Asheville businesses are prospering, and they’re looking to surrounding communities for additional location sites. Biscuit Head and 12 Bones Smokehouse owners are both opening new locations in South Asheville (aka Skyland). They and the new 12 Bones Brewery Brew Master filled me in on their plans as I took a peek behind the curtains.
Biscuit Head
Tagline: “Put Some South in Your Mouth”
Website: http://www.biscuitheads.com/
Address: 1994 Hendersonville Rd, Asheville, NC 28803
The sign’s been up long enough to have folks asking if the latest Biscuit Head location will ever open. Partners Jason Roy, Michael Wester, and their wives have hung tough through almost a year of site/building upgrades at the old Dunlop Tire location and do indeed hope to open in January. As anyone familiar with construction knows, “hope” is a safer word to use than “plan”.
Businesses supporting other local businesses and artists is a way of life here. Jason mentioned that approximately 15 local artisans have worked on this project, including custom-built benches and tables. The fun wall art below is by Jenny Fares of Asheville’s Sound Mind Creative.
Power was scheduled to be turned on this same day, so it was just a little dark inside, even with lots of windows on the front wall. I’ll just tell you that restrooms sport very cool tile floors and cat head wallpaper.
Biscuit Head is known for biscuits the size of a cat’s head and their Jam Bar. If you’ve been to one of their other locations, you’ve probably never seen empty jam bar, right? Well, here’s your chance. Jason was pretty happy it was in and ready to be filled with butters, jams, jellies, and honey.
The decor made me smile: a little Industrial; a little Artsy; with just a smidge of Millennial. Two things I especially like are the shelving and the lampshades that make me think of old-timey bee hives. Biscuits and Honey. Get it? And don’t miss the nod to history in the form of the original Dunlop sign mounted up high on a wall in the dining area.
Parking could have been nightmarish with just a few spots, but go around back and you’ll see more parking space created by digging in to a hillside. It could have been strictly asphalt, but a mixture of asphalt and paving stones makes for a nice look and I’m guessing they’re environmentally friendly via drainage.
Looking toward the right side of the building, you can see where the enclosed patio with will be. There will be garage doors (think tire shop) that’ll be open in nice weather, large heaters for cooler weather, and a fun mural by well known local artist, Gus Cutty, in the works for the side of the building.
Yes, they are now hiring. Give ’em a call if you’re interested.
For a little taste of what you can expect in the way of food and decor, take a look at this July, 2014 article I wrote about the very first Biscuit Head in West Asheville: “Why yes, I AM a Biscuit Head”
12 Bones Brewery & 12 Bones Smokehouse
Tagline: “Tender Butts & Sweet Racks”
Website: https://www.12bones.com/
Address: 2350 Hendersonville Rd, Arden, NC 28704
Take a look at the VERY cool building that now houses the latest 12 Bones Smokehouse location, as well as a new concept for owners Bryan and Angela King, 12 Bones Brewery.
Looking at the front of the building, the Brewery is on the left and the Smokehouse is to the right. Don’t panic, you’ll be able to get a beer with your food and vice versa. Seating areas include a long narrow space between the two concepts, in the Taproom, and outside on a narrow patio behind the building. If you’re lucky, you’ll get a close up – very close up – look at slow-moving trains as they go by the patio out back. It doesn’t happen too often, but does happen. I love trains, so I’d be good with that.
Not sure how the pad outside the double doors will be used. Possibly another small patio so you can eat, sip, and watch the traffic go by?
There’s plenty of parking in lots at either end of the building, so no worries there.
As far as tank rooms go, this one’s a pip. On the other side of a wall to the right – out of camera view – is the Taproom with bar service. I’m holding back images of the bar so it’ll be a surprise.
Brew Master, Scott Hettig, comes to 12 Bones Brewery from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, via a one year stint doing “production brewing” in Greenville, Mississippi. The return to “brew pub” brewing brought Scott back to the creative side he missed: collaborations with a restaurant, beer dinners, and beer pairings. As soon as he and his wife arrived in Asheville, they fell in love. Mountains, four seasons, and all. Sounds familiar, right?
Scott explained that the goal is to have the brewery up and running at the same time the Smokehouse opens, but it’s looking unlikely as of this writing due to various issues and delays. He also mentioned that as of now, the Taproom will have different (longer) hours than the Smokehouse.
So back to the double door entry. Right inside the door is where you’ll be ordering your Smokehouse fare. I do love their BBQ, so I’m pretty darned happy about this. Watch for your order to be placed by fast moving hands and arms flinging the paper it’s written on along a wire to the kitchen.
Speaking of the kitchen, the 12 Bones South location on Sweeten Creek Rd will be closing permanently on Saturday, January 5th. The upcoming widening of Sweeten Creek Rd played a part in this decision.
Almost the second it closes, all kitchen equipment will be moved to this new location, including the condiment station in an upright piano. Same menu and same employees, too.
Another piece of information of note is that the buildout includes a good-sized private event room with a small bar, access to the rear patio, brewery, and smokehouse.
On a design note, I was happy to learn that what looks like reclaimed wood is actually reclaimed wood.
As soon as they’re up and running, I’ll be popping in for some biscuits, beer, and BBQ.
