The 35,000-square-foot building at 37 N. Lexington Ave. in downtown Asheville was recently purchased for $2.6 million by Cleo River, LLC. And the adjoining Lexington Avenue Brewery plans to lease space in the building to expand operations, reports co-owner Steve Wilmans.
The massive, four-story space, situated between The LAB and Tops for Shoes, has been sitting unused for years. Previously it was the home of Daniels Graphics and Daniels Communications. Renovating the building has the potential to further transform that downtown block, which has also recently given rise to new restaurant/bar The Southern.
The immensely-popular LAB plans to use the space to house new fermenting tanks and cold storage, among other operating equipment, says Wilmans.
“Things are going really good,” says Wilmans. “A problem we’ve had is, as big as the LAB building is, we’ve run out of space in a hurry for the brewing equipment.”
Wilmans also reports that the new owners of the neighboring property — who would like to remain anonymous, he says — plan to renovate the building to include retail space and apartments. Cleo River, LLC is registered to Asheville attorney Jason Peltz, according to N.C. Secretary of State filings. No other parties are listed in the company registration.
Although Wilmans says the LAB has no plans to expand its public area at this time, he reveals that “in a couple years time, maybe we would use the space for filling some kegs and possible bottling.”
Wilmans also owns Echo Mountain Recording Studio in downtown Asheville.
Photos by Jake Frankel.
So are there two levels below street level? I’ve been in that building on the Rankin side and it seemed like just a two story.