SOLD: The Burger Bar on Craven Street to Asheville bartenders Adams, King

Jason Sandford August 16, 2014

Jason Sandford

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

An old West Asheville dive bar is getting some new life. Two well-known Asheville bartenders – Celeste Adams and Chris King – have purchased the Burger Bar on Craven Street and are fixing it up a bit. The bar sits across the street from the new construction on New Belgium Brewing’s new $175 million East Coast brewery.

The new owners, along with family and friends, spent Saturday ripping out old equipment, painting and generally airing out the bar. Adams said she’s been talking with the former owner about buying the bar for quite awhile, with the current owner of 28 years finally decided to sell. The transaction was finalized on Friday, said Adams.

The bar is Asheville’s oldest bar, having opened in 1960, according to Adams, who said she lives nearby and has been a regular patron. The plan is to keep the Burger Bar name and keep it a simple bar. Adams said she plans to sell liquor, as well, and keep the old pool table. (Look for food trucks in the parking lot, because there is no kitchen.)

Adams said she wanted to buy the business now before developers got their hands on the property and did something else with it.

Adams is well-known on the Asheville scene, having bartended at numerous bars around town. She’s currently working at Double Crown on Haywood Road in West Asheville. King has been bartending at The Vault for the past six years.

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Jason Sandford

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

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10 Comments

Orbit DVD August 18, 2014

Grats guys!

Reply
boatrocker August 17, 2014

Raise your hand if you’ve ever stopped in there and asked for a menu thinking they sold burgers-guilty as charged. Years ago a guy working the bar told me Burger was the name of the owner, but that may have been a messinwhicha comment for people who come in looking for a burger.

Reply
Coz August 17, 2014

Awesome. PBR on tap!

Reply
Amanda Shields August 17, 2014

Why is there an area of comments, if you’re gonna delete the comments made. My comment from earlier today was deleted.

Reply
Bill Hagan August 17, 2014

The Burger Bar is not just another Bar it’s an institution. I hope it continues to be.

Reply
smytty August 17, 2014

Bet they made bank!

Reply
ashevillain August 17, 2014

So did she buy the property too or just the business?

Reply
Dawn Shields August 17, 2014

It was time…all the business had been run off over the years by the owner, till the Burger Bar was on its way out, anyway.

Reply
theOtherBarry August 16, 2014

A “Burger Bar” that sells no burgers? Oh, Asheville, crazy Asheville…

Great location – best of luck.

Reply
Jtc August 16, 2014

Go Celeste!

Reply