Letter: An appreciation of The Bywater

Graphic by Lori Deaton

I’d like to express my appreciation for what The Bywater has provided Asheville during its 10-year run [see the “Small Bites” column, Jan. 8, Xpress]. It fulfilled its vision of a uniquely Ashevillean space, where friends and family could gather in a laid-back environment with seemingly few rules outside of “behave yourself.” Outdoor fire pits, quality music, grills for “bring your own,” access along the river for pulling in or chilling out. Railroad tracks, for Christ’s sake! (I always wondered who would be liable if someone tripped and knocked out their teeth.)

Having had my own 10-year run in “the business,” I can attest that running a bar is an unforgiving game requiring a young man’s energy and an old man’s maturity, a rare combination. Lessons are learned quickly (or not) that often take a lifetime to process. My hat’s off to James and his crew, and for his ability to move on to this new venture on his own terms.

Many blessings for rest, peace and success.

— Rob Campbell
Asheville

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.

About Letters
We want to hear from you! Send your letters and commentary to letters@mountainx.com

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.

One thought on “Letter: An appreciation of The Bywater

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.