A worker-owned bookstore co-op and community event space committed to promoting social justice and animal rights. Has an entirely vegan cookbook selection. Offers fair trade coffee and tea with plant milk. See website for calendar of events. No longer serves food. Relocated from 610 Haywood Rd. Open Wed-Fri 1:00pm-8:00pm, Sat 10:00am-8:00pm, Sun 10:00am-6:00pm.
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1022 Haywood Rd, Asheville, North Carolina, USA, 28806
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Last update on 17 Apr 2024 by BiteSizedBeet
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29 Reviews
First Review by jeribella
SeitanicJax
Points +89
Best bookstore ever - Edit
So many awesome books, stickers, etc. Just so helpful.
Read morePros: Books & helping west Asheville with food
Cons: Too awesome not to go to when running through
Guest
hannahdare
Points +304
Wish it still served food! - Edit
Sad to hear that this place no longer serves vegan food. Several years ago I had a bagel with cream cheese (Made in house by Plant). It was great!
Read moreGuest
Journey
Points +251
Once upon a time there was vegan food here. - Edit
Cool book store. Activist hub. Much Vegan love for this place but I miss the days I could get vegan sandwiches or a vegan bagel with vegan cream cheese. Nice place to use the computer and bathroom. No longer serves food. You can still get a drink and a vegan muffin sometimes.
Read morePros: Activist hub. Friendly. Free bathrooms & computer., Many good books. You can still get a drink and , Vegan muffins sometimes
Cons: No more vegan food...
Guest
RovingVegans
Points +553
Love this place - Edit
I came here to do a book signing and was pleasantly surprised to find its very pro-vegan. They have great vegan cookies and muffins and a good selection of vegan coolbooks.
Read morePros: Friendly staff (co-op owners), Great energy
Guest
EmilySuttonTaylor
Points +153
not going to be a cafe anymore, good bookstore - Edit
Just thought I would give an update. They are going to expand the book store and no longer do the bakery and cafe. I think they will still have cider and coffee, but that’s it. It’s a great vegan/human rights bookstore, but the food aspect is being taken out, FYI
Read moreGuest
kgrizzle
Points +84
omg maple latte - Edit
Love this place! Everything looked and sounded delicious. Cute barista guy was helpful and made a heckin good latte. Maple latte was divine but I'll be back for their other concoctions.
Read moreGuest
lindsaydarling
Points +29
Eh - Edit
Went here looking for something to eat. Got stared at the whole time by the girl behind the counter like we didn't belong. Asked about menu items, they basically didn't have anything we asked about and the menu is EXTREMELY small to begin with. So we left.
Read morePros: Cute bookstore
Cons: Rude employees , Super small selection of food, Don't have the food on the menu
Guest
AimeeS
Points +317
Lovely funky bookstore & vegan cafe - Edit
Got tasty cafe au laits at this 100% vegan cafe and loved perusing all the counterculture books. Staff was cool and fun and I loved little vegan buttons and trinkets. Nice notebooks with no leather covers.
Read morePros: 100% vegan
Cons: A little small
Guest
typeoneinthesun
Points +110
SO GREAT - Edit
If you're vegan, LGBT, a feminist, or just wanting a great cup of coffee, this is your PLACE. I want to read every single book they have there and the food was tasty too! The carrot cake cookie sandwich and brownie were both incredible too! If you're in Asheville, you've GOT to stop by Firestorm!
Read morePros: 100% VEGAN, awesome values and employees, delicious baked goods and coffee!
Guest
Brizzy09
Points +96
LOVED LOVED LOVED - Edit
This space is fantastic in my opinion. It has a small cafe with great food and rink options available with everything being vegan there is no hesitation to want to try it all. The bookstore that is attached and own by the same place is to die for. Great selection of books in all topics but in particular the books about activism, anarchy, animal liberation, and herbal medicine were what thrilled me the most. It was easy to spend time here reading over a cup of tea and a delicious bagel with cream cheese. What also excites me about this place is the classes it offers that I am looking forward to attending soon. If you're in the area you must check this place out.
