S & W Cafeteria, Art Deco restaurant in Downtown Asheville, United States.
S & W Cafeteria is a three-story structure with grey ashlar walls located in downtown Asheville, featuring distinctive Art Deco design elements on its facade. The building displays polychrome decorations and now houses multiple food vendors with indoor and outdoor seating areas.
Architect Douglas Ellington designed this brick building in 1929 as a cafeteria serving the downtown community. The original use changed in 1974 when operations relocated to Asheville Mall, leading to the building's transformation into a mixed-use food marketplace.
Multiple food vendors operate inside, including Highland Brewing, Buxton Chicken Palace, and Thai street food, showing how the space reflects Asheville's evolving food culture. The mix of local and international cuisines shows visitors how this building has become a gathering place for different eating traditions.
The building is easy to reach on foot in downtown Asheville with plentiful seating both indoors and outdoors for visitors. Be aware that individual food vendors operate on different schedules, so checking ahead helps ensure your preferred option is open when you visit.
The building earned a spot on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977 within the Downtown Asheville Historic District. This recognition reflects how its Art Deco design represents an important chapter in the city's architectural identity.
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