Jason Sandford
Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.
More of what’s going around:
-Two popular downtown Asheville restaurants are closed for extensive renovations. Mellow Mushroom Asheville on Broadway announced that it is closing today, Feb. 15, and planning to reopen on March 7. The restaurant also announced that during the week of March 7, patrons will get 50 percent off all pizza. And at Laughing Seed Cafe, the restaurant posted a Facebook update stating that it planned to reopen the first or second week in March after closing on Jan. 4 for extensive renovations and repairs. More:
Renovations are progressing slowly, but surely. The new kitchen floor has been a huge challenge. We are now hoping to reopen by the first or second week in March . Hang in there !
-Biltmore Property Group, located in Historic Biltmore Village, announced on Monday that Sotheby’s Premier International Realty and Soma, have signed leases to become part of the 10 Brook complex located in Historic Biltmore Village. Both tenants are planning an early spring opening. Soma, an intimate apparel boutique, will occupy 2,509 square feet, while Sotheby’s Premier International Realty will occupy 2,758 square feet, according to the press release.
-Red Ginger Dimsum & Tapas restaurant held its soft opening on Monday. It is scheduled to open on Patton Avenue in downtown on Tuesday.
-The Corner Kitchen, the Biltmore Village restaurant owned by Joe Scully and Kevin Westmoreland, celebrates its 12th birthday on Feb. 16. From the press release:
When Kevin and Joe got together to create Corner Kitchen, they were seeking to offer something special to their guests; an upscale restaurant experience including breakfast lunch and dinner, without any pretense or excess fussiness. Kevin says, “As a novice restaurant owner, I was focused on giving our guests the things I looked for as a restaurant customer: fine food, well appointed atmosphere and bend over backwards customer service.” With Chef Joe Scully of the same mindset, “Corner Kitchen is in the business of saying yes. Yes to substitutions, yes to special dietary needs, yes to making our fine products accessible and priced lower than expected.”
And it worked.
Locals and tourists alike were attracted to the unique style that Corner Kitchen offered and word got out fast, making for write ups in the local media as well as national publications like Southern Living and over the years, Corner Kitchen has regularly ranked in the top ten Asheville restaurants as reported by TripAdvisor and OpenTable.
In 2010, President Obama surprised Corner Kitchen with a visit. The buzz it created and the increased business it generated has been referred to as the “Obama Effect”. While it’s exciting to serve celebrities, statesmen, and sports figures, Corner Kitchen is more focused on offering the regulars and new customers a unique experience.
Yay, Red Ginger! ….. Still bummed that it didn’t open in time for me to make it my birthday destination in November, though. Maybe I’ll get to go soon! <3
Always take the over on Asheville openings/re-openings. Asheville Standard Time is s l o w.
Does anyone know what is happening to the land around the Roundhouse near Biltmore Village?
The trees surrounding the Roundhouse have been removed and the land generally cleared when viewed from Meadow.