ASHEVILLE - Night owls have a new place to flock in West Asheville.
On Aug. 1, Haywood Famous, a Cuban coffee shop, is opening at 508 Haywood Road with exclusively afternoon and evening operational hours.
Owner/barista Eva Rodriguez-Cué, a first-generation Cuban American who grew up in Eastern North Carolina, said her family inspired the concept.
She said she’s dreamed of opening a café since she was 15. She envisioned a safe, social place that fosters a community where she could put her natural hospitality talents and love for Cuban coffee to work.
“I wanted to see a change in the way we gather, especially at night,” Rodriguez-Cué said. “I wanted to see a place that is accepting, and you can come in the way you are.”
Rodriguez-Cué has worked as a barista gaining knowledge, skills, experience and business operations insight from local coffee shops including Flora, Bridge & Tunnel Coffee Co. and Grind.
“I kept ending up in these places once I decided to follow the path of starting this shop in Asheville,” she said. “Everything started following into place.”
Rodriguez-Cué said Asheville coffee professionals and the community have greatly contributed supplies and equipment and assisted with the revamp and opening of Haywood Famous.
Local tattoo artist Ash Grey offered to paint the mural on the back wall of the café, which illustrates a woman with a cup of coffee in the style of vintage Cuban advertisem*nts.
Rodriguez-Cué led the renovations of the former clothing boutique, including installing counters, a food display case, a vintage-style pink refrigerator and furniture.
“People want to see this happen,” she said. “It’s for the people ― for the community.”
Open late
Haywood Famous’ name was inspired by an inside joke between Rodriguez-Cué and her friends who’d become known for hanging out and working in West Asheville making them “Haywood famous.”
Rodriguez-Cué said her connection to the neighborhood took root when visiting a family member before she became a resident five years ago.
Haywood Famous's tagline promotes “Cuban coffee. Sober nightlife.”
During the soft opening in August, Haywood Famous will be open from 5-10:30 p.m. on select days.
The regular hours will be 3:30-10:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday and from 5 p.m. to Midnight Thursday-Sunday beginning in September.
The unconventional afternoon and late-night service were determined in consideration of teenagers and college students looking for a place to do homework and hang out after school. She said there’s a growing demand for social spots not centered around alcohol for the sober community and others who choose not to imbibe.
“So many people are like, ‘Dude, why do we have to go to the bar and order the two mocktails on the bottom of the menu? What if we had a place that didn’t have any alcohol ever and was open at night?’” she said.
Although the café will offer Wi-Fi and serve as a workplace for some, she said guests are encouraged to disconnect and converse.
Organized social events will be announced, like live music and workshops where attendees can learn basic life skills like sewing, carpentry and mechanics.
Cuban coffee and more
Featured dark roast Cuban coffee drink styles include Cubano, cortadito, con de leche and colada ― a sharable coffee drink with about four espresso shots.
The Cubano is made with a double shot of espresso with brown sugar ― or customers may add salt, which she said is popular with residents living in Cuba’s mountain regions.
Cortadito, or cortado, is made with steamed milk, a double espresso shot and brown sugar.
Cuban coffee beans are sourced and supplied by the local roastery, Coffee Library.
Other coffee roasts and various drink styles are on the menu, including a drip coffee using beans from the local Cooperative Coffee roastery. Decaf coffee is from Deep Time, a local roastery that employs people impacted by incarceration.
The café will feature traditional Cuban pastries and bread with cakes by local bakery caterer, Brown Sugar Boulangerie.
Haywood Famous
Where: 508 Haywood Road, Asheville.
Opening: Aug. 1.
Soft opening hours: 5-10:30 p.m. on select days in August.
Regular hours: 3:30-10:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday.
5 p.m. to Midnight Thursday-Sunday.
Info: Free customer parking is available directly behind the café, accessible by the driveway between Haywood Famous’s door and the neighboring mechanic shop. For more, visit haywoodfamous.com and follow on Facebook and @haywoodfamous on Instagram.
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Tiana Kennell is the food and dining reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Email her at tkennell@citizentimes.com or follow her on Instagram @PrincessOfPage. Please support this type of journalism with asubscription to the Citizen Times.
