The project started out in a very modest way. With his project, Gay Barchives, Art Smith has trained his focus on the community aspect these bars were able to provide. While some LGBTQ people have faced challenges with substance abuse and alcoholism – rates of substance abuse are typically significantly higher for LGBTQ people than non-LGBTQ people – for others, bars have often served as one of the only safe spaces to meet other LGBTQ people. Historically, LGBTQ bars have proven to be somewhat of a double edge sword for LGBTQ people. Randy Fair, who wrote this article, is the author of Southern. Other guests also representing business in Asheville in the ’80s will be present.Note: Dr. Panelists: Bob Carr of Tops for Shoes, Paula Dawkins of Jewels that Dance, Pete Apostolopoulos of the Mediterranean, Kathryn Long of Ambiance Interiors, Mark Rosenstein former owner of the Market Place Restaurant, and Attorney Eugene Ellison owner of the Ritz Building on The Block and former Asheville Vice Mayor. Moderator: Rob Pulleyn founder of Lark Books publishing house. The program is sponsored by the Friends of the North Carolina Room.
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All events are free and open to the public.
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The second program of the series is Wednesday May 25, 2016 from 6:00 to 7:30 in the Lord Auditorium, lower level.
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****** The North Carolina Room, Pack Memorial Library presents Asheville in the 1980s: A Formative Decade Told by Those Who Shaped It 2nd Program: Downtown Businesses & Restaurants Can you imagine Asheville being what it is today without these early entrepreneurs? Come hear business leaders discuss the challenges and successes of starting and maintaining small businesses downtown during the 1980s. When he was able to report the bond proposal was rejected, he took this photo from inside his restaurant. David Brown stood above the crowd and hollered out the vote counts as they came in. mall complex that would have demolished 11 acres of downtown buildings, went to Gatsby’s to wait for the vote count to come in on the $40 million redevelopment bond needed to finance the project. Participants in the Wrap recall going to Gatsby’s afterward and “drinking lots of beer.” On Novemproponents of “Save Downtown Asheville” who were against the Strouse, Greenberg & Co.
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Brown opened Gatsby’s Bar and Restaurant in 1978 at 13 West Walnut Street, current location of Scully’s Bar and Grill. They are celebrating their 34th year.ĭavid L. They moved down the street in 1997 to their current location at 55 Haywood Street after that buildings’ renovation. Just 14 years later, with Malaprop’s securely anchored in the community, the store was among the top 13 independent bookstores in the country. Postcard of entrance to Malaprop’s Bookstore & Cafe, at 61 Haywood Street. Celebrating its 40th year in business in 2016, it is the longest running gay bar in North Carolina. Henry’s moved to a free standing building, which they were able to buy, at 237 Haywood. In 1988 the business went private in order to sell mixed drinks and the restaurant was phased out.
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Henry’s, as were residents of the Vanderbilt and Battery Park apartments. College students were regular customers at O. O.Henry’s and Gatsby’s Bar and Restaurant were the (only?) places to hear live music unless you drove to McDibb’s in Black Mountain. Female mannequins in long silk dresses stood on the second floor balcony, along with large plants, antique lights and Greek statuary. They quickly gained a reputation as being gay friendly. They used to have a line out the door at lunch time.
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O.Henry’s Restaurant opened at 59 Haywood Street on Octoby original owners Jay Bentley and his partner Tony DeRose. It began as a sandwich restaurant and served beer and wine. Lower rents and sagging property values lured entrepreneurial/creative small businesses and restaurants to join long-standing small businesses to make downtown the vibrant and viable place we now see around us. Interesting things were going on in downtown Asheville in the late ’70s and throughout the ’80s.