The Orange Peel occupies 101 Biltmore Avenue, formerly home to a skating rink (Skateland Rollerdome, 1950–1962), vacant 1963, a bowling alley (Biltmore Lanes, 1964–1965), vacant 1966, Jade Smith Cabaret Club (1967–1970), vacant 1971–1973, and a night club named The Orange Peel (1974–1978).
The original Orange Peel was a popular venue for young African Americans during the 1970s.[1] It had a house band called Bight, Chew & Spit,[2] and hosted artists including The Commodores and The Bar-Kays, and played recorded disco and funk featured by DJs from one of the few Black-owned radio stations in the country, WBMU-FM. The Orange Peel was the last club to occupy the location before it became vacant for many years.[3]
After a stint as an auto parts warehouse, the building's use as a music club began again in 2002.
Former New Orleans club owners Jack and Lesley Groetsch borrowed the name of the previous Orange Peel club and reincarnated the building as The Orange Peel Social Aid and Music Club, with funding from Asheville philanthropist Julian Price's company Public Interest Projects.[4] The new venue opened on October 25, 2002.[5] In its early days the Groetsches sought to maintain a connection to the Black community that had patronized the earlier club, in part by hosting events for the last graduating class of Stephens-Lee High School/South French Broad High School.[2]
In April 2008, The Orange Peel was named one of the top five music venues in America by Rolling Stone magazine.[6][7]
At the end of 2009, the venue opened Pulp, a downstairs members-only liquor bar.[8] Pulp is open every night there is a show, and a live feed is piped in to allow patrons to view and listen to the show occurring upstairs. Pulp is also open various other nights for events featuring local artists and "Slice of Life" open-mic comedy nights.
In 2015, The Orange Peel expanded its booking efforts and began partnering with local breweries to host large outdoor concerts. In 2020, The Orange Peel opened Rabbit Rabbit, an outdoor music venue at 75 Coxe Avenue.[9][10]