West Asheville companies stay open, regardless of icy, snowy roads

ASHEVILLE – The day after Asheville obtained round 6 inches of snow, the itinerary for a lot of West Asheville residents displays the panorama: Do some sledding. Get a chunk to eat. Build an igloo.

Many neighborhood eating places, breweries and grocery shops stayed open by way of Feb. 1 as Haywood Road was virtually utterly cleared off by the top of the day. Side roads remained principally coated in snow and ice, although clear skies melted some snow. Sidewalks bustled with sledders, grocery customers and joggers taking the chance for a run within the snow.

It’s been over two years since Asheville had a snow larger than 2 inches, with the final main snowstorm occurring in January 2022, when Asheville obtained over 10 inches of snow. Some native companies, as an alternative of closing their doorways, embraced the neighborhood enchantment of staying open.

“We’re happy to be open is because you don’t need to drive here,” stated Mark Goodwin, co-owner of Cellarest Beer Project, who’s a West Asheville resident. Most are simply excited to step in earlier than heading on to the following location or heading house to “stay in and get cozy.”  

Opened in 2021, Cellarest is a central location for residents throughout the neighborhood, “perfectly sandwiched” between the Hall Fletcher and Westwood Place, co-owner Harrison Fahrer stated. The brewery, and the neighborhood, has been benefiting from the snow.

Fahrer spent three hours constructing an igloo within the entrance seating space of the brewery. Goodwin had taken his son, Jack, 5, out sledding at Hall-Fletcher Elementary with pals earlier than getting a chunk to eat at West Asheville Lounge and Kitchen.

“It felt like a carpe diem situation. Like we could all use a mental break,” Fahrer stated. “Let’s please have some fun.”

Customers over the weekend had been additionally sort and excited to be out within the snow, stated Zack Taylor, manufacturing assistant and bartender at Cellarest. Customers had been additionally beneficiant, Taylor stated — regardless of the snow, the day was worthwhile.

Most prospects simply walked in from the neighborhood, he stated. Mid-afternoon on Feb. 1, the brewery was packed.

And for probably the most half, the snow day pleasure was true throughout West Asheville. Customers stacked their sleds on the doorways of native eating places earlier than stopping in for meals. West Village Market bustled with prospects looking for eggs, meat and bread

It simply feels good to have a bit little bit of winter climate, Goodwin stated. It feels good to be open amid the winter climate.

“A lot of people just came in and seemed like they were just happy to be out of their house, at a place that’s nice to go and drink some beer and hang out,” stated Goodwin.

Will Hofmann is the Growth and Development Reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, a part of the USA Today Network. Got a tip? Email him at WHofmann@citizentimes.com or message will_hofmann.01 on Signal.