During the economic downturn of the late 2000s, Eric Scheffer saw that his Asheville community was suffering, and knew he could do something about it. He chose to close the Savoy, the premier fine dining restaurant of Asheville, and reopened it as the comforting, wholesome, affordable restaurant that he experienced so often in his youth – Vinnie’s Neighborhood Italian.
It was an immediate hit, winning Best Italian in Asheville’s largest local newspaper’s “Best of Western North Carolina” the first year that it opened – and every year since.
In 2021, the second location of Vinnie’s Neighborhood Italian opened in South Asheville. The support of our local followers made it successful from the beginning, and the location won both Best New Restaurant in Asheville and Best Restaurant in South Asheville in its first year.
It’s not only the classic American sounds of Louis Prima, Keely Smith, Dean and Frank that greet you as you walk in, nor is it just the boisterous conversations, the smell of sauteed garlic, or the sounds of the bustling kitchen, it’s the hearty “Welcome to Vinnie’s!” from the staff that lets you know that at Vinnie’s, you’re home.
Jettie Rae’s is an amalgamation of all the hard working women running crab shacks, fish stands, and maintaining the culinary traditions of the cultural diasporas of Spain, Africa, France, and Gullah Geechee that continue to influence American cuisine to this day.
Jettie Rae’s has always been committed to providing exactly its motto: Honest Food Done Well. By carefully sourcing ingredients and treating them with respect, maintaining constant diligence in quality, and honoring culinary traditions, the Scheffer Group is proud to provide Asheville with the best seafood that can be found in Western North Carolina.
Gan Shan West, opened in 2015, is a counter-service restaurant with a relaxed feel and approachable Asian-inspired menu. The Scheffer Group acquired Gan Shan in 2023. We are using our experience with branding, menu costing and engineering, vendor negotiations, and the flow of service to improve what is already a successful restaurant.
The Chef de Cuisine of Gan Shan West, Ray Hui stayed on through the transition, and is a first generation Chinese American that loves to cook and bring people together. His childhood memories, a deep love for cooking, and a passion for bringing people together drive Ray to continue to cultivate a menu that nourishes the community and to honor his roots.
Cielo Culinary Events is re-imagining of the classic, exclusive food and beverage clubs found across Spain, particularly in San Sebastián, where men and woman have come together to eat, drink, and celebrate gastronomy. This creation has given Eric Scheffer and his culinary team an opportunity to be creative and explore cuisines outside of their day-to-day work in the restaurants they lead. Though not every dinner will be Spanish-inspired, they do embody the special, unique spirit that the social clubs are known for.