On your right, look for a three-story brick building faced in smooth gray stone, with Art Deco lines and bright polychrome ornament.
In nineteen twenty-nine, architect Douglas Ellington gave Asheville a cafeteria that looked far grander than an ordinary lunch spot. Here in the downtown historic district, he chose Art Deco - a style that loved bold geometry and rich decoration - and added exotic motifs, little flourishes meant to make everyday life feel elegant. In the app, the image lets you see those many-colored details more clearly. In nineteen seventy-four, the S and W Cafeteria moved out to Asheville Mall, and this landmark began a quieter chapter. Then the National Register of Historic Places recognized it in nineteen seventy-seven, and careful renovations started in twenty nineteen before S and W Market opened here in June of twenty twenty-one as a food hall and event venue. If you want to step inside later, it usually opens from nine in the morning to eight in the evening, staying open until nine on Friday and Saturday. This building reminds Asheville how beauty can cling to ordinary places. When you're ready, continue on and let downtown tell you its next story.
