BAD Craft says goodbye to Cherry Street
Owner announces beer, art and dessert shop to close
Randy Giles
Guest opinion
The Valley Echo
April 17, 2023
Randy Giles, who opened BAD Craft in 2018, announces the beer, art and dessert shop on Cherry Street will close its downtown location in June. Photo by Fred McCormick
It is with hearts full of gratitude, we’re announcing the closing of BAD Craft in its current form.
When the idea for BAD Craft was born, it was all about creating a space to celebrate the craft and creativity found in Western N.C. and to be a part of the unique community in these mountains. We didn’t know then that Black Mountain would be the place where that idea would find a home where we could build our own little piece of that community.
To say we’re fortunate to have ended up here would be a massive understatement. Truly, being a part of this town is more than we ever could have hoped for, and we’re more grateful than we could ever express.
It’s strange to call the friends we've made over the last 5 years “customers” because our goal has never been to sell anything, but rather to share the work of these talented creators with the people. Whether that work was painted on canvas, sculpted in clay, poured in a glass, or baked with love, we’ve always considered ourselves lucky to be able to share it with you. We’re honored to have been a part of each of your lives in some way and look forward to continuing to build the relationships we’ve made as BAD Craft refocuses towards a newer vision. We’ve shared countless moments, had some ridiculous conversations, laughed more than we could imagine, celebrated together, grieved together, learned about each other and the world around us, and shared what it means to be a part of a community.
To the artists, artisans, crafters and creators, it's been an honor to share your work and passion with everyone who’s come through our door, and we thank you for allowing us to do so. Sharing your creativity with the community was the original inspiration for BAD Craft and we’re truly lucky to have been a part of that. To our fellow business owners we appreciate the culture you've all created in this town. Part of what makes Black Mountain so special is that each of you has put in so much time, effort, sweat and tears to create your own one-of-a-kind space that helps make this place truly unique and extraordinary. We’ve been lucky enough to get to know some of you well, learn from you, share our struggles, collaborate with each other and build something together.
There are too many to mention but we’d like to thank Vicki & Amber at Goldfinch; you've been our neighbors and friends since the beginning but you're really more like our sisters and we completely adore the little oasis you've created in the middle of our town. To Mellie Mac, even though our shared project, The Lowdown, was short lived, we’re honored to have shared that space with you and have lasting memories of magical summer nights with our friends in the garden.
One group of people truly taught us more than any other what it means to be a part of the community, and that’s the kids who have come in over the years. From the younger ones who know BAD Craft as the place where they can grab a piece of chalk and draw on the floor or get their hands covered in melty chocolate from a warm gooey cookie, to the older ones who know it’s a safe space where they can hang after school or find that first piece of art to hang on their wall, these are some of the moments we never fully anticipated, but will cherish forever. And of course there's one awesome kid to thank in particular, my son Leo. He was 3 months old when the idea for BAD Craft first came into existence, 3 years old when we opened our doors, and is now finishing third grade and was the reason I sought to not just be a resident of WNC but rather to truly be a member of this special community in these mountains. Without him none of this ever would have happened.
I obviously owe a debt of gratitude to the BAD Craft crew, especially Kelly Ann. She has been the backbone of the operation almost since the beginning and has made it all much more fun along the way. Kristen and Dan have been integral the last couple years and have contributed in too many ways to count and I honestly can’t thank them enough. And everyone else who’s pitched in, I truly appreciate you.
BAD Craft Events, a mobile bartending service founded last year by Randy Giles, will continue its services after the shop on Cherry Street closes in June. For more information, visit badcraftevents.com Photo courtesy of BAD Craft
The good news is we won’t be disappearing, just sharing these experiences with you in a different way. Last year we launched BAD Craft Events, a mobile bartending service complete with its own bar trailer and friendly familiar faces to help serve you. As BAD Craft Events we are excited to be a part of your next gathering. Whether it’s a wedding, milestone birthday, backyard party, or any other reason to celebrate with friends and loved ones, we look forward to bringing our team to help share the moments that matter in your lives. We’ve hosted all types of events at BAD Craft: poetry nights, pint nights, dessert pairings, holiday parties, birthdays, charity fundraisers, and many other good times, but now we’re thrilled to come join your special occasion and share the joy with you in new ways.
Before we close the shop we hope you’ll stop in and see us. Maybe hang out for a beer and reminisce a bit while you treat yourself to something sweet from Four Sisters bakery or go home with that special piece of art you’ve been eyeing. We’re going to miss sharing those moments with you more than you know.
This is not goodbye, just see you around soon. We’re beyond honored to have shared so much with each of you over the last five years, and look forward to experiencing those special moments and big events with you in the future.
Randy Giles is the founder of BAD Craft, which opened in downtown Black Mountain in 2018. The store will close its doors on Saturday, June 3. BAD Craft will host a “See You Later” event at 5 p.m., Friday, June 2.