Wednesday, June 4, 2008

S&W Cafeteria, Asheville


S&W Cafeteria, Asheville

The decoration on the former S&W Cafeteria in Asheville, North Carolina is amazing.

S&W Building, AshevilleIt is hard to know where to start. The most obvious features are the large windows at street level. Two of them arched shaped, either side of the front door and a rectangular one further to the left.

And of course there are those fabulous blue tiles on the roof. Just ignore the greenery growing between them.

There are a few design elements that are repeated in other parts of the facade.

Just below the roofline, there are a couple of zig-zag lines in blue, gold and cream punctuated with green dots.

S&W Building, Asheville

A simplified version of this design is repeated in the metal band across the rectangular window.

S&W Building, Asheville

And in the metal beside the arched windows.

S&W Building, Asheville

The blue and cream chrevrons around the windows get better the closer you look.

S&W Building, Asheville

Above the door 'S & W Cafeteria' is displayed in an ornate frame topped with a colourful basket of fruit.

S&W Building, Asheville

The S & W Cafeteria was built in 1929 from designs by Douglas D Ellington. It seems to have been an Asheville institution for almost 5 decades until it closed in 1974.

Since then it had housed various businesses but was empty and for sale when I saw it in 2005.

So I was thrilled the other day to see an article by Mark Barrett from the Asheville Citizen-Times newspaper reporting that the old S&W Cafeteria has been restored and re-opened as S&W Steak and Wine restaurant.

Looks like a win-win and I hope the citizens of Asheville appreciate this art deco gem while they are enjoying their dinner.
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8 comments:

  1. UnknownFebruary 16, 2009 at 3:39 AM

    Just had dinner there on Friday. Great food! It is quite a popular place. The new owners have kept all the beautiful details.
    Here is a link from a site when it was for sale - it has a few interior shots.

    http://www.loopnet.com/Attachments/9/B/A/9BA667E1-0069-4CAD-B53E-1901C5712791.pdf

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  2. David ThompsonFebruary 16, 2009 at 9:41 PM

    Thanks for the update. it is great to know that it is popular. It might encourage others to take a risk on older buildings and make them a success.

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  3. AnonymousSeptember 23, 2009 at 5:36 AM

    The S&W did not just close in 1974. It moved to the asheville mall where it close in the early 80s. The cafe in the mall contined to use the same recipies and some of the same employees as its up town location.

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  4. David ThompsonSeptember 23, 2009 at 7:39 AM

    Thanks for the extra info. It is interesting to know they left this beautiful building and had an extended life in the mall.

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  5. Fine Art DailySeptember 23, 2009 at 11:19 PM

    This was very interesting info. I have linked you to my blog today: http://jeandsanders.blogspot.com

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  6. David ThompsonSeptember 24, 2009 at 7:30 AM

    Thanks Jean. I love your painting of the building.

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  7. MarySeptember 7, 2010 at 11:49 AM

    Thanks for the post. I am headed to Asheville this weekend, and found this information very helpful.

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  8. David ThompsonSeptember 7, 2010 at 12:59 PM

    Thanks Mary. I found Asheville to be delightful. Make sure you check our the City Building, Woolworth Walk and all the other arty shops and crafty places. I hope you enjoy your weekend there.

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