The ever-changing downtown landscape means there’s always something happening on the local restaurant scene. Here’s a quick look:
Green Sage open for business
The Green Sage, owned by Al Kirshner and Randy Talley, opened this week at the corner of Broadway and College Street, bringing coffeeshop cool back to the corner once occupied by the beloved Beanstreets.
The coffeehouse offers a breakfast and lunch menu and features fair-trade, organic teas, coffees and even chocolate syrup, according to General Manager Franchesca Sellas. There’s a recycling center to sort your garbage, said Sellas, and the Sage wants to encourage patrons to bring their mugs. In another environmentally friendly feature, the business uses rooftop solar panels to heat water.
“Our mission is to educate our community,” Sellas said. “We’re trying to make people a little wiser as far as the environment is concerned.”
Green Sage is working on a line-up for local music, Sellas added. The Green Sage is open from 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 7:30 to 11 p.m. on Fridays, 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturdays and 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sundays.
12 Bones planning second location
The rumors are true, according to 12 Bones Smokehouse owners Sabra Kelley and Tom Montgomery: They’ve purchased property in Arden for a second 12 Bones restaurant. Here’s what they say on their Web site:
“It’s an old gas station just south of BB Barnes on Sweeten Creek Rd. Hope to be open by the summer, we’ll keep you posted!”
Anyone who’s visited the rib joint’s Riverside Drive location knows you’ve got to get in line early to sample the fare, especially after the business gained national noteriety last November after winning ABC’s Good Morning America “Best Bites Challenge” contest. The restaurant won for its blueberry chipotle ribs. 12 Bones bottled the winning sauce, which it sells in the restaurant.
S&W remodeling
There’s plenty of work going on in the old S&W cafeteria building on Patton Avenue in downtown, and the sign stenciled on the front door gives a hint at what’s coming: “S&W Steak & Wine.”
Developer Steve Moberg has said he plans to open an upscale restaurant in the landmark building, considered one of Asheville’s crown jewels known for its Art Deco design. The building was designed by Douglas Ellington, who designed the City Building, First Baptist Church and Asheville High School.
The S&W closed in 1974. It’s seen a number of uses through the years, but has been vacant for the past several years.
Moberg has also said he plans a coffeeshop next to the restaurant. And he’s got plans to put condominiums on the existing third floor and add a fourth floor of condos.
— Jason Sandford, multimedia editor
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