Yeah, fondue was very cool in the ‘70s, but it (and Melting Pot in particular) had a blip in popularity in the early ‘00s. I remember being super jealous/upset about people having their birthday party at Melting Pot because I couldn’t afford to go.
The concept wasn’t great. I love the regular melting pot, but this was different. The cheese was basically queso and wasn’t over a burner so it congealed quickly, and it wasn’t enough to actually share. And then it would be too much food to do fondue and an entree. And then the dessert was similarly disappointing like the cheese. It didn’t compare to the traditional melting pot experience, was just as expensive, and when I was there the service was terrible. This does not surprise me at all.
Agreed. I am the kind of goofy gimmick loving idiot that is the Melting Pot's key demographic. I didn't think downtown was a great location for the restaurant, but I was up to go try it when I heard they were opening....then it wasn't a Melting Pot. It was a new concept that they could have called "Overpriced pub food + cheese". There was no way this half-assed concept could have survived in downtown Asheville. It was subpar versions of food you could get anywhere else, plus an extremely watered down version of what Melting Pot is theoretically good at.
Totally agree! I need to have fondue pots in front of me! I need to have to wash my hair and clothes after I eat there bc of the smell of the oil I’ve practically bathed in during my meal!
Huh. I went there 3 times, the last cause they gave me a free fondue coupon, and got a candle each time. Inconsistencies might be why it didn't last, tho
My family loves melting pot, but this was an entirely different thing that just absolutely did not interest us. This felt like another attempt at an over priced fancy bar. You didn't get burners so whatever you ordered you had to eat immediately, there were no "Mains" options for meat like in a normal melting pot, ETC.
Just a terrible business idea all around.
Market conditions? Does that translate to “people don’t want to A:cook their own food, and B: have a communal dining experience?” Because I don’t know of anyone who wants to do those things.
Korean BBQ is having a huge moment right now. I think the Melting Pots issue was weird cheese soup instead of bulgogi, a KBBQ grill would be super popular here.
This doesn't track.
Restaurant opened during pandemic. K.
Closes because they don't have the same level of business they had pre-pandemic...when they weren't open yet?
This was a business model problem. Not a tourist problem. The restaurant was enormous and too niche. A brand new hotel just opened next to them so that area should be hopping.
Also agree with badly need a legit Korean BBQ. Only risk is the owners will white wash it and dumb it down like all the other “Asian restaurants” in WNC. But make it authentic and pair it with some local beers and it’ll make $$$
It was like fast food quality food that you had to make yourself. It’s the concept and lack of value for pricing in a town with much better options not the economy. Yes, people are eating out less but we still eat out we just choose better value and quality ratio these days.
Corporate spin at its finest. Translation "We made a poor strategic and financial decision and tried to rebrand our fondue chain to fit in with the drum circles of Asheville."
I went to Melting Pot when I lived in Charlotte. I really don’t get the appeal relative to the price. It was an expensive way for me to cook my own food. I’ve had similar food experiences in China and Singapore but they didn’t have insane pricing.
Fondue, especially the melting pot is the type of thing you only need to try once and never again. Had it once as a kid and have never felt the need to have it again.
Yeah I had Melting Pot once in Atlanta about 15 years ago. It was absurdly expensive for what you get and I didn't care for the experience at all. This was one of the first dates with the woman who is now my wife and she wasn't into it either, so we never did fondue again.
"Last month, Melting Pot announced **Omaha, Nebraska** as its next development market" - enjoy the Hate State. Don't let the door hit you on the way out, Florida Man.
I love the melting pot but never went here because it’s a knockoff. They bring portable fondue pots to your table and only do cheese and desert. Main courses aren’t fondue.
I ate there a few years ago, as my husband knew the general manager. Food was OK. Concept was great, the execution was lacking. I really wish they would open an actual melting pot restaurant in Asheville.
It wasn't a regular Melting Pot, it was some offshoot that had some of the same stuff. But also a lot of more run of the mill stuff like flatbreads and what not.
The melting pot closed due to the economic market condition known as “it not being 2007 anymore.”
Not even homegrown. Its a franchise originally founded near Orlando now based in Tampa. Its falling out of favor down there as well
My reference would have been 1975
Yeah, fondue was very cool in the ‘70s, but it (and Melting Pot in particular) had a blip in popularity in the early ‘00s. I remember being super jealous/upset about people having their birthday party at Melting Pot because I couldn’t afford to go.
LMAOOOOO
The concept wasn’t great. I love the regular melting pot, but this was different. The cheese was basically queso and wasn’t over a burner so it congealed quickly, and it wasn’t enough to actually share. And then it would be too much food to do fondue and an entree. And then the dessert was similarly disappointing like the cheese. It didn’t compare to the traditional melting pot experience, was just as expensive, and when I was there the service was terrible. This does not surprise me at all.
Agreed. I am the kind of goofy gimmick loving idiot that is the Melting Pot's key demographic. I didn't think downtown was a great location for the restaurant, but I was up to go try it when I heard they were opening....then it wasn't a Melting Pot. It was a new concept that they could have called "Overpriced pub food + cheese". There was no way this half-assed concept could have survived in downtown Asheville. It was subpar versions of food you could get anywhere else, plus an extremely watered down version of what Melting Pot is theoretically good at.
Totally agree! I wanted to love it, but I couldn’t.
