“It’s our job to help all of our customers appreciate all of the parts these animals give us and the hard work farmers and butchers put forth so that we can put supper on the table.”
Our History
2002-2014
Foothills owner Casey McKissick begins farming in Swannanoa and Old Fort as Crooked Creek Farms and operating a 32 farmer marketing co-op under the name Foothills Family Farms. During this time, Foothills sells wholesale to restaurants in the Asheville area, Black Mountain Tailgate Market, and the inaugural Asheville City Market.
Fall 2013
The Foothills Meats Butcher Shop opens.
"One of the underlying motivations behind the original butcher shop was so that we could make our children the nostalgic items we loved as children- hotdogs and bologna- but made with our meat! Our 4 boys have taken to being hot dog ambassadors for years. They will all get hot dog carts for their 16th birthdays!"
The original Black Mountain retail store becomes popular with locals for their very small lunch service, pick-up dinners to go, and sales from the meat counter, including their own line of house-made deli meats.
Summer 2014
Foothills launches the Butcher’s Table Dinner Series with guest chefs and butchers who served a 5-course “meat-centric” family style dinner.
This series runs for 3 years and features chefs including Steven Goff, Trevon Dunn, Adam Hayes, Craig Deihl, Jeremy Hardcastle, Jimmy Lee and Dan Silo. Dinners are held at the original Black Mountain Butcher Shop, Pisgah Brewery, Hi-Wire Brewery and Defiant Whiskey.
Summer 2015
Foothills ceases regular retail hours at the original store in Black Mountain in an effort to focus on developing the Asheville market and to begin a search for a more accessible location in Black Mountain with seating and parking. The original store serves as the Butcher Shop and Commissary Kitchen, working 5-6 days weekly.
April 2015
Foothills opens Foothills Deli at Ben’s Penny Mart on Hilliard Ave in downtown Asheville, next to a new little brewery: Hi-Wire Brewing on the South Slope. They sell sandwiches and offer a meat counter.
April 2016
Foothills is invited join Hi-Wire Brewing Company at their newly opened Biltmore Village facility on Biltmore Ave. The food truck opens for business.
"We loved our community at Ben’s but moving to a bigger kitchen with a full hood ventilation system enabled us to greatly expand our menu and add the burgers that fit our whole-animal philosophy and bring back our tasty flat-top burgers that were so popular in our original Black Mountain store."
Summer 2017
Foothills Meats launches an aggressive expansion plan with the Butcher Bar & Restaurant concept, launching 2 new restaurant/bar and retail locations, one in West Asheville and one in Black Mountain.
March 2018
With two new butcher bar restaurants open and thriving, a busy food truck with national acclaim, and a refreshed meat CSA program, Foothills decides to move its commissary kitchen next door to Butcher Bar: Black Mountain, expanding it to a larger operational butcher shop to meet demand.
January 2019
Now well established in Black Mountain, with its West Asheville and Biltmore Village locations going strong, Foothills focuses on continually improving its menus and introduces breakfast to the offerings. Foothills is now open 7 days a week, and the Butcher Shop rolls out its Butcher Table Dinner Series to local acclaim.
April 2020
Facing a new challenge - the COVID-19 pandemic - Foothills pivots quickly back to their roots to offer takeout from their butcher bars, an online grocery shop and online butcher shop ordering system. They also introduce Foothills Land Care services.
December 2020
Foothills Butcher Bar: West Asheville serves its last meal as the space transitions into the talented hands of Kyle Lee McKnight and Stewart Lyon, who create Your Place at Foothills West. Your Place is a private dining concept that offers pre fixe farm-to-table seasonal menus.
SUMMER 2021
With hope on the horizon after weathering a devastating pandemic for more than a year, Foothills Butcher Bar & Kitchen in Black Mountain reopens its doors for safe, indoor dining while showcasing its improved and extended outdoor dining. The team expands its Catering division and also sets their sights on a third location: a new food truck.
December 2021
Foothills Meats opens its third location, a second food truck in the River Arts District at Hi-Wire Brewing’s Beer Garden. The second food truck focuses on its longtime BBQ experience and offers smokehouse specials, bringing a slightly different menu and new choices to Foothills fans.
SUMMER 2022
Celebrating its 20th year in business, Foothills honors its roots with a fourth location and concept: Foothills Grange, located at 120 Broadway and just steps away from where it all began. Foothills Grange is a nod to agricultural heritage and the national Grange organization, serving classics menu in an expansive outdoor space that is family friendly.
Spring 2023
Nearly six months after closing the restaurant doors on Black Mountain Ave, Foothills launches 107 Market & Deli, a collaborative all-day concept serving sandwiches and Cup of Jomo Coffee. This space will host the well loved Butcher’s Table dinner series as well as cooking classes and interactive events.
