Asheville has always had a funny way of changing faster than folks expect. One minute everybody is excited about the next big thing, and the next minute we’re scratching our heads wondering what happened.
Years ago, somewhere between the decline of the Asheville Mall food court and the rise of downtown Asheville as a dining destination, there was Restaurant Ct.
And for a while, it was the talk of the town.
LongHorn Steakhouse and Cheeseburger in Paradise kicked things off. There were grand plans, radio commercials, TV hype, and visions of a whole district full of restaurants. Folks packed the place out. Cars filled the parking lots. Everybody talked about the future.
Plus, let’s be honest, having the ABC Store right there on the corner wasn’t exactly hurting things. Dinner and a bottle to-go? Somebody understood the assignment.
But psychology is funny.
People don’t always go where the best location is. They go where the energy is.
Cheeseburger in Paradise sailed away years ago, and today the Land of the Sky Association of Realtors occupies part of the area. LongHorn Steakhouse remains standing, although some folks joke it’s become “Lone-Horn” these days.
And now apartments are popping up next door.
Maybe they’re planning an “Apartments Ct.” extension.
Honestly, the sign says Restaurant Ct.—singular. Not Restaurants Ct. So technically, I guess we’re still on track.
Haha.
But with Tunnel Road slowly coming back to life after years of setbacks, there’s an interesting question hanging in the air.
Could Restaurant Ct finally become what it was originally intended to be?
Could new restaurants, entertainment, and residential growth create a second life for the area?
Or will more apartments simply fill in the blanks and complete its transformation into something entirely different?
Because cities are a lot like people.
Sometimes dreams die.
Sometimes they evolve.
And every once in a while, the places everybody forgot about surprise us all.
What do you remember about Restaurant Ct.? Were you one of the folks who packed out Cheeseburger in Paradise? Do you think this corner of Tunnel Road still has a future as a restaurant destination, or has that ship already sailed?
