Asheville yoga studio, dog bar announces spring closure
ASHEVILLE - A local fitness and canine social center is in its final days after two years of business.
On April 10, the owners of Down Dog announced via social media that the dog bar and yoga studio, at 51 Sweeten Creek Road, will be closing.
May 28 will be the last day of classes and operations.
The social media post, signed by owners Sophie and Madelyn Silcox, states:
“We’re heartbroken for the community we’ve built and the staff that feels like family. You all are what makes walking away so gut wrenchingly hard. But the reality is that while the past 2 years have been amazing, they have also been physically, emotionally, and financially difficult and draining. We have given all that we have to this business since 2019, and that hasn’t been easy on our mental health. We’ve reached a point where we need to evaluate what is best for ourselves and our family moving forward, and that is to close. It’s time to let it go.”
In 2020, Down Dog officially made its public debut a the former masonry building with nearly 4,000 square feet repurposed for studios, a locker room, a bar, classrooms and an enclosed run for clients’ dogs overseen by dog trainers.
More: Sip, fetch, flow: Down Dog Yoga Studio & Dog Bar lets dogs play while you pose, sip brews
The off-lease dog park and social bar allow human guests to participate in sessions and classes for a variety of yoga styles while their canine companions hang out with professional dog handlers. The indoor/outdoor bar, open to humans and dogs, offers local craft beer and cider, craft cocktails and food.
The social media post continues with a message of gratitude for the community:
“We are immensely grateful for all of you that have made Down Dog what it is. It was our dream to build a community space where genuine connections and friendships are made, and it has exceeded our expectations. It’s truly been such a success in so many ways, and we will cherish the relationships we’ve made for the rest of our lives. Seeing and hearing how much Down Dog means to everyone has made every second worth it.”
Sophie Silcox said in an email she is considering options to keep the business going.
“Of course we would love to see Down Dog continue to thrive and be a fixture for the community under new ownership, but there a lot of factors that need consideration for that to be possible (we do not own the building, expensive rent, profitability, etc),” she said.
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More details about final days operations will be shared through Down Dog’s website and social media platforms. Customers with bar or yoga memberships and packages will be contacted via email in the coming weeks.
“A thank you to our community and staff feels inadequate, but we’ll keep repeating it over and over for the next month as we wrap up,” the post states.
Follow the Asheville Citizen Times for developments.
For more, visit downdogavl.com and facebook.com/downdogasheville and follow on Instagram at @downdogavl.
Tiana Kennell is the food and dining reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Email her at tkennell@citizentimes.com or follow her on Twitter/Instagram @PrincessOfPage. Please support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Down Dog yoga studio, dog bar is expected to close this spring
