Jason Sandford
Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.
Here’s more of what’s going around, including the Ingles purchase of land along Patton Avenue in West Asheville. Here we go:
-Ingles has purchased the 17-acre lot that was home to a Kmart store along Patton Avenue, property records show. The Kmart store closed last year.
-Mojo Kitchen & Lounge, in the space beneath Asheville Music Hall, is closing this weekend. The restaurant owners, A.J. Gregson and Autumn Pittman, last year took over Webo’s BBQ in River Ridge Market Place and changed the name to Black Bear BBQ. In a Facebook post, they said goodbye to Mojo:
To all our Mojo family,
It is with bitter-sweet anticipation that we are announcing our closing effective the end of business this Saturday night. It has been a wonderful, wild ride these past 5 1/2 years and we are so grateful for all of the love and support we have received from the community. What an amazing opportunity we were given to take our humble festival kitchen and grow to where we are today. We will be shifting our focus to continue building Black Bear BBQ as well as doing more food truck and catering events. So be on the look out for Lil’ Mojo out and about more often where AJ will continue to showcase his culinary wizardry!
So much gratitude to so many who have helped us and cheered us along the way…We could not have done it without you! Much Love Asheville!
–Axeville Throwing Club, the axe-throwing bar on Leicester Highway, is planning to open a second location this fall in south Asheville, according to the Axeville website.
-Asheville Parks & Recreation Department will host community meetings on Aug. 1 about bond-funded improvements to Mountainside Park and Memorial Stadium. The meetings are open to the public.
-The staff of the North Carolina Room at Pack Memorial Library will celebrate the launch of their new book, “Hidden History of Asheville,” at 6 p.m. on July 31 at the library. The book is published by Arcadia’s History Press and compiled by North Carolina Room Librarian Zoe Rhine. The book includes the story of Asheville Mayor Gallatin Roberts, who committed suicide in Feb 1931 rather than face trial for banking law violations; 1930s stunt pilot and wing-walker Uva Shipman; Tempie Avery, who went from slavery to respected nurse; and more.
-Bonfire Music Group has announced the creation of its Bonfire Management division, which will be based in East Nashville, Tenn., and led by music industry veteran Steve Johnson, who has ties to the Asheville music scene and spent several years working as artist relations manager for the popular MerleFest music festival in Wilkes County. Johnson also recently started Mountain Music Entertainment and HoosierDevil, both focused on artist and event management and booking. His last role in the music community was serving as tour manager to Asheville’s Steep Canyon Rangers. His musical roots started early with his aunt, who was Bill Monroe’s Fan Club President and his mother, father, and other family members worked and helped promote many festivals for Monroe when Johnson was a child, according to a press release.