Small Bites

Caffiend Gets A Makeover: Caffiend, the coffee shop at 120A Merrimon Ave. that never closes (we mean never—owner Matt Hebb tells Xpress that the 24/7 joint doesn’t even close on Christmas) just turned a corner, celebrating two full years in business. To mark the occasion, Hebb and his staff have given Caffiend a significant makeover while still keeping the shop’s staple offerings around.

Caffiend sells local bagels, cookies from Sugar Mamas, rare specialty sodas (even Cheerwine in a bottle), a variety of snacks, more than 60 types of tea and “any coffee drink you can imagine—and so many you can’t,” as Hebb puts it. Most of the coffee, he stresses, comes to Caffiend via a direct-trade agreement with Leopard Forest Coffee, which is based in Travelers Rest, S.C.

“There’s a lot we do that people would probably be surprised to know,” Hebb says. For example, Caffiend hosts bands for live music on a regular basis, and offers both free wireless and computers for short-term rental.

Most of that was true before the recent upgrade, but Caffiend now has a brand new look and some additional amenities. There’s a new side bar with barstools, ideal for the laptop set. The interior has been repainted, and there’s some new furniture and flooring. “We tried to streamline the flow of the place for customers,” Hebb explains.

What’s more, Caffiend has upped its wi-fi capacity and added a large-screen TV on one wall (pictured) for movies and gaming.

The goal, Hebb says, has been to provide a little something for everyone, regardless of their caffeine needs and proclivities. “You’re going to find every kind of walk of life here,” Hebb says. “We want every kind of person to feel comfortable here.”
Contact Caffiend at 505-2098.

Blue Mountain Pizza’s Thursday-Night Special: Family-style eating has become the way to beat the high cost of eating out, with restaurants touting shareable comfort food at reasonable prices. Weaverville’s Blue Mountain Pizza has led the local pack, pioneering a Thursday-night special that’s been extended by popular demand.

The dinner for four, which includes a giant platter of spaghetti with meatballs, four house salads, four garlic knots and four fountain drinks, is priced at just under $20. Couples can take advantage of a similar two-person-sized promo for $12. According to an announcement in the restaurant’s newsletter, “sometimes, but not every Thursday, we even offer an order of our incredible Sweet Knots on the house!” For more information, call 658-8778.

Travinia Coming To Biltmore Park Town Square: The chains continue to converge upon Biltmore Park Town Square, with Travinia Italian Kitchen announcing plans to open its first North Carolina outlet there this fall. Travinia, which currently operates four restaurants in South Carolina, offers pasta, steak and seafood at “casual dining prices,” according to a release.

“We chose to expand to Biltmore Park Town Square because Asheville is such a thriving scene for the restaurant industry,” owner Mark Craig is quoted as saying. Travinia will join the newly opened Brixx, featuring wood-fired pizzas, and P.F. Chang’s China Bistro in the rapidly growing development. Other eateries slated to open over the coming year include Cold Stone Creamery and 131 Main Restaurant, a Charlotte-based franchise specializing in continental fare.

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.

2 thoughts on “Small Bites

  1. Jon Elliston

    Caffiend is at 120A Merrimon — sorry for the mistake, which we’ll correct online today.

    Jon Elliston
    Mountain Xpress

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.