New West Asheville coffee shop, Elder Dragon, awakens the nerd within
ASHEVILLE - This summer, The Nerd Dungeon emerged from the depths of a basement on Patton Avenue to reopen in an above-ground storefront on New Leicester Highway.
The retro video game store’s inventory of geek culture paraphernalia appeals to customers across age demographics, and from those seeking vintage game cartridges and consoles to collectors of trade cards and board games. The store operated with a buy-sell-trade-play model.
“The Nerd Dungeon is a nerd store. Anything and everything you consider nerdy culture ― which is broad in itself — we love to see here,” said Savanah Stone, co-owner of The Nerd Dungeon.
In June, The Nerd Dungeon relocated to Erwin Hills Plaza at 505 New Leicester Highway and is bigger and better as it offers more space for merchandise, gaming tournaments and events.
The dungeon-style shop also expanded to introduce a new dragon-inspired café, The Elder Dragon Coffee Shop.
Stone, the majority owner of Elder Dragon, said owning a coffee shop has been a lifelong dream.
“We love the idea of anything nerdy designed to be enjoyed in (the) community and, for me, one of my favorite places is a coffee shop,” Stone said. “So, it was a dream come true to open up a coffee shop here where people can enjoy their hobbies but also just sit down and chill and enjoy with each other and bring a different aspect of community to our shop.”
Also, Nerd Dungeon and Elder Dragon are “100% an LGBTQ+ queer safe space.”
“We want people to come in and feel welcomed and feel not judged and feel seen. They can be anything they want in here ― fantastical,” Stone said. “People are in all different stages of life, and they need a place to be who they are no matter what.”
The rising of The Nerd Dungeon
In 2021, Cameron Hensley launched Nerd Dungeon, with the assistance of Jacob Smith, as an e-commerce business that appeared at conventions. Last year, the brick-and-mortar store opened with Stone and Will Smith as partners.
The Nerd Dungeon’s move to New Leicester Highway was motivated by the business’s need for more space ― it’s gone from about 1,800 to 4,500 square feet ― and to be in a family-friendly neighborhood.
“We were glad to move out here because we do have kids and teenagers who come in here and play with us and we want to make sure we have a safe place and they weren’t walking out onto the street to someone right outside the door on the sidewalk,” Stone said.
Customers range from older youths to young adults to grandparents with their grandchildren, Stone said.
The Nerd Dungeon’s former home at 770 Patton Ave. required customers to trek downstairs to a “dark and dank” commercial space, inspiring the business’s name.
Eventually, the business will rebrand to The Elder Dragon, Stone said.
In respect to the more fitting name, each of the four business partners has their dragon persona represented in a mural on the lounge’s wall, painted by local artist Sarah Holtkamp.
A collection of another local artist, Sara Bell, is available for retail sale at the shop this month, and other local creatives are invited to inquire about becoming a featured showcase artist.
Branded plushies, figures, anime, clothing, and other themed collectibles are on the shelves and displays.
In the back of the shop, Nerd Dungeon hosts Yu-Gi-Oh! tournaments on Saturdays and Super Smash Bros. tournaments on Sundays of each week, as well as regular Dungeons and Dragons campaigns. And several vintage arcade games are open to play.
Free monthly movie nights and open mic nights and a cosplay gathering are on the calendar, too. Board game nights are in consideration.
A ticketed “Clue”-style murder mystery event themed with Asheville destinations is planned for Halloween weekend.
Tale of the Elder Dragon
Elder Dragon further energizes the West Asheville neighborhood with a menu of coffee and espresso drinks, teas, lemonades and vegan baked goods from Back Porch Baking Co.
“I’ve been hearing from a lot of locals who come in say that things are moving out this way and I’ve heard a bunch of people come in and be like, ‘You are quenching the coffee desert. We have no coffee out here,’” Stone said.
Elder Dragon’s menu offers traditional and signature hot, iced and frozen beverages with specials rotating weekly.
Campfire Mocha Latte has been a popular special, made with marshmallows and dark chocolate and a choice to add “fire” to it with a dash of cayenne pepper.
Cinnamon Toast Latte was offered recently, which was topped with cereal bits.
Stone enjoys coming up with new creations but appreciates a classic hot Americano.
Elder Dragon sources from Methodical coffee roasters in Greenville, South Carolina.
The café uses compostable materials and practices recycling. Most products are locally sourced, and the goal is for the business to be completely local in three years, Stone said.
A lounge area that gives living room vibes is set at the front of the shop with couches, coffee tables, and small two-seater tables and guests can cuddle up on the stuffed, gigantic Pokémon Pocket Monster, Snorlax.
Games in the lounge are free to play, and Wi-Fi is available.
“You can grab any of these board games off the shelf, sit down and play some,” Stone said. “We want this to be a place where people can enjoy their time.”
The Nerd Dungeon and Elder Dragon Coffee Shop
Where: 505 New Leicester Highway, Asheville.
Store Hours: 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Wednesday-Friday and Sunday
10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday
Coffee Shop Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Wednesday-Friday
10 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Info: The store and coffee shop hours will open at 7 a.m. beginning mid-October. View the full menu and event calendar at avlelderdragon.com and follow facebook.com/NerdDungeonAsheville and on Instagram @ @thenerddungeon and @elderdragoncoffee.
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Tiana Kennell is the food and dining reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Email her at [email protected] or follow her on Instagram @PrincessOfPage. Please support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Elder Dragon Coffee Shop opens inside The Nerd Dungeon in Asheville
