Voodoo Brewing in Arden rebranding: What to know about the new name, menu changes, more
As of April 10, Voodoo Brewing Co. at 3578 Sweeten Creek Road will become The Flying Squirrel Pub, an entirely locally owned, independent establishment with local and regional bites and imbibes.
In October 2023, Bill Osborne debuted the franchise of the Pennsylvania-based brewery. Founded in 2005, the company has locations nationwide, including Colorado, Nevada, Ohio, South Carolina and Tennessee.
Osborne left electrical manufacturing for a career in food and beverage, choosing Voodoo Brewing to usher him into the industry.
Osborne said his beginning as a franchise owner has taught him a lot, as Voodoo Brewing provided a foundation for Flying Squirrel Pub. He said he's received support from local, seasoned service industry entrepreneurs and credited his team with the business's success.
'We did a year and a half with Voodoo, and they helped us with a lot of establishing processes and systems we were going to use,' Osborne said. 'It's given me a lot of insight, direction and knowledge into something I hadn't done much coming out of my corporate America job.'
Osborne said it was an amicable parting between him and Voodoo Brewing. During the in-depth discussions, he shared his desire to deepen roots in the local food and beverage and Arden communities.
'A lot of things happening in the Asheville area post (Tropical Storm) Helene were part of it as we looked at being more of an independent, local establishment,' Osborne said. 'We've been doing good as a little local pub location, but we wanted more of that, and they were supportive of us going in that direction.'
Osborne shared early details about what guests can expect when returning to the restaurant and bar this spring.
Voodoo Brewing-Arden's final day of operation will be April 6.
The establishment will be closed from April 7-9 for cleaning and light renovations, including a fresh coat of paint and changing out signage and other branded materials and products.
The Flying Squirrel will open on April 10 with extended hours, beginning at 11 a.m. and staying open daily until 9 p.m. or later with lunch, dinner and drinks.
'We'll be more of a restaurant with 20 taps (than) a brewery under Voodoo Brewing, although we didn't brew here,' Osborne said.
The Flying Squirrel Pub's name spawned from a face-off between Osborne and a pair of uninvited guests.
Two flying squirrels were discovered in the attic of Osborne's neighboring property. He said they were humanely captured and set free.
Osborne said his brother, Michael, jokingly pitched the name 'Flying Squirrel' during a brainstorming session, and customers responded most positively to it.
'We wanted to be the fun place,' Osborne said. 'We love our regulars. As we started to talk to them, they loved the name of it, and things we could do with it.'
Frank Whanger, a local marketing and advertising professional and friend, designed the art, including the logo and other brand imagery, incorporating an aviator flying squirrel and a vintage airplane.
The public may have the chance to enter a contest to name the new mascot later.
Nearly 10 of the 20 beer taps were reserved for Voodoo Brewing's craft beer. On April 10, the Pennsylvania imported brews will be replaced, expanding the local and regional brewery offerings across the Southeast. A few domestic beer labels will be added.
Osborne said the establishment doesn't have a full liquor license due to alcohol laws designations, but cocktail slushies and other spirited mixed drinks will remain and be revamped.
'We are going to redo our hard seltzer cocktails because people have come to like those,' he said. 'They're gluten-free, and it gives people a different option if they're not a beer drinker.'
He said bottled craft sodas will be phased out in favor of fountain sodas, which will be more convenient for customers.
The dining menu will change, but Osborne said it will resemble the offerings diners have come to love and expect, though with original names and recipes.
Some dishes will be eliminated while new items will be added.
The Voodoo Burger will no longer be available, but a bacon cheddar burger will be offered. Its popular wings and fries are a permanent staple.
Osborne said that without being bound by a national franchise agreement, more local vendors and products will be offered, like Lusty Monk, Annie B's Homemade Ice Cream and buns made by local bakeries.
Re-grand opening specials and events are being planned for the weekend of April 10.
As of March 31, the business was in the interview phase for two positions: kitchen and front of house. More job opportunities may open as the pub extends its hours and enters the warmer, busier season.
For more, visit asheville.voodoobrewery.com and theflyingsquirrelpub.com and follow @voodooasheville on Instagram. New social media accounts will go live before the reopening.
Tiana Kennell is the food and dining reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Tips, comments, questions? Email tkennell@citizentimes.com or follow @PrincessOfPage on Instagram/Bluesky.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Flying Squirrel Pub makes April debut: What to know about food, beer, more
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Is Microsoft Stock About to Go Nuclear?
