I heard a rumor that the Haywood Road Market in West Asheville was considering putting an ice-cream shop in its dining area. I hope they don’t let anyone scoop them on this (sorry; I couldn’t resist). Our planets must be aligning, because I’ve been dreaming of a neighborhood ice-cream shop ever since the temps went over 85. We have Tasty Freeze on Patton Ave. (practically IN Patton Ave.), but the deficient seating (all outdoors) means you have to settle for a little exhaust topping on your sundae. Defunct Sweet Heaven in Montford could serve as a model, but I’m craving something that falls inbetween these two extremes—something less gritty than Tasty Freeze but not as intensely high-end as Sweet Heaven was. Agreed, West Asheville parents?
West Asheville screams for ice cream
Have you been to Pineapple Jacks?
marc
Yes, I know they have shakes and smoothies–but I’m talking a full-on million-flavors type place
I completely agree and have had the exact same thought. I’m not a parent, just a big kid who likes her ice cream…and who wouldn’t want to walk up the street after dinner to get some ice cream.
No slight intended to the fine establishments that currently serve Haywood Road, but West Asheville could use a DECENT RESTAURANT.
Not slow and surly like the Westville Pub (one server excepted); not pizza priced for the Trumps aka Digable Pizza; not weird and inexplicable (Pastabilities); not predictably mediocre with greasy floors (Lucky Otter); not creepy and kinda bad (Burgermeisters); not the eternal-mile-long cue-of-hipsters (Sunny Point). One only gets so much entertainment staring at the ink between the shoulder blades of the person in line before you.
Tasty Diner fills a niche, sure, but how about a basic, good eats place that takes pride in its food and serves everyone?
Something to, ah, chew on.
Let’s get that one figured out first and worry about dessert later.
Melanie,
I’m not in the ice cream business, but I think that the only places that can afford a million different flavors are chains ala Baskin-Robbins. The rumor is that its Ultimate Ice Cream coming into the co-op, which is ok by me.
Floating Verse,
What type of restaurant do you want on this side of town? There are five bars opening up in the next year, surely a couple of them will be serving food. Trust me, there was only Rooster Cogburns and Pastabilities 10 years ago… we’re making good progress.
One of the best rumors that I heard was that Early Girl was going to open where the Ideal Market ended up. If that is true, then we could have had one of the best places in town!
marc
Melanie
The rumor is true. Ultimate Ice Cream will begin scooping in West Asheville prior to the end of the month. We will occupy the space in the rear of the co-op (the old Roots Cafe). Our plan is the open at noon and close at 9:00pm, 7 days a week. If you have any questions you can call me at the the east Asheville location 296.1234. I will let you know when I confirm a date.
Thanks,
Kevin
Ultimate Ice Cream
Kevin,
That is excellent news — your ice cream comes highly recommended from many I’ve talked to.
Floating Verse,
I’m going to guess that the W-Pub server you single out as being a cut above happens to be my sister, Holly — a petite woman with dark curly hair?
Hi Melanie, Kevin, and Marc. It is great to see you all on here and chatting ice cream in West Asheville. The rumor is no more… I introduce fact! The Haywood Road Market has signed a contract with Ultimate Ice Cream and we’ll be scooping by June 29th and at all the Walk in Movie nights! We are also celebrating our first Co-op Owner Appreciation Day June 29th. Members get 10% off and an assortment of local vendors and farmers will be offering samples and goods 4-7pm. Join us and celebrate!
Also…Dare I start another rumor? I hear an organic cafe is in the works for West Asheville’s co-op this year. I also hear they have a new seating area inside and are planning some outside seating as well… and that you’ll be able to pre-order and drive thru to pick up…
But don’t worry, West Asheville can handle 6 more restaurants; maybe it will up the game of existing places that have otherwise become a little too comfortable.
:-) Hope you all are well.
We had a Tastee Freeze back in the 50s and 60s, over next to where the Barbecue Inn is now. A soft ice cream cone on a hot summer’s day is the REAL ultimate ice cream.
The Pastabilites on Haywood Road used to be an ice cream shop in the ’80s. Also, there is a family that makes homemade Gellato on Blue Ridge Ave. (just up the street and on the right from the California Emporium of Tattooing place). THey sell it out of their house, and they are actually going to start selling it at Mamacita’s downtown next month. The stuff is fabulous, and as of last night they were giving away yummy chocolate gellato that “wasn’t up to their standards” (never mind that it was yummy).
As far as the Organic Market goes, I’ll start shopping there when they get a few brand names I know and trust. All I want are some good hot dogs, a few good steaks, and some Chef Boyardee, and they’ll have a lifelong customer.
YAY! Ultimate Ice Cream is sooo good!! Thank you for coming to West Asheville.
Yea, I hope my grandfather takes me to the Ultimate.
Jason is referring to Lucia Gelato, who will be serving special themed flavors at our shop during our Harry Potter release party on July 20. I don’t think they’ll actually have every flavor, ala Bertie Bott’s beans, but there are sure to be some unique offerings. I think they may be giving away some coupons for Mamacita’s that night, too, but don’t quote me on that.
It’s too bad West Fest isn’t happening this year–that would probably be a great jump start for the new ice cream place.
Their gelato is delicious, definitely worth trying a few times.
