Next week’s edition of Xpress will feature a story about the growth of West Asheville’s pub scene.
At least four new eating/drinking establishments are planned along the ribbon of cement known as Haywood Road. Some may be here as soon as next month; others will undoubtedly take longer to throw open their doors.
Depending on who you ask, there may be even more on the way. What have you heard, dear reader? How many pubs does West Asheville need? If you could design your ideal pub, what would it be like?
Xpress is positively thirsting for this information.
— Kent Priestley, staff writer
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PAC BAR – design for a small, rustic looking pub in NC.
You have three old-school arcade machines set up in various corners of the cozy establishment. Pac Man, Ms. Pac Man. They take a quarter to play. Whoever has the high score on a machine gets a continuous discount on drinks for as long as they have the high score.
The drinks – beers in glass bottles, a wide variety of local, import and mainstream brews. Also, Bawls and Root Beer… other good bottled stuff.
Some sort of free nut – cashews or almonds or something in clean dishes. Perhaps even pretzels, but it would have to be uniform.
An Internet Jukebox. They have one at the College Street Bar & Grill. You insert cash and you can basically locate any song in existence and play it.
One TV with CAROLINA ONLY SPORTS. Panthers, Hurricanes, Bobcats, College Sports (men and womens sports of all kinds from all NC colleges.) Maybe even NASCAR. Absolutely no exceptions. If somebody wants to watch the Yankees vs. Red Sox game or the Steelers v. Patriots game… TOO BAD. Go someplace else. Regular schedules would be posted of NC-related games.
Would not open until 1:00pm on Sunday. Would not be open on Monday. Would stop selling beer an hour before closing. Would have a big DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE sign on the exit door and a Taxi company’s number of speed-dial.
——–
So to review: a cozy country bottle-beer bar with 3 Pac Man games, an Internet Jukebox, and a North Carolina Sports Only policy for the TV.
I tell you, a place like that breeds loyalty!
Here’s what we would love:
– Good microbrews – including all the local
ones possible
– Pool
– Pinball
– other arcade games
– Vegan food included on the menu so we can
eat there and drink more. :)
– please do NOT try to be TGIF’s or anything
like that. We moved here to stay away
from places like that and to spend our
money at LOCAL places.
There’s a cool bar in W Asheville now that has the beer, a pool table, and good food offerings. I can’t remember the name, but it’s not too far from diggable pizza (towards patton). We just found it last sunday, it was a great find… if they had pinball we would be there all the time. :)
-Frank
I think you need three things for a truly great bar in West Asheville.
– A full bar with a decent selection of domestics, microbrews, imports, a decent wine selection, and a good selection of quality liqour drinks.
– Food that is nice without being too nice. It’s a bar people, if you want good food go to a restaurant.
– A jukebox that plays good tunes. Any music that invites smelly people to dance with their eyes closed will not be allowed.
If you do those things, and have a sniffer outside of the bar- someone to check IDs and to make sure that nobody smells too bad- you will have the makings of a great bar.
Also if you had a mechanical bull and made hot girls ride it all the time.
Hmmmm, thinking maybe too much here, but Haywood Road is just going to become a feeding frenzy for DUI convictions and problems associated with drinking and driving. Not that I endorse that kind of activity, I walk down Haywood if I have some beers. It could end up being a big liability for the bar owners. I’ve had a few episodes with the police just walking home, and no, not stumbling all over West Asheville. Seem to be a suspect for walking at night time. Don’t get me wrong, I’m up for increased commerce in West Asheville. A trolly that rolls up and down Haywood would be an interesting venture for somebody, kinda like the one that tools around the River Arts district that those kind New Orleans folk do. Perhaps they could consider this notion? Great news, though, more business on Haywood Road. Cool beans, and everybody have a safe Fourth!!
Personally, I plan to buy the Salvation Army building on Haywood Road and put in a combination hash bar/whore house. I’m thinking of calling it “Ashevilledam.”
That’s crazy, because I plan on buying Pastabilities right across the street and opening a comedy club.
Curmudgeon won’t be invited.
I think more than anything W. Asheville needs a late night, (i’m talking till 4am) cofffee/doughnut/gyro shop. Let’s be honest, if there are a bunch of bars in the area, it’s only natural to have a place to sober up with some caffeine, sugar and grease (falafel for the veggie-heads).
A great bar would be like the Avl Brewing Company downtown. They have great local beer, awesome pizza, fun games like corn-hole on their large outdoor patio. If they had some fun local bands that would be good too.
I like the idea about a trolley!
Anything that gets more people walking along Haywood is a good thing, however I’m for more police presence in W.Asheville considering that w/in the past year I’ve been assaulted and just yesterday had someone point a gun at me right off Haywood. Haywood Rd. is a pefect example of the ‘two Americas’ that live side by side, occasionally intersecting w/ disastrous and sometimes fatal consequences. Don’t mean to be the heavy but I’m for some police on bikes. Hell, I’d even volunteer for that.