Asheville News

R.I.P. Whiskey Tavern

Jason Sandford May 7, 2008

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

Looks like the Whiskey Tavern on Broadway is done. Closed. Over. It’s not a surprise. Back in February, I wrote that the bar was facing tough times.

When Whiskey Tavern opened, it brought back to life a spot at 81 Broadway that housed the Bar Code and then the Asheville Music Zone. Both those places couldn’t survive.
Now the Whiskey Tavern faces similar tough times. On a recent Thursday night, the place was practically empty. The new bar manager said he’d just started a couple of days ago, and was determined to make the place work. The bar plans to focus on making customers welcome, remake its menu, launch an advertising campaign and plans to be the home of a newly formed club for Carolina basketball fans. The bar also has an agreement now with a nearby bank to allow people to park there and walk over, because there’s only on-street parking outside the tavern.

Guess it just didn’t work out. The place opened in April 2006.

So, what’s next for that location? Can anything survive there? Is it the lack of on-site parking that’s making it so hard for people to make a go of it there? Ideas? Anyone?

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

EMA, at the now-closed Joli Rouge

Chris Barron (formerly of The Spin Doctors) @ the Grey Eagle

3 Comments

Kathryn May 8, 2008

I think the key might be not putting your profits up your nose (AMZ) and not making your target demographic dumbass fratboys who fight over girls in front of your bar (WT). Why would you open a whiskey bar and serve your whiskey in dixie cups during the critical first month?

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revolu May 7, 2008

cos its food was shite! not suprising. something could easily survive there. sub-divide that up and put some music in there. perfect exposure.

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greenashevilleblogspot.com May 7, 2008

I work just down the street from the WT. I have never been to the WT. I often walk over to the Mello Mushroom to have an afternoon beer. The regulars are always there. The WT location gets a lot of traffic passing by, but it just doesn’t seem to be a place where people will walk to, unlike the Mushroom.

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