Microsoft (MSFT) is aggressively scaling its infrastructure to meet surging energy demands driven by artificial intelligence and cloud computing. As AI models grow more complex and data centers become more power-intensive, the tech giant is turning to nuclear energy to fuel its ambitious growth. Amid this backdrop, Microsoft has become a central figure in reviving the Three Mile Island nuclear plant, the site of America's worst nuclear accident, transforming a once-shuttered reactor into a promising solution for its energy needs. More importantly, the timeline for restarting the Three Mile Island Unit-1 reactor has been accelerated in what many are calling a significant 'win' for Microsoft. But what does this accelerated nuclear revival really mean for Microsoft investors? Could this blend of Big Tech and nuclear energy be the catalyst that pushes MSFT stock to even greater heights? In this article, we'll examine the implications of Microsoft's nuclear-powered ambitions, helping investors determine whether MSFT is about to 'go nuclear.' Let's dive in! Michael Saylor Says 'You'll Wish You'd Bought More' Bitcoin as MicroStrategy Doubles Down Is Super Micro Computer Stock a Buy, Sell, or Hold for July 2025? Wolfspeed Is Surging After Filing for Bankruptcy. Is It Too Late to Touch WOLF Stock Here? Stop Missing Market Moves: Get the FREE Barchart Brief – your midday dose of stock movers, trending sectors, and actionable trade ideas, delivered right to your inbox. Sign Up Now! Microsoft (MSFT) is a dominant force in the technology sector, boasting a diverse portfolio spanning software, cloud computing, AI, gaming, and hardware. Notably, the company is among the pioneers targeting the AI market through its partnership and substantial investments in OpenAI. MSFT has a market cap of $3.66 trillion, making it the second most valuable public company in the world. Shares of the tech giant have climbed 16.3% on a year-to-date basis. Like its Magnificent Seven peers, Microsoft came under pressure earlier this year due to trade war concerns, with the stock down nearly 20% by early April. Then, a pause in U.S. reciprocal tariffs provided some relief, leading to the stock's rebound from its April lows. However, the primary catalyst behind MSFT stock's return to an uptrend was its upbeat FQ3 earnings report, fueled by robust growth in Azure and AI. The former Three Mile Island plant — the site of the worst nuclear accident in U.S. history — could be restarted ahead of schedule, largely due to a partnership with Big Tech. Rising competition among tech companies and mounting pressure on electrical grids from the energy demands of AI computing systems have pushed Microsoft and other hyperscalers to explore nuclear power as a solution. In September of last year, Microsoft signed a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with Constellation Energy (CEG) to bring the shuttered TMI Unit-1 reactor (not to be confused with Unit-2, which experienced a partial meltdown in 1979) back online in 2028, pending federal approval. Notably, Constellation shut down the 837-megawatt reactor in 2019 after it was unable to secure subsidies it claimed were necessary for the plant to remain competitive with lower-cost fossil fuels. Constellation Energy CEO Joe Dominguez stated at a press conference last Wednesday that the reactor is now expected to begin supplying power in mid-2027. The accelerated timeline can be attributed to major progress in hiring over 64% of the required full-time staff, training new licensed reactor operators, purchasing essential equipment, and securing a key early interconnection approval from grid operator PJM Interconnection. Constellation has also cited Microsoft's significant investments in the project as a key factor behind the possibility of the plant reopening in Pennsylvania sooner than originally expected. Microsoft is particularly interested in this nuclear plant due to its growing energy needs, driven by the increasing demands of its power-intensive AI data centers. It's well known that both AI and data centers consume vast amounts of electricity — and that demand is only expected to grow moving forward. Earlier this year, the International Energy Agency projected that U.S. electricity consumption from AI and data centers will surge by 130% between 2024 and 2030. That made it especially good news for Microsoft when Constellation and PJM executives announced last week that the grid operator had expedited the hookup process. 'This plant is moving faster than we ever dreamed would be possible,' said Bobby Hollis, Microsoft's vice president for energy. Notably, Microsoft committed in 2020 to become carbon negative by 2030. Company officials stated that they see the facility as a crucial step toward achieving carbon-negative status. During the Q&A session of the FQ3 earnings call, management noted that the company is essentially facing power shortages in certain locations where it wants to build data centers. So, this is actually a limiting factor for further growth in the Intelligent Cloud segment. And that's why bringing the Unit-1 reactor back online ahead of schedule would be a major win for Microsoft. On May 1, MSFT stock climbed more than 7% after the company posted a strong FQ3 double-beat. Its total revenue stood at $70.1 billion, up 13% year-over-year and beating the Wall