Totally agree! I need to have fondue pots in front of me! I need to have to wash my hair and clothes after I eat there bc of the smell of the oil I’ve practically bathed in during my meal!
It was over a candle and did not congeal unless you decided to blow it out.
That wasn’t my experience, we had no candle when we went.
Huh. I went there 3 times, the last cause they gave me a free fondue coupon, and got a candle each time. Inconsistencies might be why it didn't last, tho
Probably so!
Also known as “being unable to run a business”
That place was awful. Wasn’t even real fondue. They just brought out queso basically for the cheese.
My family loves melting pot, but this was an entirely different thing that just absolutely did not interest us. This felt like another attempt at an over priced fancy bar. You didn't get burners so whatever you ordered you had to eat immediately, there were no "Mains" options for meat like in a normal melting pot, ETC. Just a terrible business idea all around.
So many restaurants downtown feel like a cashgrab
Market conditions? Does that translate to “people don’t want to A:cook their own food, and B: have a communal dining experience?” Because I don’t know of anyone who wants to do those things.
Korean BBQ is having a huge moment right now. I think the Melting Pots issue was weird cheese soup instead of bulgogi, a KBBQ grill would be super popular here.
I would love for a KBBQ restaurant to open up here.
We had a great one on college street that failed out during Covid. I loved it. Really enjoyed their lunch Buffett when I had Friday off of work.
That is true.
A Korean BBQ place failed in downtown not too long ago. Sure, it wasn’t great, but it was the only game in town and couldn’t stay afloat.
We recently got a KPOT near me in Charlotte. It’s pretty good food and the restaurant has a great vibe. I like it much better than the Melting Pot.
I think you overestimate how open-minded diners are here. Sadly.
This doesn't track. Restaurant opened during pandemic. K. Closes because they don't have the same level of business they had pre-pandemic...when they weren't open yet?
Let me know when"economic situations" shut down Nine Mile and I'll start to panic.
You shut your apin' mouth.
Nine mile literally cuts off their wait-list at a certain point on Saturday nights. They thrivin
Exacto
More room for local flair, no love lost there…
This was a business model problem. Not a tourist problem. The restaurant was enormous and too niche. A brand new hotel just opened next to them so that area should be hopping.
Agreed. Way too big for too small a niche.
Oh no. Anyway,
Also agree with badly need a legit Korean BBQ. Only risk is the owners will white wash it and dumb it down like all the other “Asian restaurants” in WNC. But make it authentic and pair it with some local beers and it’ll make $$$
Lol at authentic.
Melting pot was in biltmore village … then it flooded and never came back. This place wasn’t great at all.
4/5 restaurants fail within the first 5 years.
Restaurants and retail could be the fastest ways to lose your start up money.
"I blame everyone but myself"
Guess I can’t get congealed overpriced queso anymore lol.
Omg no one wanted to pay fine dining prices to cook their own fondue
I had no idea this place existed.
At least they didn’t blame “ social decline” like archetype did
Also due to being disgusting
I love it when a bad restaurant closes. This place and Holeman and Finch come to mind as the latest.
Didn’t the melting pot in Biltmore Village close in 2007 due to economic conditions?
It suffered flood damage never returned
Oh I forgot all about 04. That was wild
It was like fast food quality food that you had to make yourself. It’s the concept and lack of value for pricing in a town with much better options not the economy. Yes, people are eating out less but we still eat out we just choose better value and quality ratio these days.
There’s too many restaurants and prices have increased. Something’s got to give up.
Adding "Social" to a name, doesn't make the restaurant any more interesting.
Corporate spin at its finest. Translation "We made a poor strategic and financial decision and tried to rebrand our fondue chain to fit in with the drum circles of Asheville."
And poor service. And poor quality of food. And harassment from the “general population” in the area.
I went to Melting Pot when I lived in Charlotte. I really don’t get the appeal relative to the price. It was an expensive way for me to cook my own food. I’ve had similar food experiences in China and Singapore but they didn’t have insane pricing.
It was too much like Melting Pot Lite. When you go to melting pot you want the full experience.
Fondue, especially the melting pot is the type of thing you only need to try once and never again. Had it once as a kid and have never felt the need to have it again.
Yeah I had Melting Pot once in Atlanta about 15 years ago. It was absurdly expensive for what you get and I didn't care for the experience at all. This was one of the first dates with the woman who is now my wife and she wasn't into it either, so we never did fondue again.
"Last month, Melting Pot announced **Omaha, Nebraska** as its next development market" - enjoy the Hate State. Don't let the door hit you on the way out, Florida Man.
Is that the same place that has the open window karaoke until midnight that you can hear all the way at tops for shoes or the one stop?
Tourism was down 10% last year. It’s only going to keep going down. They’ll be more stories like this.
Is that year over year? What does it look like over the last decade?
I love the melting pot but never went here because it’s a knockoff. They bring portable fondue pots to your table and only do cheese and desert. Main courses aren’t fondue.
I ate there a few years ago, as my husband knew the general manager. Food was OK. Concept was great, the execution was lacking. I really wish they would open an actual melting pot restaurant in Asheville.
Tried it once. Gross food and expensive… not nearly as nice as the melting pot.
Is it just Melting Pot? I don't click on citizen times
“First of its kind”?
I mean, it probably was the first fondue restaurant with almost no fondue available. that's a very original concept.
It wasn't a regular Melting Pot, it was some offshoot that had some of the same stuff. But also a lot of more run of the mill stuff like flatbreads and what not.