Westfest didn’t happen this year due to a lack of volunteers. I hope that not having one this year will get some people involved for 2008. It’s a fun festival, but there’s always LAAF.
marc
Can someone fill me in on this local gelato company? The Haywood Road Market loves to support local companies and if they have a shelf/freezer product we can sell I would give it a try… maybe they’ll see this…
call me M W F 225 4445 Sage
Boy do I agree with Floating Verse!!! So sick of slow service from the Westville, Love the Lucky Otter though, floors could be cleaner! Pastabilities, who eats there anyway? But Burgermeister’s takes the cake!!! I’ve eaten there on several occasions and the last time will be the last time. Food is average but service is awful. Not only are the waitresses smoking outside but the profanity coming from the kitchen is unbelievable. Will not be back!!! On a lighter note, LOVE the Ultimate Ice Cream!!!
Profanity in the kitchen? Smoking waitstaff? What’s next, spilled beer behind the bar?!?
hi guys just seen your comments. Have you ever heard of McAbee’s ice cream and diner.It is located on New lecister hwy. Behind movie Gallery. My word they have loads of stuff. Ice cream , food,pizza,subs.They also serve breakfast.You should check out the banana split, only thing you better go before eating supper. That thing is huge. Won best milkshakes and fries on woxl Last summer. The workers are friendly and the place is clean. They have out door tables and also inside sitting. They have a car show on sats.from 6-9
Jason Bugg mentioned Pastabilities’ building housed an ice cream parlor back in the 1980’s. According to cinematreasures.org, it housed the Isis movie theater from the late 30’s to the late 50’s. Wouldn’t it be cool if it reverted to its original use and West Asheville had an indoor theater in addition to the Walk-In?
Actually, I’ve talked to the Pastabilities folks, and they still have some of the original equipment upstairs. And the reason they’re still in business is their steak sub. They also have reasonable white pizza.
The Fruit of Labor Church in “East-West” Asheville is for sale and might make a good movie theater as well.
A local theater would be nice, but I don’t see Pastabilities going anywhere soon so that building might be out of reach.
I’ve heard of people buying churches and having success with theaters… maybe the Masonic Lodge on Brevard Road???
I’ve heard of other ideas in the works, so stay tuned…
marc
“Wahoo!” we cry for ice cream!
Having eaten multiple times at everyplace on Haywood, from Mom’s to the BBQ Inn, we wouldn’t mind a few more selections. That said, having struggled to turn a vacant building into something productive for the last 15 months, I urge anyone who wants to try to stop by and talk to us. We’ll gladly share what we have learned with anyone who is considering taking the task on. There are spaces available (400 Haywood anyone? The B&D;bar closed and is set up to be a diner) some requiring little renovation.
I think that there are many folks who have an idylic view of what Haywood road can become. The Econonic force of West Asheville isn’t so large that massive improvements will happen quickly, but the good people who are opening new businesses, and those (also good people) who have established ones, will be trying to meet needs that they see in the community. . .
Like ice cream.
Thanks to those who will make that happen. I favorite flavor is Peanutbutter and Chocolate. I’ll be happily walking up to get a cone frequently.
Hi there everyone,
I just wanted to update you all on the ice cream. It’s here! We started scooping on Wednesday you can get scooped 7 days a week from 12-9 pm and at all the movie nights.
I agree West Asheville has a need for more restaurants. It isn’t so much that the existing ones aren’t delicious…rather more that we need variety and newness. I’m building a plan for a breakfast hot bar and smoothie/coffee bar in the co-op this fall with outdoor seating. I am also toying with the idea of a sliced meat deli and sandwich spot. I have surveyed 100s of customers for what they prefer and i would love your opinions as well. Stop in and see me at the co-op anytime or reply here with your thoughts.
Thanks everyone for supporting west asheville.
Sage
Yeah West Side! I just wanted to say a big whats up to the Pub, Digable Pizza, Burgermeisters, Sunny Point, the Co-Op, Orbits and all the other West Asheville buisnesses I love to give my money to. Sure I could find something about each and everyone of you to bitch about. Nobody is perfect…but I’ll tell you what…yer doing alot better than the places that didn’t exist when I moved to West Asheville. Floating Verse…either your a part of the problem or a part of the solution! If you don’t like it don’t support it.
You know, I just read watsdapoint’s post, and I thought “What’s the point?”, and then I wondered who write it, and I realized that watsdapoint wrote it. What’s the point? I don’t know. Third base.
Jason…I guess the point is…if you have nothing nice to wrote…don’t wrote anything at all. Ben Edson
So…I went for my first taste of Ultimate Ice Cream on the West Side and when I told the ice cream girl how excited I was that they were open on my side of town she informed me that the location sucked and they would be moving out in September. If true that is to bad…I thought it would work well.
We have been excited to be on the west side also! We have a lot of friends and community over there. The Haywood Rd Market has provided us with good exposure and a good place to sell ice cream. Our agreement with the co-op ends in September. Hope you enjoyed the ice cream. We’ll see everyone at movie night this Friday! Lucia
That sucks. A sign saying Ultimate Ice Cream moved in would have been nice. Then again, I didn’t have a sign for two years!
marc
400 Haywood will be up and running soon, done by the fine folks that opened The Whig in Columbia, SC http://www.thewhig.org
ICECREAM IN WEST ASHEVILLE!
Two Spoons Icecream opened this weekend at 721 Haywood (Half way between the Ingles and the Co-op, next to the used appliance place)
HOORAY!