Street consensus by $1.62 billion. Azure was the primary driver of the company's growth in the quarter. Revenue from the Intelligent Cloud segment — which includes Azure, Server Products, and Enterprise Services, and is being boosted by AI and cloud-based solutions — rose 21% year-over-year to $26.8 billion. Azure and other cloud services saw a 33% increase, with roughly half of that growth attributed to AI. The company's other business segments also delivered solid performance. Productivity and Business Processes revenue, which includes the Office suite, LinkedIn, and Dynamics 365 for enterprise resource planning, grew 21% year-over-year to $26.8 billion, driven by strong growth in Microsoft 365, Dynamics 365, and LinkedIn. Revenue in the More Personal Computing segment stood at $13.4 billion, up 6% year-over-year, driven by better-than-expected results across all businesses. Even more impressive, both operating income and net income grew faster than revenue — up 16% and 18% year-over-year, respectively —highlighting that the business is scaling effectively, driving not just revenue growth but also margin expansion. This is likely due to ongoing efficiency gains in Azure and cloud. As a result, MSFT posted EPS of $3.46, comfortably beating expectations by $0.24. Meanwhile, Microsoft returned $9.7 billion to shareholders through dividends and share buybacks in the quarter, an increase of 15% year-over-year. Looking ahead, management projects FQ4 Intelligent Cloud revenue to range between $28.75 billion and $29.05 billion, representing growth of 20% to 22% in constant currency. Azure is expected to remain the primary driver of revenue growth. The company guided for Azure growth of 34% to 35% in constant currency for FQ4. Analysts currently expect the company to post double-digit growth in both its top and bottom lines for the foreseeable future. For FY25, the tech giant is projected to deliver EPS of $13.40, a 13.59% year-over-year increase, and revenue of $279.03 billion, up 13.83% year-over-year. In terms of valuation, MSFT stock doesn't look cheap at current levels. Priced at 36.71 times forward earnings, the stock trades well above the sector median of 23.78x and its 5-year average of 31.81x. I believe caution is warranted at this point, as the current valuation offers only limited room for multiple expansion. With that, it would be ideal to scoop up the stock during pullbacks, when the multiple returns closer to its historical average of 31–32x. Wall Street analysts remain bullish on Microsoft, assigning it a 'Strong Buy' consensus rating. Out of the 46 analysts offering recommendations for the stock, 37 rate it as a 'Strong Buy,' five give a 'Moderate Buy' rating, and the remaining four advise holding. The average price target for MSFT stock is $525.46, representing 7% upside from current levels. On the date of publication, Oleksandr Pylypenko did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
San Francisco Chronicle
2 hours ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
China shows signs of tackling the price wars that are taking a toll on its EV industry
BEIJING (AP) — The Chinese government is signaling enough is enough when it comes to the fierce competition in the country's electric car market. China's industrial policy has engineered a remarkable transformation to electric vehicles in what is the world's largest auto market. In so doing, it has spawned far more makers than can possibly survive. Now, long-simmering concerns about oversupply and debilitating price wars are coming to the fore, even as the headline sales numbers soar to new heights. Market-leader BYD announced this week that its sales grew 31% in the first six months of the year to 2.1 million cars. Nearly half of those were pure electric vehicles and the rest were plug-in hybrids, it said in a Hong Kong Stock Exchange filing. The company phased out internal combustion engine cars in 2022. BYD came under thinly veiled criticism in late May when it launched a new round of price cuts, and several competitors followed suit. The chairman of Great Wall Motors warned the industry could come under threat if it continues on the same trajectory. 'When volumes get bigger, it's just much harder to manage and you become the bullseye,' said Lei Xing, an independent analyst who follows the industry. The government is trying to rein in what is called 'involution' — a term initially applied to the rat race for young people in China and now to companies and industries engaged in meaningless competition that leads nowhere. BYD has come under criticism for using its dominant position in ways that some consider unfair, sparking price wars that have caused losses across the industry, said Murthy Grandhi, an India-based financial risk analyst at GlobalData. With the price war in its fourth year, Chinese automakers are looking abroad for profits. BYD's overseas sales more than doubled to 464,000 units in the first half of this year. Worried governments in the U.S. and EU have imposed tariffs on made-in-China electric vehicles, saying that subsidies have given them an unfair advantage. Market leader BYD comes under attack The latest bout of handwringing started when BYD cut the price of more than 20 models on May 23. The same day, the chairman of Great Wall Motors, Wei Jianjun, said he was pessimistic about what he called the "healthy development' of the EV market. He drew a comparison to Evergrande, the Chinese real estate giant whose collapse sent the entire industry into a downturn from which it has yet to recover. "The Evergrande in the automobile industry already exists, but it is just yet to explode,' he said in a video message posted on social media. Two days later, a BYD executive rejected any comparison to Evergrande and posted data-filled charts to buttress his case. 