Tucked in the heart of Asheville’s South Slope, Banks Ave Bar’s new private venue, The Bottom, brings fresh energy and a fully renovated space to the buzzing nightlife and entertainment district. Since opening in July 2025, this LGBTQIA+-owned venue has quickly become a go-to spot for everything from holiday parties and rehearsal dinners to dance parties, corporate gatherings and unforgettable celebrations of all kinds.
With the opening of this new event space, Banks Ave Bar builds on their 10+ years of people-first culture and commitment to cultivating safe, welcoming community spaces.
Read on for our Q&A with co-owner Benjy Greene…
Tell us about your company culture.
From humble beginnings in the hospitality industry, we as owners know what it’s like to work for a not so great management company/managers. We have always wanted to focus on the employee experience and the desire to provide them all the resources and tools available to them to competently perform their jobs. Having a generally happy work environment for your staff members usually equates to better customer experiences.
What is your company’s relationship with the community?
Banks Ave bar has been in the business community for 10+ years. Offering a safe space to all individuals, we strive to do our best to support the larger community with fundraising, donations and affordable pricing. Hosting multiple reoccurring events, we have been able to reach many people in the community and build great one-on-one relationships with patrons.
What’s been your company’s most innovative idea?
We’ve had a great relationship with our landlords. We recently signed an additional 10-15 year lease, and look forward to providing a clean, safe environment for patrons. With opening one of the most affordable private event spaces in the area, we value paying it forward for many years to come for the community.