Living Local with Frisbee Real Estate

Ed Frisbee (00:22)

Hey, it's Ed and today I'm excited to have Tristan Patterson with us from Allora. And Tristan, thanks for taking the time to hang out with us and chit chat some. So tell us real fast a little bit about yourself and what Allora is and then I have plenty more questions loaded up. Thanks, Ed. ⁓ So Allora is the bed and breakfast that my wife and I just opened back in September here in Hendersonville. ⁓ Just a little three, three bedroom bed and breakfast. was brand new. We built it and

Serving up fresh hot breakfast every day to guests who come through Hendersonville I said ooh because september as in last month or september year ago as in well I guess we moved in august of last year and then we've opened up for business September last month Gotcha. I was afraid last year like right at the hurricane Well, that that's when we moved in we got in there about a month before the hurricane Wow, which was exciting We had like a little housewarming party a couple two weeks before helene and then I saw the the flood coming in I go

man, am I going to get one month out of this house before it's going to get blown away? like, well, at least we got a house warming out of it, if nothing else. And no damage? No damage at all, other than at some point when the water pressure was changing from the city, it got so high that it actually blew a pipe in the yard. We had to dig out. But in terms of damage, that was it. That's interesting. Well, that's good news for you all. So Allora how'd you come up with that name? So Allora, it's an Italian word that's sort of a

filler words, which can mean so or whatever. Variety of things, but it's oftentimes, usually the beginning of a sentence or story. go, and then transition to whatever you're saying. kind of there two parts why I like that is the name. One is partly inspired by a trip to Italy where we did this pasta making class with a lady in Rome and it was just her absolute favorite word. She's like, it's the most beautiful word, it's so much better than so or whatever in English.

So I really like just the sound of the word. ⁓ But also, it's kind of the beginning of a story. And part of the story I like to tell about Elora is I want it to be the beginning of people's story when they come to visit the area. So it's not the story of whatever you're gonna do in Hendersonville or the surrounding area, but it's a great starting point where you kind of feel like you're part of the place and then go off and do whatever, whether it's apple picking or different local activities. That is a great name and a great way to say that.

So, and you also said pasta. Does that mean you make your own homemade pasta? I do make my own homemade pasta. For a guest? If a guest asked, I would be happy to. We mostly serve breakfast. I mean, guess you could have breakfast pasta. no, actually I love making homemade pasta, but more into baked goods. Things like homemade croissants, various breads and things of that nature is think So you are the person that makes that.

for the bed and breakfast. Yes, I am the chief baker. Wow. And what time does that start? I guess it depends on the particular meal. Sometimes it starts the night before, or usually starts a little bit the night before, doing whatever prep work there is. But we usually serve breakfast around 9 a.m. So I'm up sometime between 6 and 7 getting things started. That's not too bad. No, it's not too bad. I mean, part of the reason why I love baking, but I'd never want to be professional baker.

Because if you're doing that, you're getting up, you know, 3 a.m., 4 a.m., and making 200 of the same thing. Bed and breakfast, 6 a.m. is totally reasonable wake up time, right? Yep. So tell us a little bit, are you from Hendersonville? I'm originally from Raleigh. Okay. And so how long have you been in Hendersonville? So I've been here in Hendersonville with my wife for about four years now. And what made you choose Hendersonville? So at the time, well, my wife and I, met living just south of Los Angeles. And we were both ready to move, or we had just met, actually.

or actually no, sorry, let me take that back. We hadn't met yet, but I was ready to move somewhere else. just kind of, I enjoyed my time there, but I wanted to be somewhere else. And this was kind of towards the middle or tail end of COVID times. And a buddy and I, we built out a van to go across the country to just, we gotta get out of here and do something else. And in the back of my mind, I'm like, I wasn't thinking that I wanna start a bed and breakfast somewhere, but I don't really know where.

Wow. And so we kind of drove the van across the country, going to different places for, I think it was 30 or 40 days, popping into big cities, little towns all over the map and came through here. And I'd been, I'd been through Asheville, you know, many times growing up in North Carolina, but I'd never really been to Hendersonville and found that there was a small bed and breakfast that was for sale. I guess it would be over near Patton Park. It's not a bed and breakfast anymore. But I went to look at it and go, eh.

This is kind of beat up, it's not really what I'm looking for. But we're wandering around go, I really love this town. At this point I've been to dozens of other towns across the country. A lot of them were kind of run down and not interesting and other ones were revitalized in a way that to me kind of lost some of the character and were generic in a sense. But something about Hendersonville, I love this place, it's exactly what it is. It's not trying too hard.

but it's just great as it is. And having to discover there was a piece of property for sale right near Main Street, that's where Laura is now, and I go, you know what? I'll put an offer on this if they accept it. I'm building a bed and breakfast. That's awesome. And I agree with you, Hendersonville is a great town and gosh, it gets lots of good publications and lots of kudos to the management, to the leadership through the years. Yeah, I agree.

