Welcome to Steak & Wine!

The S&W's History.

The building’s story begins with Frank O. Sherrill and Fred R. Webber, two Western North Carolina natives and former World War I mess sergeants. Sherrill and Webber were the founders of the S&W Cafeteria chain, which was the first cafeteria-style food in North Carolina. Sherrill and Webber got their start by running the restaurant in Ivey’s Department Store in Charlotte. They conceived the idea of going into the cafeteria business, so they left Ivey’s Department Store and began working in cafeterias in Florida and California. They named their chain of restaurants S & W, and were very successful from the beginning.

Webber sold his interest in the chain after a few years and started operating a successful cafeteria in Nashville, Tennessee. Sherrill maintained flourishing S & W sites in Charlotte, Asheville and Raleigh. He also enjoyed success in Tennessee with locations in Knoxville and Chattanooga. S & W also maintained a presence in Roanoke, Virginia., Washington, D.C., and Atlanta, Georgia.

Asheville’s first S&W Cafeteria was originally located across the street from the Asheville Opera House. In 1929, the restaurant moved to into the S&W Building, finished during a surge of private development that took hold of Asheville in the 1920’s. The S&W showcases architect Douglas Ellington’s style of combining early Italian Renaissance forms with Art Deco detailing. Ellington also designed First Baptist Church, Asheville’s City Building and Asheville High School.

S&W Cafeteria operated from 1929-1940, until it changed it's name to Dales's Cafeteria, then back to S&W Cafeteria in 1945. Since its opening, thousands have eaten at the restaurant, which was referred to as “wholesome food at moderate prices”. Most items were priced between 5 and 10 cents. Three serving lines offered typical cafeteria fare to five million per year.

The S&W closed its downtown doors in 1974 when it moved to the Asheville Mall location. The building remained vacant for ten years until 1984. The Walter Ploeger family from New York bought the building and spent the next eight years trying to find ways to energize the building. Not until Steve Moberg purchased and renovated the building in 2007 has the S & W finally found new success.

The S&W Steak and Wine and the adjacent Sadie's are here to shine new light on this remarkable Art Deco landmark. We are offering an upscale steakhouse, a relaxed café, and residential condos. We are looking forward to serving this community for many years to come, and keeping the doors open to this amazing building for everyone’s enjoyment.

The elegant appeal of an Asheville landmark, restored to its past glory for your unique dining experience...