Food trucks have been on the rise lately, but in Asheville, NC there is a café that takes food on wheels to a new level. Double D’s, a coffee shop located in downtown Asheville, is located inside of a bright red double decker bus. It is parked on downtown Biltmore Ave., and has been in operation for over twelve years from the same location.
The bus is a 1963 Lodekka model double decker bus came from Bristol, England where it was a public transportation vehicle in the 1960’s and 70’s. It somehow ended up in Atlanta, Georgia in the 1970’s and was as a “party bus.” The bus ended in Ashville in 1999, and has been a coffee shop every since.
Entering Double D’ s, you duck your head to get under the spiral stairs that go to the second floor. The café is on the first floor, and has a tin roof ceiling and red chairs. Coffee, espresso, and local bakery are for sale, and the chai tea that I had there was good.
On the second floor of the bus, there are reupholstered bus seats with tables that are painted or have mosaic tiles on them. The atmosphere is funky and upbeat, and when I was there, people would greet each other and talk when drinking coffee up there. Double D’s has an outside courtyard with tables, and the sometimes have live performances outside.
More history and information about the menu and barristas can be seen on their website, and you of course can stop by and ask questions at 41 Biltmore Ave. in downtown Asheville.
Image Source:
Kristen Baumlier
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