Lexington Corner Market to open downtown in 2016

CORNERING THE MARKET: Rebecca Hecht of Adorn Salon & Boutique will open Lexington Corner Market in the downtown space that currently houses EDGE Furniture Gallery. Photo by Cindy Kunst

A new food and sundries shop is coming to the corner of College Street and North Lexington Avenue in 2016. The Lexington Corner Market promises to be a traditional corner store with grab-and-go-style food, sandwiches, snacks and a curated collection of conveniences and necessities that will range from upscale to generic. Adorn Salon & Boutique owner Rebecca Hecht secured the space at 56 College St., currently the home of the EDGE Furniture Gallery, this month. She takes over the lease on the first of the year in 2016.

With her new business, Hecht hopes to provide a needed business to downtown while honoring the history of the Lexington Avenue neighborhood, which once was home to the Lexington Avenue Curb Market and a poultry processing plant. She plans to display historic photos that reflect the personality of the neighborhood before the construction of the Asheville Civic Center (now the U.S. Cellular Center) and the Interstate 240 loop. “This will be a very Asheville kind of store with something for everyone,” says Hecht. She emphasizes the space will not be a café or coffee shop.

Hecht points out the need within the neighborhood for such a business. With downtown short-term rentals and hotels booming, it makes sense to consider providing necessities for tourists. “It’s like when we go to the beach: You’ve driven four to six hours to get there, your car is full with all of your family and luggage, and it’s just exhausting to think about going grocery shopping as soon as you check in,” she explains.

Plans for the space are in the beginning stages, but at this point the focus is on providing simple offerings such as sandwiches, snacks, local beer and wine, convenience items including toothbrushes and diapers plus basic sundries. Hecht says the the store will also offer fresh local produce sourced by food and day manager Sam Leppin, who will supervise purchasing and inventory. Projected store hours will be 7 a.m.-10 p.m. weekdays and 7 a.m.-midnight on weekends.

 

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11 thoughts on “Lexington Corner Market to open downtown in 2016

  1. Corporate Man

    Wait, what? This is the same woman who is protesting the opening of a store in Asheville today? I see. It’s perfectly fine for her to expand her businesses but not a corporate chain. What an incredibly selfish attitude.

    • Heather Fraser

      I am proud of this news. Asheville needs more local businesses. That is part of what makes Asheville different than ever other city. This lady has the righy to speak her mind. She is hard working and as grass roots as they come, only wanting the best for those in her community. Props those who stay informed and involved in keeping this city original and from becoming just another cookie cutter place to live. Go ahead Rebecca, keep being awesome. You are a self made lady and should be proud of your accomplishments. I support you and am glad to see your business grow.

      • Gus

        I guess self-made includes getting a loan from your parents to help expand your business? A cursory internet search will reveal some interesting tidbits about Ms. Hecht.

        I’m curious as to whether there is any truth to the rumor that she wanted the space for her own business but couldn’t afford the rent, and so now she’s just pissed off that it’s there. That certainly seems plausible given the selective nature of her wrath.

        This isn’t a protest about chains. This is her personal protest about one particular corporation that happens to own two chains downtown, one of which is near her place of business. What’s funny is that all of these comments about how much money is returned to the community by buying local, rents skyrocketing, chains buying buildings, etc…..all of this rhetoric is stolen from an article about King St. in Charleston, SC. These aren’t original thoughts by these people. Again, it’s amazing what a Google string search will turn up.

        I’d love to know how many protesters stopped by Trader Joe’s on their way home. Trader Joe’s has 450+ stores and $10 Billion in annual revenue. Urban Outfitters, the parent company of Anthropologie and owner of five brands, has 401 stores and $3 Billion in annual revenue. Several local businesses were displaced to make room for TJs, and what did we hear about that? Nothing.

        These folks would be much better served by promoting their own businesses and offeingr a better product for a better value. It’s business. It’s not the soup kitchen. And for the record, downtown is called the central business district, not the Lexington Ave Chinese-made paper lantern district.

  2. Really?

    Well, count me as one person who won’t be shopping there. What a hypocrite. I watched today as employees and customers alike at the new Anthropologie were harassed by her UnChain AVL goons. Having a peaceful protest is one thing. But getting in the faces of customers, backing employees into a corner, throwing garbage and beverages on their stoop, recruiting homeless people from Pritchard Park to hold signs, having one gentlemen (you know who are, Mr. “blue sweatshirt”) that was obviously drunk be the ringleader….all of this crosses the line. If the movement’s economic arguments held water (they don’t) one might be receptive. But acting like a bunch of spoiled brats gets you nowhere. I’m an Asheville native and UNCA alum that’s been here much longer than Hecht (who arrived in ’95) and her staff of NYC transplants, and I’m glad she’s hanging up these UnChain AVL signs; it shows me where to NOT shop. All those involved today should be ashamed of themselves. The only pleasure that I take is knowing that you’re a vocal MINORITY.

    • Linda Brown

      Hi, there. I stood outside of Anthropologie for nearly two hours today. I saw none of what was described by the previous writer. We held a sign and talked to people on the street, explaining how Anthroplogie is the first chain store on Lexington Avenue. And how small independent businesses can never compete with chain stores. Do you know why? SKYROCKETING RENTS. A chain store can afford to buy the building, but a small business cannot. As a result, small businesses suffer rising rents. When you lease runs out, your rent can rise 40%. And then you are out of business. I did notice one thing today. Who did walk into Anthropologie? Tourists who said: “We don’t care about that. We’re from out of town.” And: “Oooh, I just love Anthro. We have one at our mall.” That’s just it, friends. Keep it at the mall.

      • Really?

        Well, Linda, you must have missed the “fun.” Because I saw firsthand her drunk goons harassing people between 3:30-4. It was disgusting. And your facts are deplorable. Chain stores don’t buy buildings, either. But I guess that vacant building sitting there for 3 years was great for the economy. Hecht is probably just pissed because she wanted it for her little grocery store and the landlord wouldn’t just give it away. Can you count the remaining chain stores downtown? I can. Get over it. Harassing local employees and acting like loudmouth jerks doesn’t help your cause. I wonder if Hecht wants the hotels to go away too? Probably not, because their guests will shop her overpriced little grocery store.

  3. MNTLOVE77

    It’s so easy to post nasty comments when your name is hidden. Get over yourself.

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