“Chicken Salad Chick fits into its own little niche,” co-owner Julie Beville says of her newly purchased franchise eatery, which is scheduled to open on Tuesday, Oct. 27, on Tunnel Road (next to Whole Foods Market). Although a first for Asheville, Chicken Salad Chick has 41 existing locations across the Southeast, including eight storefronts in the Carolinas that are owned by Beville and her business partner Michelle Singleton.
Chicken Salad Chick is entering a massive growth spurt, with a fleet of 141 additional locations being developed across Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Alabama, where the brand was founded by former door-to-door chicken salad saleswoman Stacy Brown. Her fast-casual concept is praised for its “custom-fit chicken salad experience with 15 original flavors to choose from as well as gourmet soups, flavorful side salads and freshly baked desserts,” according to a media release.
“We’ve heard from so many guests how one flavor or another reminds them of their mother or grandmother’s favorite recipe,” Beville says. “We love that we can rekindle those fond memories for our guests, but we also like the fact that we can offer a unique twist on something that is such a Southern classic. Truly, there is a favorite flavor for everyone once they try and compare.”
Beville and Singleton are celebrating the eatery’s move to Asheville with a week of specials. On opening day, the first 100 guests will get a “Meet the Chicks” punch card, redeemable for a free scoop of the restaurant’s flavor-of-the-week item for 16 weeks. The following day, any purchase of 2 pounds of chicken salad earns a free cooler with ice. On Thursday, the first 100 guests will get one free scoop of product, and that Friday, the first 100 guests get a complimentary koozie. To round out the week of promotions, Halloween diners get a free cookie with the purchase of a Chick Trio.
“The demand for the Chicken Salad Chick experience is ever-growing across North and South Carolina,” Singleton says. “We are confident that the Asheville community will love our fresh, homemade recipes and look forward to becoming a favorite destination for friends and family.”
Chicken Salad Chick opens at 4 S. Tunnel Road on Tuesday, Oct. 27. Hours are 10 a.m.-7 p.m. daily. Visit chickensaladchick.com for more information.
Communi-Tea Festival
Dobra Tea’s Black Mountain location will host its annual fall Communi-Tea Festival, which unfolds outside on the green Sunday, Oct. 25. Fellow tea purveyors Panther Moon Tea Co., AppalaChai, Infusion Lounge and Hanami Tea Co., will be in attendance in addition to local herbalists, health practitioners, healing artists and more. Also on the menu 2-4 p.m. are chair massages, sound healing, guided qi gong, Chinese medicine talks, acupuncture, pottery displays, live art, face painting, sweets and live music.
Communi-Tea Festival is at Dobra Tea of Black Mountain, 120 Broadway Ave., on Sunday, Oct. 25, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. $5-10 admission benefits ArtSpace Charter School. Visit dobrateanc.com for details.
Day of the Dead fundraiser for immigrant rights
Short Street Cakes kicks off its seventh annual Dia de Los Muertos celebration and fundraiser for Coalición de Organizaciones Latino-Americanas (soon to be Compañeros Inmigrantes de las Montañas en Acción) on Thursday, Oct. 22, with an opening reception offering wine, snacks and a chance to help build a community altar for families and individuals to honor loved ones who have died. Every day between the kickoff and Sunday, Nov. 1, Short Street will make and sell sugar skulls for $5 each with half of the proceeds benefiting COLA. A decoration station stocked with icings and other fancy trimmings will be available for those who are feeling creative. On Sunday, Nov. 1, the altar will be open to the public all day and into the evening. Discounts are available to school groups wishing to learn the tradition of honoring loved ones and ancestors through altar decoration and sugar skulls. COLA is an organization that advocates for immigrants’ rights in Western North Carolina.
Short Street Cakes is at 225 Haywood Road. The opening reception happens 6-9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, next door at 227 Haywood Road. For details about COLA, visit colawnc.org. For more on Short Street Cakes, visit shortstreetcakes.com.
Youth Outright Month and free tasting
During October, MetroWines will donate 10 percent of proceeds from sales of its Villa Pozzi Nero d’Avola or Grillo — two of the shop’s top sellers — to Youth OUTright. MetroWines owners Gina Trippi and John Kerr will also match the total amount raised for the local nonprofit, whose mission it is to empower the LGBTQ youth “to be confident and vital members of our community.” For double the action, visit the shop on Friday, Oct. 25, 5-7 p.m., for a free tasting with Rodney Strong Vineyards.
MetroWines is at 169 Charlotte St. Visit metrowinesasheville.com for more information.
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