From Parkside to pilsner

A Pack Square building once slated for demolition now looks to find new life as a bar and restaurant. The Hayes & Hopson Building, which developer Stewart Coleman had planned to tear down to make way for his controversial Parkside condominium project, is instead being renovated and converted into Pack's Tavern.

A pint at Pack: The Hayes & Hopson building, which figured into the controversial Parkside condo project, will now become Pack's Tavern, says developer Stewart Coleman. Photo by Jonathan Welch

Actually consisting of two adjoining structures, the historic Hayes & Hopson Building came into the public spotlight with Coleman's under-the-radar 2006 purchase of a sliver of Pack Square from Buncombe County and the announcement that he planned to build condos next door to the Asheville City Hall and the $20 million Pack Square Park.

To make way for Parkside, Coleman planned to tear down the Hayes & Hopson Building, which he'd purchased privately in 2006. Activists protesting the condo project soon adopted the historic structure as a cause célèbre, along with a much-ballyhooed magnolia tree. In 2008, the demolition plan cleared several hurdles in the city's approval process.

But now, Coleman says he sees potential in the building as a tavern and restaurant, and has already poured $100,000 and three months of refurbishment into the building to make it a reality.

"I would think there's no turning back," he said, noting that the renovation aims to preserve the interior's turn-of-the-century design. "We're using a lot of the materials inside the buildings," he explained.

The new establishment, said Coleman, will feature three bars, a small stage, outdoor seating and 15 windows facing the new Pack Square Park, which is now nearing completion. Pack's Tavern, he predicted, could be open by mid-November.

What's less certain is the future of the Parkside project. Coleman is appealing an Aug. 28, 2008, ruling that the terms of the deed require the property to be used only for public purposes only (see "Judge Rules on Parkside," Sept. 24, 2008, Xpress).

"Parkside is on hold for the time being, but that doesn't mean it's dead," said Coleman. "If this doesn't work, we'd like to go back to plan A. Any businessman likes to keep his options open."

SHARE

Thanks for reading through to the end…

We share your inclination to get the whole story. For the past 25 years, Xpress has been committed to in-depth, balanced reporting about the greater Asheville area. We want everyone to have access to our stories. That’s a big part of why we've never charged for the paper or put up a paywall.

We’re pretty sure that you know journalism faces big challenges these days. Advertising no longer pays the whole cost. Media outlets around the country are asking their readers to chip in. Xpress needs help, too. We hope you’ll consider signing up to be a member of Xpress. For as little as $5 a month — the cost of a craft beer or kombucha — you can help keep local journalism strong. It only takes a moment.

Before you comment

The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.

One thought on “From Parkside to pilsner

Leave a Reply

To leave a reply you may Login with your Mountain Xpress account, connect socially or enter your name and e-mail. Your e-mail address will not be published. All fields are required.