Waking Life coffee shop in West Asheville to open second location in downtown

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Jason Sandford

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

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waking_life_coffee_asheville_2015I’m a big fan of Waking Life and Jared and Jacob, so I think this fantastic news. Waking Life has been serving up delicious coffee (and, for me, tasty tea) for nearly six years now at their location on Haywood Road in West Asheville. This new location will put them in the heart of downtown.

The move comes as High Five Coffee prepares to open its new downtown location on Rankin Avenue, after serving patrons great coffee drinks at their location on Broadway. Also, word on the street is that a new coffee shop is in the works in the bottom of the BB&T building.

Here’s the official press release:

After a year of combing the city for a perfect second location, we’re ecstatic to announce that we’ll be opening up in the fall at 89 Patton Avenue. Located at the perfect intersection of downtown and South Slope, Waking Life will be the go-to destination for specialty coffee in the CBD.

The space at 89 Patton, currently housing the Artetude gallery, will be a clean, modern coffee shop implementing radical ideas about the interaction between customer and barista. With an open, light, and airy layout, Waking Life’s aesthetic will complement and enhance the clean, sweet attributes of well-prepared specialty coffee. As with our Haywood location, there will be a minimum of frills and pomp. The design and feel will all contribute directly to the enjoyment of the coffee and the moment.

Featuring local roasters Mountain Air Roasting and Mountain City Coffee Roasters, Waking Life is dedicated to changing the perception of specialty coffee. Coffee deserves to be held in the same regard as craft beer and cocktails, and we’re determined to raise the bar until this is accomplished. We’re committed to honoring the hard work and dedication of coffee farmers worldwide. There is no such thing as “just a coffee.” There’s so much more to this elegant and complex beverage, and we won’t stop until specialty coffee is recognized for the valuable sensory experience that it is.

This venture has become possible thanks to the hard work of Austin Walker at Whitney Commercial Real Estate and the partnership of Mountain Bizworks. We’d like to offer our immense gratitude to all the customers who have frequented our Haywood location over the years, and look forward to providing them with delicious coffee at both locations going forward.

We’ll keep our Twitter (@wakinglifespro), Instagram (@wakinglifecoffee) and website updated with news as the project moves along. Stay tuned!

Jacob Owens, Jared Rutledge, and the Waking Life team

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Jason Sandford

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

  • 1

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15 Comments

  1. Gypsy Queen September 20, 2015

    New cafe is called ‘The Lady Trap’ where the owners will add you to their harem. No fat chicks!

    But really, after the drama, do not support these douchebags.

    Reply
  2. Lindsay July 1, 2015

    It’s High Five, not Hi-Five. 🙂

    Reply
    1. Jason Sandford July 2, 2015

      Thank you, Lindsay.

      Reply
  3. Chris June 26, 2015

    Welcome neighbor! Can’t wait! Bringing the nitro tap yes?

    Reply
    1. jared rutledge June 26, 2015

      Absolutely. The nitro’s been selling at a crazy clip.

      Reply
  4. Jeremy June 25, 2015

    Asheville’s coffee shops have consistently good coffee so you really can’t go wrong with any of them, but Waking Life is hands down the best. Congrats to them on a second location!

    Reply
  5. Orbit DVD June 25, 2015

    Love these guys! Good luck with the new space.

    Reply
  6. Arts Lover June 25, 2015

    What’s happening to the Artetude Gallery?

    Reply
    1. jared rutledge June 25, 2015

      I’m not sure. They sent out a newsletter indicating October events, so maybe they’re moving? Not sure. Our lease begins Sept. 1 at the latest.

      Reply
      1. Arts Lover June 25, 2015

        Thanks. Maybe they’ll make an announcement soon.

        Reply
  7. Downtown Julie June 24, 2015

    Fabulous! Can’t wait for both to open, I just hope we are given a new aesthetic from what’s available now. How about some mid-century style and contemporary graphics?

    Reply
  8. luther blissett June 24, 2015

    “89 Patton Avenue… the perfect intersection of downtown and South Slope”

    Uh, no. Stick to (great) coffee, not geography.

    Reply
    1. jared rutledge June 25, 2015

      I just meant that everyone walking from South Slope to downtown walks up Coxe and hangs a right on Patton – it’s pretty ideally situated to catch traffic between the two.

      Reply
      1. AD June 25, 2015

        I work in the Capital Center and knew exactly where you were describing. I am SO EXCITED there will be another coffee shop closer to this edge of downtown. Izzy’s is too far of a walk to scoot out unnoticed for a quick cup. Everyone was bummed after Firestorm left; welcome to the neighborhood!

        Reply
      2. BetaHerb4Life September 19, 2015

        Will you be offering misogynistic critiques of your female customers at the new location as well?

        Reply

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