i found myself driving on i-26 north today. and that could mean only one thing.. i was headed to weaverville, a small town just about 10-15 minutes from asheville. i had not planned this at all. like i said, i just found myself on the highway, headed north.
i had gotten a tip from a fellow customer when i was at asheville coffee traders the other day. he told me that his all-time favorite cafe/coffeehouse was allgood in weaverville. so, i guess that’s where i was going. it was a nice day for a drive, and just north of asheville, things turn much more mountainy and nature-y. and i’m all for being up in nature. plus, i hadn’t been to weaverville all that much… like, ever. so. exploring a new town felt like a great plan.
what i found when i arrived in weaverville, was a classic, all-american small town. and the fact that it’s autumn made it all the more picturesque. like a norman rockwell painting, capturing the essence of american life on canvas. there were little streets lined with houses with white picket fences. pumpkins on doorsteps. a small main street, buzzing with people and business, but not overcrowded. the school was just a short walk down the street as well. and in the surrounding hills are organic farms and homesteads. everything felt simple, idyllic, and welcoming.
i had heard about weaverville before… that it’s a great place to live outside of expensive asheville. a little town removed from the hustle and bustle, but still so close. a place where nature lovers live a more simplistic and intentional life. i found myself dreaming of having a little cottage here within the first 5 minutes of exploration. but, now it was time to set aside the dream and drink some coffee. i could ponder the beauty of weaverville over a latte…
i parked my car in a parking lot behind main street and walked up to the street. when i rounded the corner, this is what i saw. i mean seriously people, all of my favorite things in one place: wine (and cheese), coffee, and a pub all in a row. move me in now! on top of it all, there were autumn decorations in their outdoor eating areas… soooo cozy.
and then, a deep, melodic sound captivated me. it was as if the sounds was calling me to prayer, to a spiritual moment, to a time of meditation. bells tolling. i looked up, and there were beautiful wind chimes, moving ever so slowly in the breeze, just enough to make that beautiful, mysterious sound.
i peeked in through the open door and saw people sitting everywhere… working, chatting, reading. i love realizing that a place is filled with people living thir life, doing their thing, and doing it in a cafe – a place that just begs you to slow down a bit. it’s like, why sit at an office desk all alone, if you don’t have to? at least that’s my opinion.
stepping into the cafe, it was a little dark, but in the best way. it was cozy and inviting. i breezed past the people sitting at the tables, turning my head up, down, and all around, just taking it all it. it felt earthy. natural. and yet warm, even with soaring ceilings. there was wood and metal everywhere. shades of golden and brown took center stage. i walked directly to the counter toward the back and ordered a hazelnut mocha… another autumn-inspired coffee.
there were a few people in front of me, and the barista/owner, eric, took his time in preparing each coffee drink, so i had time to look around and really feel the vibe. plus, snap some photos, of course. i noticed that there was a lot of local art for sale: jewelry, pottery, paintings. i love that. local business supporting each other. and it is a pretty common thing in the asheville area.
i chatted with eric for a little bit, as he prepared my coffee, and i found out that all good has been open for about 6 months. he and his wife owned a coffee shop/cafe in north georgia, but decided to move up to weaverville about three years ago (i think i remember that correctly). after some time, the opportunity arose, and allgood was born. so, here is yet another family-run business. perhaps my love and i should do something together later on… hehe.
coffee in hand, and totally aware that i need to come back and hang out longer in this place, i looked around once again and felt the warmth and goodness in this place. then i headed outside to sit at the table and watch the weaverville world go by. i ended up taking care of some business on my phone, but it was all still so relaxing giving my coffee and the atmosphere. plus… there was a pumpkin on my table. that made it all the more better.
i’d say it was a successful day of celebrating the autumn season, discovering a new little town that i love, and feeling productive all at the same time. thanks, allgood. i left feeling, well, all good inside.
namaste. /liz.
allgood coffeehouse. 10B south main street . weaverville, nc . 28787 .