Grove Arcade

On our recent trip to Asheville we came across the Grove Arcade. This is a beautiful building that was  one of America's first indoor malls, opening in 1929. After renovations at the turn of the century, the building has been returned to its original purpose and houses boutiques, offices and restaurants. I was entranced by the design and the art of the building. They don't build them like this any more!

I was curious about the purpose of the ramps that zig and zag up the outside of the building. 

A bit of reading and I now know they were for pedestrians, 

including women with strollers, 

to access a roof garden where they often had music and tea.

The floor gently slopes from one entrance, downhill to another.

Spiral stairs, currently adorned with huge paper flowers,

allow access to a balcony with access to more spaces, possibly some apartments.

I think this may have been a 'communication hub'

housing a bank of payphone...back in the day!

I found this Grove Arcade web site which can take you on a tour of the building and 

offers a bit more history. 

The building is on the National Register of Historic Places.