Read morePros: co-operated, great selection of books and food, dog friendly
Guest
mmccormick
Points +75
So cute - Edit
This is the first all vegan cafe i've ever been to, that's so amazing! I got the lavender and chamomile bubble tea and loved it! They have a wide variety of desserts, but I think the carrot cake cookie was the best thing I tried. They have an amazing selection of books that i've found hard to find anywhere else.
Read morePros: Cool books, Delicious menu, Pretty space
Cons: Parking
Guest
kathrin09
Points +13
Love the Bookstore and the Coffee Shop! - Edit
So glad Firestorm moved from downtown Asheville to West Asheville (next to Sunny Point Cafe). The space is bigger and gives more room for the considerably expanded book store collection. Kid friendly books, speciality books for those who think, general books on the shelf or can be ordered quickly. The workers are informed and intelligent. Nice combo!
Read moreThe coffee shop has fabulous drinks - coffee and beyond. I love the vegan cookies (although no one would ever guess one way or the other that they are vegan based on their deliciousness). Definitely try the Mexican Snickerdoodles (chocolate and cayenne), Tahini Lime (shortening cookie Yum), and Peanut Butter Oatmeal (coated in generous chunks of chopped peanuts.) The locally make truffles are great. The tamales are soo good. Bagels w/vegan cream cheese are a standard of mine, too.
Beyond the books and the coffee shop, Firestorm has a mission to use their space to host a wide range of events, workshops, film screenings, fundraisers and presentations that benefit the community. Their calendar is always full!
Pros: Worker Owned Collective, Independent Bookstore for Inquiring Minds, Vegan Healthy Foods/Drinks
Cons: Might have to get a few steps of exercise to find
Guest
simguy05
Points +124
Loving the Vibe - Edit
Amazing vibe, really cool staff (so knowledgable and friendly), and unique products. I'd recommend the Ginger Cider Elixir - caution, it's spicy! Really terrific selection of books too, obviously.
Read moreGuest
ashi81
Points +38
Wonderful Cafe - Edit
Great coffee (I'm loving the maple latte) and the cookies are great too!
Read moreGood atmosphere and nice service, if Asheville wasn't more than an hour away from where I live, I'd go more than just on the weekends!
Another great thing is the community support; the Bookstore had a nice deal as part of the black Friday Asheville bookstore crawl, and the cafe part participated with free drip coffee!
Pros: Good coffee
Guest
halfthejob
Points +192
Happy to Have Firestorm in the Neighborhood - Edit
My morning routine was recently upended by the quick and considerable collapse of Waking Life Espresso. But, I have QUICKLY come to love and appreciate the recently re-opened and re-located Firestorm Books and Cafe -- now on Haywood Road.
Read moreThe cafe and bookstore co-op is not only located near home for me, but their coffee is very good, their bagels are delicious, the cafe is 100% vegan (and so, too, is the cooking section of the bookstore)!
So, if you're looking for a good cup of coffee, a toasted bagel with vegan cream cheese (made by Plant) or a pastry or a vegan sandwich, salad or lunchbox, some stimulating non-mainstream reading material, or just an escape of the status quo, Firestorm IS the counter-cultural spot for you!
Pros: all vegan cafe, counter-culture vibe and energy, worker owned and operated
firestormcafe
Thanks for the positive feedback! We're so excited to be in your neighborhood and look forward to continuing to grow and improve our offerings. (:
Read moreGuest
3dollarbill704
Points +32
Moved - Edit
March, 2014 with plans to re-locate to new space.
Read morefirestormcafe
As of July 2015, we have reopened in a new and expanded location at 610 Haywood Road. Come check it out!
Read moreGuest
JessinJax
Points +450
Vegan Truffles! - Edit
VERY friendly staff! Was in town for Thanksgiving and was searching for vegan chocolates. A worker at The Chocolate Fetish told me to come here for the biggest selection of vegan truffles. I bought one of every kind. They were all amazing! Also bought a yummy coffee with coconut milk creamer.
Read morePros: Friendly staff, cool vibe
Guest
BadassJB
Points +654
heats and sweets - Edit
An amazing worker-owned vegan cafe with lots of yummy food. The cupcakes and thumbprint cookies are the tastiest in Asheville. I like that they have a venue and bookstore too. The only bummer is that they serve cow's milk for the tourists who come by. At least the tourists are eating and supporting an otherwise vegan place.
