. Sunday.
For more, follow @sovereignremedies.
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: Wicked Weed’s Funkatorium reopening, Catawba leaving Banks Avenue, more
