Asheville restaurant, bar, brewery closings in the first half of 2023
ASHEVILLE - Losing a favorite business may serve as a reminder to support and appreciate those that remain while they’re still open.
In the first half of 2023, some new and established eateries and watering holes made their exit from Asheville’s food and beverage scene.
The last customers lined up at the food stations of Asiana Grand Buffet before it closed after serving diners for nearly two decades.
Bhramari Brewing Co. and Holeman and Finch restaurant had tumultuous endings when services ended unexpectedly on the South Slope. A similar fate occurred when Bonfire BBQ and Catering shuttered with little to no warning in West Asheville.
Meanwhile, canine-friendly bar and yoga studio Down Dog, breakfast go-to Sawhorse, and mead and cider bar TreeRock Social welcomed guests to say farewell and make the most of their final days of business.
Unfortunately, several more places have joined the list of closures. Here are several more places Asheville has said goodbye to from January to June 2023.:
Kinfolk
The food truck business opened its brick-and-mortar counterpart at 1125 Sweeten Creek Road in January. As of July 1, the eatery is to return to full-time food truck operations.
Huddle House
In May, Huddle House at 400 Hendersonville Road closed after several decades of serving generations of diners. The building reportedly is to be demolished. The corporate company is still in business with the closest location now in Dillsboro.
Read more: Huddle House closes and building to be demolished.
UpCountry Brewing Co.
UpCountry Brewing’s craft beer production wrapped up and the taproom closed earlier this year at 1042 Haywood Road in West Asheville. The business was condensed to its Brevard location at 212 King St.
Read more: UpCountry Brewing's owner details move to Brevard.
GiGi’s Underground
The Prohibition-era-style speakeasy served cocktails and nights of live entertainment in the lower level of 122 College St. The downtown cocktail lounge closed in February after less than a year in business.
Read more: A locally-owned speakeasy opens downtown.
Sawhorse
On April 16, the neighborhood eatery Sawhorse closed at 101 New Leicester Highway in West Asheville. The local chef-owned and operated restaurant was popular for its pancakes, poutine and other diner favorites and dishes one would find at old lumber camps of northern New York and Quebec. The building is available for purchase.
Read more: A West Asheville restaurant closes, chef-owner 'Danny Pancakes' bids farewell for now
Bonfire BBQ and Catering
In the winter, the West Asheville barbecue shop suddenly shuttered at 1056 Patton Ave. Opened in 2015, the restaurant was knowns for its traditional slow-cooked meats and barbecue sandwiches and plates. The building is available for leasing.
From 2014: New barbecue restaurant to open in West Asheville
Asiana Grand Buffet
The all-you-can-eat restaurant ended service at the end of January after more than 18 years. The building, at 1968 Hendersonville Road, will continue to be a source of Asian food. The owner is flipping it into an Asiana supermarket called Asiana Market, set to open later this year.
Read more: Asiana Grand Buffet closes, Asian supermarket to open in its place
Bhramari Brewing Co./Shere Khan Kati Rolls
Bhramari Brewing Company, at 101 S. Lexington Ave., closed its taproom kitchen and Shere Kahn Kati Rolls ghost kitchen in January, followed by the full closure of the brewery the next month. In April, the parent company announced the brewhouse would rebrand and reopen with a new name, leadership and dining concept called Terra Nova Beer Co. this summer. Its Charlotte taproom is closed, too, and will remain closed.
Read more: Bhramari Brewing making a comeback with new name, leadership in Asheville
Blue Dream Curry House
In February, the downtown restaurant, at 81 Patton Ave., downsized and transitioned to takeout only. Soon after, the local chef-owned and operated business closed permanently after eight years. The eatery was popular for its diverse helpings of international curry dishes made with local ingredients.
Read more: Blue Dream Curry House owner downsizes, calls for change in downtown Asheville
TreeRock Social
In March, the craft mead and cider tasting room and shop closed at 760 Biltmore Ave. in Biltmore Village. Five years ago, TreeRock Social ― owned by five local women ― opened giving imbibers something different from the city’s vast craft beer options.
Read more: Asheville craft cider, mead taproom closing, community thanked for its support
Down Dog
The dog bar and yoga studio, at 51 Sweeten Creek Road, was announced to close on May 28. The local business has brought humans and pups together over craft beer, cider, craft cocktails and food since 2020.
Read more: Asheville yoga studio, dog bar announces spring closure
Holeman and Finch
Opened in 2021, the restaurant abruptly closed at 77 Biltmore Ave. on April 5 of this year. Holeman and Finch was H&F Burger ― which opened in 2019 ― until the restaurant was flipped into an upscale dining concept that served oysters, specialty ham, and other Southern-influenced plates, including its signature double-stacked burger. Holeman and Finch Public House and H&F Burger remain open in Atlanta.
Read more: Holeman and Finch restaurant closes in downtown Asheville
Grata Pizzeria
The West Asheville pizzeria is scheduled to close on July 9. The local eatery opened in March 2020. The closure comes after the departure of its co-tenant UpCountry Brewing.
Read more: Grata Pizzeria announces closure due to decline in sales.
Food news you may have missed:
2022 restaurant closings, openings, renovations, and what's planned for 2023. Read here.
Read more about the Asheville restaurants, bars and taprooms that have closed in 2023 here.
Is West Asheville Krispy Kreme for sale? Read the company's response to rumors of its closing here.
Tiana Kennell is the food and dining reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Email her at tkennell@citizentimes.com or follow her on Twitter/Instagram @PrincessOfPage. Please support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Asheville restaurant, bar, brewery closures through June 2023
