i’m heading to damascus for a few days and heard a rumor that the side track cafe is now defunct. anyone out there been thru damascus lately and know for sure if it’s still there? if not, anyone know what happened to it? hard to believe it’s not there anymore. thanks for any updates.
skip
I’ve been by there on three different occasions in April, May, and June. It was not open on any of those times when I passed through. This is usually on a tuesday and or a wednesday afternoon.
billygoat
The Side Track is for sale??? Whaaat? Is this a fact and does anyone know who the owner is or any info on this?
StarLyte
it’s a fact. i live in damascus. $57,000. the woman that owns Apple Tree B&B owns it. always has.
wolf
What happened was, mountain man’s lease ran out , and they wouldn’t sell the building to him. No more .75c mickey’s beers,… Very sad, good food and great atmosphere.
lumber
All,
I think the asking price of $55k to $60k was for the equipment, food, ABC license and the on-going business. The equipment list is extensive. The cafe is in a leased space which would be a separate monthly cost apart from the “purchase price” that Wolf is talking about. That having been said, the building’s owner (the B&B lady) has an appetite (no pun intended) for selling the space since the Appletree is also for sale and her long term plans are to move to Louisiana.
The Sidetrack business is/was operated by Trey Hardie and his email is atcmtnman@aol.com.
The business has a widely known reputation, is very seasonal (March thru October) and aims at hikers, bikers and creeper trail users. It certainly serves a unique role as gathering place, part-time employer and destination for all these groups. The thought of it being closed has a melancholy ring to it.
See you at the Sidetrack.
Bum
damascus bum
All,
I can confirm that the Sidetrack is closed and the equipment is being removed. It is now a part of the folklore of the AT - in the realm of ‘remember when’.
I also saw a memorial service there in Damascus yesterday for a local soldier killed recently in Iraq. The attendance was so great that they had to move the service to the local high school. American flags everywhere. The soldier was a Damascus native and his parents still live there. I think his life was wasted on a senseless war that the U.S. started without provocation.
See you at Dot’s.
Bum
damascus bum
It won’t be missed by any townsfolk. Hardly folklore status. Now maybe someone can open a real restaurant.
Wolf