'To be honest, I am confused and angry and it's ridiculous!' Li Yunfei, BYD's general manager of brand and public relations, wrote on social media. 'All these come from the shocking remarks made by Chairman Wei of Great Wall Motors.' Next, the government and an industry association weighed in. The China Association of Automobile Manufacturers called for fair competition and healthy development of the industry, noting that major price cuts by one automaker had triggered a new price war panic. On the same day, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology vowed to tackle involution-style competition in the auto industry, saying that recent disorderly price wars posed a treat to the healthy and sustainable development of the sector. 'That price cut might have been the final straw that irked both competitors and regulators for the ruthlessness that BYD continues to show,' Lei said. A promise to pay suppliers within 60 days signals possible shift The following month, 17 automakers including BYD made a pledge: They would pay their suppliers within 60 days. One way China's automakers have been surviving the bruising price wars is by delaying the payments for months. The agreement, if adhered to, would reduce financial pressure on suppliers and could rein in some of the fierce competition. 'The introduction of the 60-day payment pledge is the call of the government to oppose involution-style competition," said Cui Dongshu, the secretary-general of the China Passenger Car Association. It also reduces the risk of an Evergrande-like scenario. Many automakers had stretched out payments by paying suppliers with short-term debt — promises to repay them in a certain period of time — instead of cash. Real estate developers used the same system. It worked until it didn't. When Evergrande defaulted on its debts, suppliers were left holding worthless promises to pay. 'This practice is seen as a potential cause of a larger crisis, similar to what happened with Evergrande,' Grandhi said. The vows to speed up payments and the government calls to rein in the price wars, along with a rollback of some financing offers, point to an effort to reverse downward price expectations, said Jing Yang, a director at Fitch Ratings who focuses on the auto industry. 'We may watch how effectively these measures are in reversing the price trend and how would that affect EV demand in the coming quarters,' she said.
Chicago Tribune
2 hours ago
- Chicago Tribune
New Naperville Jack in the Box scheduled to open in August
It's been at least 40 years since the suburbs have had a taste of one of the West Coast's favorite burger places. But take one look at the recently refreshed site of a former Arby's restaurant along Ogden Avenue in Naperville, and it's clear — Jack in the Box is almost back. The California-based fast-food chain is set to open in August at 1600 E. Ogden Ave., according to Jack in the Box's website. The shop is one of eight company-operated restaurants set to open across the suburbs and the city this year, the company said in a media release. 'This strategic expansion into Chicago allows us to not only satisfy long-standing customer demand for our brand, but also to become a key member in the region's thriving restaurant scene,' Darin Harris, CEO of Jack in the Box, said in the release. The Naperville restaurant plans to offer breakfast, lunch, dinner and desserts with a drive-through lane, the company's website said, with customer favorites including burgers, tacos, chicken sandwiches and milkshakes. Jack in the Box is known for 24-hour operations and a menu the company describes as 'craveable' and 'iconic.' It was unclear from the Naperville location's webpage whether this site will be open at all hours. A spokeswoman on behalf of the company declined comment, saying Jack in the Box doesn't 'have any new information to share at this time.' Jack in the Box this week hosted three days of job fairs at the Chicago Marriott Naperville hotel, hoping to hire full-time team leaders with experience in the restaurant industry and team members to staff the new restaurant. In a ZipRecruiter posting, the company said it was seeking 'enthusiastic individuals to lead our late-night team and join our regular shift operations.' In preparing for the planned August opening, Jack in the Box received a commercial building permit for a new building or addition from the city of Naperville. The city issued the permit on March 6, spokeswoman Linda LaCloche said. The restaurant joins an area of Naperville — one of the city's eastern gateways — that has undergone transformation, streetscape improvements and beautification in recent years. Located just east of Ogden's intersection with Naper Boulevard, Jack in the Box will join other new or redeveloped sites in the area, including Costco, Amazon Fresh, several restaurants and the Casey's gas station and convenience store.
