Downtown Asheville bar closes, owner cites pandemic and shifting drinking habits

A late-night social hub known for its drag brunches, karaoke nights, dance parties, and other themed and LGBTQ-friendly events has closed downtown.

In September 2019, bar and restaurant entrepreneur Charlie Hodge opened Asheville Beauty Academy at 28 Broadway St. downtown. The last event at the bar was on April 27, but Hodge officially announced the closure to the public on May 8.

As a business that benefited from downtown tourism foot traffic, Hodge said although the bar garnered more guests in the increased weekend traffic, weekday traffic had dramatically decreased. Hodge said upon seeing the decline over the holidays, the venue closed for the remainder of the slower winter season in January and February. When the bar reopened for March and April, the hours of operations were limited and eliminated weekdays. One or two special weekend events were hosted on Fridays and Saturdays.

Hodge said other factors may have affected the business, such as people being tighter with budgets. He added that since the pandemic, more people prefer to drink at home in an intimate setting as opposed to bars, and others have curbed or stopped drinking alcohol.

Hodge said that the Asheville Beauty Academy staff was told of the possibility of the business’s closure.

“We’d been talking about things since the end of the year and questioning what we could do ― if we were going to be able to maintain the business,” Hodge said.

Hodge said roles vacated by staff members who left for new jobs were not refilled. Four part-time employees worked one or two shifts a week at the time of the business’s closure. Shift positions include two bartenders, a door supervisor, and a manager.

Hodge said the remaining employees now work at his other establishments, Sovereign Remedies ― a cocktail bar and restaurant at 29 North Market ― and The Getaway River Bar ― a tiki-inspired dive bar off the French Broad River at 790 Riverside Dr.

Hodge said his lease with local landlords ends in 2029, and he seeks someone to take over the lease agreement. The commercial site features two levels that include a small stage, classic bars on each floor, a kitchen, and historical accents in its architecture.

Earlier this year, Hodge closed another one of his businesses, Sovereign Remedies Exchange ― a café and bar at 2645 New Leicester Highway in Leicester that opened in March 2023. Hodge told the Citizen Times that he couldn’t commit the time and energy necessary to manage the family-friendly neighborhood hangout.

Hodge said he is focusing his energy on his other businesses, which will remain operational. The Getaway River Bar has local regulars that keep the business afloat, but Hodge said while traffic and sales were up in 2022 and 2023, it came with its hardships.

He said Sovereign Remedies, one block away from Asheville Beauty Academy, is beginning to see an uptick in weekend traffic due to better weather and the start of tourism season. Late-night vibe sessions featuring live and deejayed music are intended to be introduced by late summer at Sovereign Remedies. Getaway River Bar will carry on hosting themed events, like the Halfway to Halloween party on June 1.