First-Ever Social Justice-Themed Vegan Bar Opening in Asheville, NC

Pictured: chef Ebone’ Graham, bar manager Danielle Hogan, general manager Chad Battles and owner Cam MacQueen

In Asheville, North Carolina, history is about to be made — and honored. THE BLOCK off biltmore (TBob), the first-ever vegan bar and eatery dedicated to social justice and solidarity, opens its doors this week.

Located in one of the oldest African American cultural centers in the U.S. — the YMI (Young Men’s Institute), the bar is all about its mission: to celebrate and honor diversity.

Built in 1893, the YMI was originally a cultural center for young African American men who were constructing the Biltmore — America’s largest home and now a popular tourist attraction. With TBob, owner Cam MacQueen is celebrating the location’s legacy.

“We want to be a multicultural community living room,” she says. “We’ll be doing lots of live music, spoken word, we’ll have ongoing art exhibits and receptions for the artists, documentary screenings, wine tastings. Plus we’ll be highlighting vegan food and busking for bites — basically food by donation.”

The bar will even have a “jazz and justice night.”

“We’ll partner with a local nonprofit and a jazz trio will perform. The nonprofit’s rep will say a few words about the group’s mission and goals and we’ll give them a percentage of that night’s bar take,” says MacQueen.

Local history is represented in everything from the stained glass back bar (sourced from a North Carolina church) to the sycamore railing (sourced from the nearby Biltmore Estate). MacQueen has also insured a commitment to environmental sustainability, and will be applying for B corporation status (a rigorous certification for businesses that benefit society).

As far as the menu, “vegan food artist” Ebone’ Graham is leading the edible efforts. Everything will revolve around a soul food theme. “Initially we’ll start out with pretty standard vegan bar fare, and pretty quickly we’ll get into a hot foods happy hour that starts around 5:30 and goes until the food runs out,” says MacQueen. It’ll include vegan mac and cheese, greens, BBQ tofu twists, and other soul food options. 

So why pair veganism with social justice?

“The vegan part is very much a social justice issue,” MacQueen explains. “It’s a social justice level on many fronts — for the planet, for the animals, for our health, for starving people, for food scarcity,” explains MacQueen. “Resource depletion of every kind, whether it’s water, or climate change, or the rainforest, is directly impacted by animal-based agriculture, and we know that thanks to the UN report that came out in 2008. Animal agriculture causes more greenhouse gas emissions than all vehicles combined.”

The overall concept was inspired by Washington DC’s Busboys and Poets — a chain of bars dedicated to racial and cultural connections and social change. It’s not vegan, however, so the focus on a plant-based lifestyle makes TBob completely unique.

With music, art, poetry, vegan food, and a full bar, TBob’s will create a one-of-a-kind composite of social responsibility and socializing. In MacQueen’s words: “We want to have a lot of fun, too.”

THE BLOCK off biltmore is located at 39 S. Market Street (Corner of Eagle & Market) in Asheville, NC. There’s a soft opening this week, and moving forward, hours will be 4 p.m. to midnight, Tuesday through Friday; 2 p.m. to midnight on Saturday; and 2 to 10 p.m. on Sunday. You can visit TBob’s website or Facebook page for more details. 

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