Character Study, a new book-themed cocktail bar, opens in Asheville
ASHEVILLE – Immerse yourself in a good book with a cocktail in hand and enjoy the new bar opening in West Asheville this summer.
Character Study will premiere in late August at 797 Haywood Road, the former location of the Alley Cat Social Club.
The bar concept comes from Chall Gray, Jay Sanders and Lucia Gray, the owners of the Little Jumbo bar in the Montford district, 241 Broadway St.
“Character Study is going to feel pretty unique,” Chall Gray, a longtime West Asheville resident, said in a press release. “I’ve said it’s going to be a bit like finding your way through a psychedelic-themed library into a classic Hollywood hangout. It’s a really interesting space and we had a lot of fun with the design.”
Little Jumbo, named one of the best cocktail bars in the South by Garden & Gun magazine, opened seven years ago.
The expertise of Little Jumbo’s bartenders will also be used in the sister bar, but there you can expect a new, unique line of cocktails.
“We’ve been working on a lot of fun drink ideas to bring to our part of town,” said Chall Gray. “Every day there will be a rotating classic cocktail special for $9, and the menu will feature a number of new drinks that the team has developed and refined.”
Character Study’s literary theme is supported by Bagatelle Books, another West Asheville business, which provides the books sold at the bar.
The list price for books is $8 each and guests can add items to their bar bill if they stay for a drink.
Seating options include carrels – small, semi-private, cubicle-style desks often seen in libraries – where users can chat or play games.
Large, padded semi-circular cabins provide spacious corners for groups.
Character Study is housed in a classic brick building dating back to 1922 and is currently undergoing renovations, including the installation of new windows to allow for natural light.
The character study begins daily at 4:00 p.m.
“A lot of people refer to Little Jumbo as Montford’s living room, and I think we’re going to bring a version of that atmosphere out west,” Gray said.
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Tiana Kennell is the food and dining reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Email her at [email protected] or follow her on Instagram @PrincessOfPage. Please support this type of journalism with a Citizen Times subscription.
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