Alcohol-free bars offer alternative entertainment in Asheville

There’s a lot more to Asheville’s social scene than just Beer City.

Alcohol-free social spaces have been a part of Asheville for years, and more are on the way.

The interest is far more than a passing trend, according to the entrepreneurs, who are offering mindless spaces to the growing community. Each day offers another opportunity to introduce guests to a different way of eating, drinking and playing.

Tom Scheve, general manager of Sovereign Kava, has seen an increase in patrons this month which he attributes to Dry January, a challenge that is encouraging individuals to abstain from alcohol throughout the month. However, the bar remains busy with guests looking for alternatives to a traditional bar that serves alcohol without sacrificing the community experience.

“Oddly enough, this place is a lot more social than an alcohol bar,” Scheve said. “I never would have believed that something like this was possible. If you’d told me, “We’re going to a non-alcoholic bar,” that sounds awful to me, and I don’t even drink alcohol. But this place is extremely social, especially pre-pandemic.”

Nearly 10 years ago, Sovereign Kava opened as a bar specializing in mixed drinks containing the herbal ingredient kava, which is derived from the root of a pepper plant grown in the Pacific Islands, he said.

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“Compared to 10 years ago when this place started, it’s been a real struggle to explain to people what kava is and to build that foundation,” said Scheve. “And now so many people around town have experienced it and told other people about it and colleagues, so a lot of the heavy work has been done on that end.”

This winter, Taylon Breeden is preparing to open a CBD cafe called The Pot Stirred. Her goal is to normalize plant medicine while providing an alcohol-free space for the community, she said.

The café’s menu includes drinks and snacks with CBD, Delta 8 or mushrooms. While the products are better known than kava, they’re part of an industry that continues to battle legal restrictions and stigma. Still, CBD-centric cafes are here to stay, she said.

“I 100% think we’re going to see them popping up everywhere, especially as we get closer to federal legalization,” Breeden said. “I think everyone is trying to mark their territory and adjust to when cannabis is legal. I think you’ll start seeing it a lot.”

Open to all

In 2010, Breeden was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease and began using CBD oil as a remedy to relieve stomach pain. This led to a decade-long advocacy for hemp legalization and federal legalization of cannabis, and her founding of Simply Extract, a hemp processing laboratory, in 2018.

Now, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Breeden is motivated to open The Pot Stirred.

The Pot Stirred, 57 Haywood St., will share space with Carolina Hemp Company and Breeden’s other company, Simply Extract.

“This movement is coming very hard, and a lot of it is happening during COVID as well, where people are taking back control of their health and relying more on plant medicines and mushrooms in particular,” she said.

The Pot Stirred is expected to have a soft opening in early February. A grand opening celebration will be held on February 26 with free giveaways of CBD donuts made in partnership with donut shop Stay Glazed.

The Pot Stirred offers educational opportunities. A window in the café will provide a peek into Simply Extract’s lab to observe the hemp extraction process and fungal growth, she said.

“You can look through the window and watch as I extract hemp that goes into all the drinks and infused baked goods,” she said.

The extraction laboratory offers courses for guests of all ages to learn about plant medicine.

“Cannabis and hemp are stigmatized and people think they’re the same thing,” Breeden said. “Hemp doesn’t get you high, but it’s a part of the cannabis plant, just like the THC cannabis flower. But actually, when I see this plant in person and watch it being transformed into a medicinal product, I feel like it takes away some of the creepiness. We want people to see it in person and see that it’s a plant like anything else and it won’t do any harm to society here.”

Socially, The Pot Stirred will serve as a safe space for social interactions, particularly for those who, for health or other reasons, prefer or cannot drink alcohol.

“I have a hard time going places with a lot of my friends because I can’t drink,” Breeden said. “My stomach will be torn up if I do it. And there’s so much pressure to drink with your friends, and everyone drinks. This is a nice place to meet up with friends.”

Pot Stirred and Sovereign Kava are aimed at adults but are open to all ages.

For entertainment, The Pot Stirred will host poetry and live music nights, giving the cafe the ambience of a bar but with no alcohol, Breeden said.

“We’re trying to create the space that you feel comfortable in when you bring your grandma or your kid,” she said. “We don’t want to feel like this recreational cannabis spot. We’re trying to show people that we can consume plant medicine in a healthy way.”

Sovereign Kava is recommended for ages 18+, which is the recommended age range for consumption. However, it is acceptable for a parent to bring their child, Scheve said.

The venue opens daily at 12pm and transforms into more of a bar environment in the later hours. Live music, open mic evenings with poetry and table tennis tournaments are on the calendar of events every week.

“It’s a place where you can come here without knowing anyone and if you go you might have met some really good friends,” Scheve said.

Special portions

Over the years, Breeden and Scheve have found a developing population of people who want a high without the negative effects of alcohol.

“There’s a growing market for that. As each population ages, it will go through different stages in its life,” said Scheve. “Going out and drinking alcohol several nights a week is not necessarily conducive to long-term happiness and well-being. This place offers an alternative that doesn’t lack the social aspect.”

Pot Stirred’s regular menu includes herbal and CBD teas and homemade plant-based milk, as well as pistachio whipped cream and vegan options. There will also be freshly baked gourmet CBD and Delta 8 donuts. Coffee and mushrooms are sourced locally, with some mushrooms grown in-house.

“There (are) so many amazing benefits of different types of mushrooms for both your mental health — we’re all struggling with our mental health through the pandemic — and your immune system,” Breeden said. “The advantage of this cafe is that you feel good when you leave and you still feel good in the morning.”

For those hesitant to try CBD, there will be non-CBD and CBD menu options, she said. Some products are also made sweeter to mask the flavor of the CBD. Breeden invites the public to visit to learn more about the benefits and experience the menu for themselves.

“CBD doesn’t get you high,” she said. “We have many herbal tonics that are good for your health, your health that you will not feel affected in any way.

First-time guests at Sovereign Kava are advised to let a bartender know that this is their first kava experience so they can advise what and how much to order.

Additional alternatives

In 2015, Breeden found that more people were hesitant to talk about CBD in Asheville than they are now, she said.

“Now everyone is ready to jump on this bandwagon as soon as we can get something through the legislature,” she said.

The Pot Stirred and Sovereign Kava are among other local businesses that are completely alcohol-free, some have been in operation for years and others plan to open soon.

Café Canna is a popular live non-alcoholic music hub that serves food alongside kratom and kava drinks in West Asheville.

This year, Sovereign Kava will open a second location in Hendersonville.

In February, Elevated Kava Lounge, another local and independent venture, is slated to open in West Asheville.

In May, renovations will begin on an all-organic and vegetarian CBD cafe in downtown Marshall.

Local area restaurants and bars that serve alcohol are expanding their mocktail menus. The Asheville Mocktail Trail was created to encourage guests to explore the city and the non-alcoholic offerings at local bars and restaurants in January.

“It’s a good way to socialize, put your mind to it and not ruin your life,” Scheve said.

Tiana Kennell is the food and dining reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Email her at tkennell@citizentimes.com or follow her on Twitter/Instagram @PrincessOfPage.

source https://www.bisayanews.com/2022/01/21/alcohol-free-bars-offer-alternative-entertainment-in-asheville/