It's done well and it's managed well. And obviously our tourists like it too. So that's funny, you mentioned that property. I know some people that live across the street from there and they were really worried what might be built and I think they're all extremely happy with you as their neighbor. Well, I mean, were gave the most welcoming, or part of what has made the experience great is how welcoming they've been. that when you got started, mean, it just a blank piece of land and everybody who's over there would, I mean, they can just look out, look down and see what was going on.

and they watched me and my buddy building the house and they would always stop by and they were so curious and interested in the best way. Like it actually, made the whole process so much more fun and inviting. So tell everybody real fast what you mentioned earlier, but how was it built? So one of my friends from California who actually, the one who I did the van road trip with, he and his girlfriend, they make jewelry professionally and they were

actually living out of a van after our trip because he really enjoyed that and they wanted to kind of take their show on the road. So they were doing this for a few months and one of my best friends, so we talked regularly. Someone was like, man, I think we kind of want to take a little bit of a break from the van, just settle down for a little bit. Like we want to keep doing the van thing, but we want to settle down for a little bit. I well, could I convince you to come help me build a house?

I was like, I want to do this food and breakfast thing. like, but I need, I just need one other person who's like a hundred percent in on this. We'll show up every day. You know, I'll pay you whatever amount seems fair to do this and we'll make this happen. And he's like, I'm in, let's do it. Wow. So he and his girlfriend, they moved here and lived here for a year to help me build it. And then also my brother, older brother who I used to live with in California, who's now living back in Raleigh. He would fly out for several weeks at a time and help me build it.

So we did everything from the foundation, the framing, plumbing, electrical. That is wild. The whole deal. And no one has experience in any of that? My friend Nathan, the one who helped me with it, he had, in his teenage years, helped pump concrete basically. So that was the extent of any of our experience. Wow, that's impressive. Did you catalog it with photos or videos? Not a single, or maybe there are a handful of photos. I think some actually the people at the condo.

⁓ Carol over there, she actually would take photos of us all the time. So think she probably did a better job of cataloging what happened than any of us. That's funny. We had the idea of that at one point, but very quickly I go, you know, I'm pretty overwhelmed by the whole building the house part. I don't think I can catalog this at the same time. Can you describe the house to us? Like, is it a normal looking house or is it separated at all? how does it... Yeah, so we kind of have a We've got a layout where, so my wife and I and our eight month old daughter, we have kind of...

⁓ a wing at the bottom. It's kind of the bottom offset to the one side. So we kind of have two small rooms there for, you know, for her. And then we have our separate small little living room. And that kind of opens up into the main area on the ground floor. We got a big kitchen dining area, living, green porch and everything. And then you go upstairs and upstairs is a three guest rooms for the actual bed and breakfast part. And that's where, so they share the

kitchen and open living room with you. Yeah. their guests are there. Yep, exactly. And so I think people in general have been maybe hesitant to use those spaces. I really wish they would make themselves as at home as possible. I think people have been more inclined to use like the dining area or the outdoor spaces. Gotcha. But the idea is for to be a very welcoming communal situation. Right. Is at least to me, part of the appeal is I used to, you nowadays Airbnb's are a lot of

people just renting their whole house, which is fine, I understand the appeal of that. But I remember back like 10 years ago, I would use it where I would just literally rent a room in somebody's place. And I actually loved it that way because I would show up somewhere where I'm unfamiliar with the place and it's almost like you get this instant friend, this person who welcomes you, you feel like you're part of the community, they tell you, ⁓ you gotta go to this place or I'm headed to this later. Where you suddenly, you're immediately immersed in a way that I think.

was really wonderful. And so that's sort of what we want to bring. That it's not, you're not just showing up and you get a nice room and breakfast. It's sort of, well, we're welcoming you. You're part of Hendersonville at this time. So. That's awesome. So upstairs, does each room have its own bathroom? Yeah, so each room's got its own bathroom, its own, two of them have bathtubs as well as showers. I would say the rooms up there are bigger and nicer than the rooms we have in our section. And just in case.

People are already wondering how do they see pictures? Fine. Make a booking. Contact you. What's the best way? Yeah, so the easiest of you, you can find us on Google Maps or just it's alorrahvl.com. And how do you spell that for people that can't see us? Yeah, it's a-l-l-o-r-a. yeah, alorrahvl.com. you. So we have all our information there. You can book through the website. We prefer if you want to book, you book through the website. But you can also find us on like hotels.com, booking.com.

any of those major things. And so you've only been open officially for a month-ish. Yeah, only for a month. And how's it been going so far? It's actually been great. We're fully booked this weekend. We've been fully booked last weekend, fully booked next weekend too. Obviously there's, this is a popular time of year for people to come here, but it's really been great in that I put the website up, not knowing what the...

reaction was gonna be. There's part of me that's like a little nervous going, okay, well we built this thing. I hope people are actually gonna want this and show up. ⁓ We've actually had more people just find us through the website or through Google and book through there than any of the other avenues, which has really just been exciting to me that they've seen it and immediately, honestly took the plunge because first there's zero reviews. I would be nervous. Like is this place, there's no reviews, I don't know what to think of it. I mean now we have several reviews because we have been open for a month.

