The RailYard pulls into Black Mountain
New venue delivers community, connection and collaboration to downtown
Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
March 22, 2023
The crew behind The RailYard, a 1.3-acre venue in downtown Black Mountain, is preparing to host a grand opening on April 15. The event, which will feature live music and unveil the highly anticipated indoor-outdoor bar, restaurant and community gathering space. Pictured from left to right: Shawn Stephenson, Patrick Riley, John Richardson, Pete Repak, Tommy Carr and Kelley Crandall. Photo by Fred McCormick
Like nearly everyone, veteran Black Mountain business owner John Richardson had no idea what to expect in 2020, as the world began changing in ways few had ever imagined. He was, however, certain about something.
“I knew, as a result of COVID, the future of food service, restaurants and community building was going to look a lot different,” said Richardson, who founded Black Mountain Pizza & Ale House in 2011 and Black Mountain Brewing in 2018. “People were going to want to be together, and meet up for food, drinks or an event, but they were going to want to be outside in the open air.”
That simple idea inspired the vision behind The RailYard Black Mountain, an expansive indoor-outdoor venue that will celebrate its eagerly anticipated grand opening on Richardson Avenue, from 12 p.m. - 10 p.m., Saturday, April 15. The event will feature a live outdoor musical performance by the American roots band, LazyBirds.
Situated across from the railroad tracks, the 7,000-square-foot building contains a 70-foot bar, serving craft beverages and cocktails; a community space to accommodate events and SmashBalls, a new restaurant specializing in smashed griddled burgers. Just outside of five large bay doors is an open courtyard surrounded by shipping containers that will eventually be home to food trucks, local artisans and vendors.
RailYard Black Mountain, an indoor-outdoor venue on Richardson Avenue, is holding an extended soft opening until its Saturday, April 15 grand opening celebration. Photo courtesy of Lindsay Higgins Photography
The RailYard is currently holding an extended soft opening period that offers locals a sneak peek, from 12 p.m. - 10 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday. The business, which plans to add a 20-by-40-foot outdoor stage in the coming weeks, centers around a concept unlike any other in town, according to Richardson.
“It’s an incubator for building community,” he said. “We’re being intentional about what the future of our community is going to look like, and a major part of that is service, diversity and social interaction.”
Cultivating a welcoming environment has been at the forefront of Richardson’s endeavors since he founded his first restaurant on Cherry Street over a decade ago. The son of a Presbyterian minister who grew up spending summers in Montreat was called to pursue another passion in 2019, when he established the nonprofit PubCorps. The organization, which taps the local pub community to meet regularly and package meals for area residents struggling with food insecurity, will be headquartered at the RailYard.
“It’s as much about raising awareness about food insecurity as it is about providing the meals we produce,” Richardson said. “We’ll use this as the campus for our signature event, which is the PubCorps Sunday Brunch.”
Volunteers receive a free beverage and are encouraged to socialize after meals are packed. The events allow a wide range of locals to connect around a good cause, according to the founder.
The 7,000-square-foot building at The RailYard features a bar that spans 70 feet and a new restaurant, SmashBalls. The venue will celebrate its grand opening, April 15. Photo courtesy of Lindsay Higgins Photography
“Packing the meals is the action, but the conversations after that are really where the magic happens,” he said.
One of many features at the RailYard is a 1,200-square-foot community space along Richardson Avenue, which will accommodate local groups, ranging from civic organizations to yoga classes.
“We’ll also be hosting music regularly,” Richardson said. “We’re looking at about four nights a week, and we even have the Big Deal Band playing here this weekend. We’re also looking to get some music going on Sundays.”
SmashBurgers will offer a regular in-house dining option, with appetizers like smoked deviled eggs, salads, a vegetarian sandwich and its signature burgers, according to general manager Pete Repak.
The menu boasts options that include the Comfortably Southern burger, with fresh beef, pimento cheese, bacon and a fried green tomato, and Chicken Nutz, walnut-sized fritters stuffed with pimento cheese, served with honey mustard barbecue sauce.
The offerings complement a comfortable setting that appeals to regulars and first-time visitors.
“We really want to be the center of the community,” Repak said. “Since we’ve opened, the energy here has been great. This past Saturday we had families and their dogs out here, and everyone was enjoying the outdoor space. It was great to see so many people out here having a good time.”
The general manager, who will supervise 21 employees at the venue, is energized by Richardson’s commitment to the community.
“We want to do things differently at the RailYard,” Repak said. “The restaurant industry has had its ups and downs, and has been generally jaded, so we’re trying to break that mold here by placing the employees first. If we can take care of our employees with more than a living wage and benefits, it will show when they have contact with our guests.”
RailYard general manager Pete Repak prepares for the debut of SmashBalls, which offers a variety of dining options ranging from smoked deviled eggs to smashed griddle burgers. Photo by Fred McCormick
Supporting the staff is among the top priorities for the new venture, according to Richardson.
“We want to pay our people a middle class wage, and make sure they have a real quality of life,” he said. “We view that as a way to reward folks who are investing their lives in service.”
The customer experience represents another central focus of the RailYard, he added.
“What are people looking for? They’re looking for great food, great beer, great music and a place to gather,” Richardson said. “If you give them a place to come together, and love their neighbor in a very real way, that shared experience makes the community a stronger place.”
He credits a team of local investors and dedicated employees for their commitment to the project.
“I couldn’t have done this by myself,” Richardson said. “We needed people that shared a vision of the future here, and my role was just to help make that happen. The group who supported this endeavor is filled with people who believe in Black Mountain, and we’re bonded by that shared faith in this community.”
The team was steadfast in its support of the project, which was delayed due to rising costs and supply chain issues, according to the founder.
“The plans evolved over time, but we had to be open and flexible enough to respond to what the community wanted to see,” Richardson said. “Ultimately, even though we’re still working on the finishing touches, we wanted to open up and allow locals an opportunity to come in and see what we’ve been working on for the past two years.
“We’re crawling before we walk, before we can run,” he continued. “It’s truly exciting to start this journey with a dedicated team of people and a community that has been incredibly supportive of what we’re doing here.”