39 Biltmore Ave., Asheville, NC/ 828 439-3568

The BYRNE Building, National Historic Register

How many buildings have you visited that were built over 100 years ago with 16" walls a foundation of sandsto9ne, and Heartwood Pile no longer found in any of the old growth forests?

The first renovation likely took place sometime in the 1940's. In the years 1999-2000, 39 Biltmore Ave. underwent a major historical renovation. Gathering information from the NC Historical Preservation Society and prior owners, the new owners, Sandy & Bernie Byrne, set out to bring back the life and charm of this century old edifice. Their first charge was to select carpenters who were not only craftsmen by who were genuinely interested in breathing life back into a faded beauty.

According to the Sanford Fire Insurance Maps and other accounts, 39 Biltmore Ave. was built circa 1885 and is now considered one of the oldest buildings in downtown Asheville. The entire basement, ground floor, and the half of the top floor closest to the street, were apparently, built at the same time. The upstairs has been used as an apartment since the beginning. The first retail tenant is thought to have been Frank 's Wine& Spirits store, followed by a series of barbershops for 55 years running. 1985 brought in Mac's Pastry Shop, then Fish Skin Express, and in 1997an Artist's studio & gallery by the name of Downtown Studios. All interior walls, as well as the plumbing, electrical, heating and cooling elements, windows, aluminum retail facade, and the termite infested floors were removed. The 20 or so layers of paint on some of the walls and floors were sandblasted to reveal original Heartwood Pine floors & original country brick walls.

A completely new front for the store was designed by the owner & fitted in the year 2000. Much care was taken to create a warm facade that would welcome all who entered. A master woodworking shop was summoned to handcraft the new Douglas Fir window trim to the design of the original curved surround. The carpenters methodically set it in place. During demolition we noticed some thick cracking plaster on the back left brick wall. Removal revealed a large arched door that had opened to the (now non-existent)building next door. We removed the old fill-in brick, as well as the plaster & paint on the soldier brick at the top. This archway is now a testament to this ageless centenarian structure.

The back third of the space was covered with 3/4" plywood and a boarded up stairway. We added Douglas Fir accents, pieced in old Heartwood Pine salvaged from the basement, and brought in an expert in old flooring to polish our rich find. Pura Vida added their own elegant accents to finish this novel gift store and gallery.

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