New Swannanoa gathering spot wants to make your day
Daymakers Slider Bar joins Beacon Village, bringing fresh concept with Approachable menu to the neighborhood
Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
July 6, 2026
Brian and Megan Crow, left, and Richard and Heidi King will open Daymakers Slider Bar in Swannanoa in mid to late July. Photo by Fred McCormick
Sitting down for a delicious meal with family after a busy day at work, or meeting friends for wings and a beer on the weekend to watch the big game, are simple experiences capable of creating lasting memories.
Moments that can make a day, served alongside approachable and thoughtfully crafted food options, will be on the menu in the center of Swannanoa in the coming weeks, when Daymakers Slider Bar opens its doors on Whitson Avenue.
Envisioned by business partners Richard and Heidi King and Brian and Megan Crow, the concept of a go-to gathering spot, in the heart of Beacon Village, promotes sharing, while accommodating a wide range of flavors.
“In Swannanoa, with there being fewer food options, the last thing we would want to do is duplicate any of those,” said Richard, who launched Pure & Proper in Black Mountain with Heidi and Jake and Ali Whitman in late 2022. “Swannanoa has great barbecue and great pizza, but this space has always kind of been known as a ‘vibey’ tap house, so it felt like burgers and sliders in a casual environment would appeal to a lot of people in this community.”
The location, formerly the site of Native Kitchen and previously home of the Terra Nova Beer Co., sits directly across the street from the Beacon Bike Park, which is anticipated to open later this year. Daymakers will be the latest business to join the ongoing revitalization of the downtown Swannanoa district, which has celebrated the opening of a coffee shop, grocery store and hardware store in the past 16 months.
The new restaurant will complement the casual “hometown” atmosphere of the quaint business district, according to Brian, former culinary director of Chestnut and Corner Kitchen.
“It’s going to be casual and approachable, and the food is going to crushable, meaning smaller portions, which lets people try different things,” said the chef, a native of Brevard who graduated from the culinary arts program at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College in 2010. “You can kind of create a tapas-style experience, and we will offer to-go options, which should be great for people heading to the bike park.”
The theme inside Daymakers is an homage to the Swannanoa Valley’s heritage as an outdoor playground, according to Heidi, while the vintage decor is intended to evoke a warm sense of nostalgia.
“We definitely love the outdoors, so we wanted to create a camp vibe,” she said. “We have so many great summer camps in this area, and that’s a part of the inspiration behind what we’re doing. It’s all the things that make your day.”
The full-service restaurant will offer a menu featuring nine regular sliders, with a rotating 10th selection, crafted by the chef. Fresh salads and appetizers, including chicken wings, will also be included.
“There are a million different ways you can go with sliders, whether it’s lamb burger, pork belly banh mi, BLT or black beans, for vegetarians,” Richard said. “For chicken alone, you can go Korean barbecue, southern fried chicken or any number of directions. It will be fun to play around with, and Brian has maybe 50 backup options.”
The versatility of the menu is suited for large parties or individuals and families seeking budget-friendly meals, Megan added.
“If you just want to grab a slider and a side, that’s simple, but if a group of people comes in and wants to try all of them, order a few flights,” she said. “We think there is a little something for everybody.”
Flat screen televisions, live music, a small game room and future plans to introduce an outdoor gathering area will occupy customers while orders are prepared. Thirteen taps, pouring local beers, are arranged behind a 25-foot bar, which will also serve wine.
Another key component of the concept, according to Heidi, is showcasing the hospitality of the Swannanoa Valley.
“We want you to come in and not only feel welcome, but to know we are glad you’re here,” she said. “We want to look for ways to make your day. You should feel better when you leave than you did before you walked in the door.”
Daymakers, which plans to debut in mid to late July, will be open from 11 a.m. - 9 p.m., Wednesday through Monday. The menu, according to Brian, will prioritize consistency and flavor, utilizing as many locally sourced ingredients as possible.
“It’s food you can depend on and trust, so you can know you’re coming in to get a good meal,” he said. “For me, as a chef, pushing flavors, challenging people’s palates and generating feedback that we can play off is something I truly appreciate. We have a great culinary team that is excited to try different things with sliders.”
Nurturing a positive culture for hospitality workers in Swannanoa, as it continues its ongoing recovery from Helene, represents another objective for Daymakers, Richard added.
“The Swannanoa economy has struggled so much since the storm, because, until recently, very few people were making or spending money in the community itself,” he said. “In order to grease the wheels of this economy, we need bartenders, waiters and staff making tips, so then they can go grab a latte, or get a haircut and have that money circulating in the community.”
Joining other entrepreneurs who are investing in the resurgence of Beacon Village marks an opportunity to support those efforts, the Black Mountain native added.
“We just want Swannanoa to have something to be super proud of,” Richard said. “I want people who live here to tell others, ‘you have to come to Swannanoa and go to this restaurant.’ Now, with Short Sleeves Coffee down the street, the bike park coming and other businesses open in Beacon Village, we’re excited to give Swannanoa something to boast about.”