Read morePros: cupcakes, venue, cheap
Cons: cow's milk
Guest
vegan-nutritionista
Points +45
Great Atmosphere and Good Food! - Edit
We had a few very good sandwiches at Firestorm when we were very, very hungry and then later stopped by when we had more time to think and process what we were eating. A definite stand out was the chocolate covered macaroon.
Read moreThe restaurant/book store is all worker owned, which means everyone truly cares about how you enjoy the experience, and I highly appreciated the service. Read a full review: http://www.vegan-nutritionista.com/firestorm-cafe.html
Pros: good food, great value, worker owned
Cons: hard to find a table
Guest
pentagoth79
Points +104
Best Bagels! - Edit
I'm from NY so I'm really picky about my bagels but this place has excellent ones! I love that I can get one with vegan cream cheese. They have a great selection of coffees, teas and desserts as well as a small menu of sandwiches and soups. There are also a variety of books and items for sale.
Read morePros: Tasty, fast, bagels
Guest
mathman
Points +48
Firestorm Cafe - Edit
The decor and food was very basic. My roll-up was inexpensive but too simple for my tastes. If you're vegan and on a tight budget, this may be the place for you.
Read moreGuest
hippublican
Points +286
Eccentric? - Edit
Firestorm is an interesting little place to stop in for a snack or lunch. The desserts and coffee/tea are my favorites.
Read moreThe restaurant is about what you'd expect from a vegetarian place. Loud but friendly service, lots of quirky art on the walls, wobbly tables and mismatched chairs. Firestorm has a small book selection too. The books are mostly liberal interests, no surprise there. I liked their selection of books on vegetarianism.
I'd go back, but I'd probably get carry out. The super-casual environment isn't really my thing.
Pros: good prices, great dessert
Cons: hipster haven
Guest
peechdoctor
Points +43
Awesome Awesome Awesome!! - Edit
Traveling from east tn to east nc, we often have to pick food stops carefulle, examine each menu and ask tons of questions.... the only problem with this place is what to try first!! Great people, great atmosphere, and great food!! we even came back and grabbed a couple of cookies and blue sky sodas for the road!!! keep it up, we will defo be back!!!
Read morePros: Friendly people, Great selection, Great prices
Guest
scgilles
Points +35
The most AMAZING brownies - Edit
Amazing vegan brownies & vegan truffles too!! Friendly service & great book selection. Game night Wednesday nights, cool!
Read morePros: Inexpensive, Great goodies
Guest
jetgal
Points +108
Worth the visit - Edit
Ambiance is great. I splurged and got an exspresso brownie with my soy latte- totally worth it. I loved visiting this all vegan cafe and wish I had a chance to sample more food. The book selection is as interesting as the clientel. The service was super fast and super friendly.
Read morePros: great food, friendly staff, nice atmosphere
Cons: no outdoor seating
Guest
navski
Points +122
good and vegan - Edit
I finally tried this place - don't know what took me so long, but the food we had was really good. I had a great sandwich, which was $9. That sure is not cheap, but I support the fact that they are worker-owned, and I'd go back to have it again sometime. Very casual atmosphere - coffee house style, but they have a good range of sandwiches, soup, etc.
Read morePros: good food, vegan, worker-owned
Cons: not cheap
firestormcafe
Thanks for the positive words! We're thrilled that you enjoyed our cafe and we hope you'll come back. The sandwich you had (the Philly) is the priciest item on our menu, so you can definitely eat for less on a future visit. Our sandwiches range from $4 to $9 (after tax).
Read moreGuest
cringer
Points +96
SOOOO Awesome! - Edit
I love this place! It's all vegan except for some cows milk. Its also worker owned and they have books. Even though the menu is small, the food is really good! The Philly Sub is amazing! They have tons of yummy all vegan cupcakes, brownies, muffins. The atmosphere is great too.
Read morePros: vegan desserts, worker owned, yummy food
Cons: can be crowded
Guest
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