Word on the street from a loyal Ashvegas reader is that Stovetrotters restaurant in Biltmore Village is now closed. Can anyone offer up definitive information?
Stovetrotters opened up a couple of years ago to rave reviews. But if the restaurant is closed, it’s just another sign that the tough economy continues to take its toll. Might it also be a sign that Asheville’s restaurant scene is overly crowded, and that this is just a naturally culling? I don’t know.
Thoughts? What else is happening on Asheville’s ever-changing restaurant scene?
8 Comments
I have the inside scoop on Stovetrotters. I am friends with a few of their ex employees. The problems were as follows…
1) The hours (lazy owner)
2) No marketing budget (takes money to make money)
3) With an absentee owner, a manager is needed but she never hired one. Even McDonalds has a manager on duty if a problem arises, shouldn’t a "finer" dining restaurant?
4) Location (in a happening part of town, but she missed the village by 2 buildings and that proved to be detrimental)
5) Price… If you do not have the location, quality, or atmosphere of other restaurants in the area ie. Rezaz and Corner Kitchen your prices should not be the same
*Just a little insight to those that wondered the real deal.
If this is true, it is sad. The food at StoveTrotters was incredibly good and the service great.
Too bad that many of the other area restaurants don’t pay attention to the quality of service their wait people provide. I totally agree with Eddie. Poor marketing and bad service are not covered up by OK food. Restaurant owners have to learn the importance of marketing to locals.
Asheville restaurants, you better bring it. This is not the time to take any guest for granted. I understand, it’s a tourist town and filling up the place during the high season is like shooting fish in a barrel but, the off season; you got to work a lot harder — Like it or not.
I’m a recent transplant and have been working in the restaurant biz for many years. One thing that astounds me about the restaurants in this town is the lack of attention with service. Slow, forgetful, lacking knowledge, rushed, sloppy appearance, it goes on. I’m sure people have noticed. That has got to change if Asheville wants to remain a hot foodie spot.
I feel bad for any business that closes because it’s many people’s incomes that has been snuffed out. When I read Tara’s post I was infuriated that they had such inconsistent hours. That’s a huge sign of incompetence. What restauranteurs need to acknowledge is that they’re not just responsible for their personal livelihood but, also the livelihoods of their employees. It sounds romantic when one retires from the partnership of a law firm or a CEO of a huge corporation at age forty, to open one’s own restaurant but, don’t. Work in one first, at least. I’m not implying that Stovetrotters was of a similar situation, I don’t know the owners but, having inconsistent hours is one of the most detrimental blows for restaurants. If they’re capable for one such blunder, I’m sure there were more.
I’m sure there will be more restaurant closing but, the recession isn’t to blame. The cause will be not adapting to the recession.
I drove by yesterday and saw a for sale sign in the window.
my husband & i tried to go to stovetrotters in three separate occasions and they were NEVER open. i heard the rave reviews as well, but it doesnt matter if you can never eat there!
has anyone else heard that savoy is going to be a casual italian eatery? same owners, just a completely different aesthetic. i am sure going to miss savoy, but i’m always up for good italian, especially on the north end! its definitely needed!
If Stovetrotters has closed and the food is as good as claimed (I’ve never eaten there), I wonder if any of these might have contributed to its fall: • the name • location (no walking traffic) • association of the locale with raggedy old Polar Bar formerly there • low-key marketing. Businesses on the fringe of the original Village struggle to be seen. Shops and restaurants clinging to its edges struggle, because walking tourists only see what is highly visible. Good luck to all.
Expect the same with the bars that have popped up around town, crappy Economy wont support a bunch of the same place.
My wife and I celebrated our anniversary there New Year’s Eve…great food, wonderful service!…hope this is false…