But it's actually, been really wonderful. So what's your favorite thing to prepare in the mornings for people? So my favorite, well, in truth, my favorite thing to make are croissants. I actually haven't made them for guests yet. And how did you learn to make croissants? I guess it's not the Pillsbury you open It is not the Pillsbury. No, the croissants are a phone to me that you have to basically, it's a laminated dough, so you actually are folding butter into it. And you kind of fold it over itself multiple times throughout the course of several hours. ⁓

You know, that's how it kind of creates the very flaky texture that you get out of them. Did you bring any today? I did not bring any today, unfortunately. I'm making a bunch this weekend, because we're actually doing a little grand opening open house thing. that's cool. I'm guessing by the time this day, our opening house will have already passed. Yes. But I'm making a ton of croissants for that. Very nice. So where do you get coffee? Do you anything special, like local stuff for that?

Yes, we got coffee from two different places. We get it from Sherwell over in Flat Rock. We've known Zach and Candice for quite a while and we love them. And then also a place down in South Carolina called Dew South. It's kind of the north end of Greenville, but they've been great. They have these little coffee steep bags. So it's almost like a tea bag type thing, but it's for coffee. And so we put those in the rooms. It's just kind of a nice, cool little local offering for the coffee.

I know Zach and Candice, I think they're the first ones that showed us the pour-over stuff. yeah, Full extra effort for me, but ⁓ I'll stick with my cake-ups. yeah, yeah, for sure. It is tasty and a nice strong coffee. And then we also went down this rabbit hole and we bought this old La Marzoco espresso machine. What's it called? A La Marzoco. If you ever go to another coffee shop, it's the big, huge thing they see there. This old one that's over 20 years old. ⁓ I mean, it is really...

It's super powerful, but it's bare bones. You press the button and it starts pulling the espresso. You press the button again and it stops. There's no fancy volume things or anything like that. ⁓ So we also do a bunch of like cappuccinos and lattes and things like that. that only in the mornings? That we actually offer any time of the day. We're always excited to do that because it's fun. What about for walk-ins? yeah, exactly. I just pop in. If you know me, you're happy to knock on the door and just swing by. Does your license cover that?

coffee drop in? ⁓ I wish it did. All right. So ⁓ you go out since you've been in Hendersonville four years, something we like to ask our guests not to put you in a corner, but maybe pick your top three restaurants you like to go to. Okay. Or maybe that you'd recommend to your guest that might be easier. I'll give, I don't know. Maybe it's the same. I'm not sure. I mean, one of the top ones for us is definitely Shine. ⁓ We always love strolling over there. used to

We now have an eight month old daughter, but prior to having the daughter, used to be not uncommon in the evening to go, actually already finished eating our dinner and deciding to just wander over to Shine to just get their baguette and a drink. And the food there is excellent as well, of course. So definitely Shine, stands out. ⁓ Recently we went to Hearth and Heron over on Seventh Avenue. ⁓ I've heard good things. And we really enjoyed that. That was really great. ⁓

So that would definitely be up there. Is that the standalone building? Yeah, it's kind the one that used to be, I think, an Amish market of some kind. So what they've done on the inside is really, really nice. I've heard great things about it. I've totally forgotten until you said that. And then third one, restaurant specifically. Well, could be a coffee shop or... Well, let me just throw in there. I guess they have food now, which I haven't tried yet, but we love going to trailside.

Like we used to live over on Fifth Avenue when they first opened up and so we'd walk there from Fifth and we discovered that where the Bed and Breakfast, we were about a 15 minute walk away and where the Bed and Breakfast is now, it's also 15 minute walk away. So like okay, well at least we're no farther away from Trailside. So we love going over there. So you say Trailside, but I think officially it's called Acoustic Cafe, right? Well, Acoustic Cafe is great, but Trailside, the brewery right beside it. got it.

So they have food in there too then? They just opened I think a trailside table. I didn't know that. Which I haven't tried it yet. Okay. But we used to always go, we would plan our trips around whatever food trucks they would have. we'd always, well, ⁓ Now I gotta change my third one. I gotta change it because... said food trucks. I know, because I said food trucks and I was gonna say we always like to plan it around Indian Aroma's food truck. But we love the Indian Aroma restaurant as well. The one on Main. The one on Main Street. I've heard great things about it. We really enjoy that. The buffet is great. I mean, when...

When they had the Hulene thing, they had the buffet open. It was like $10 for the lunch buffet for everybody, and it was really great. I remember, you know, they opened what, maybe three years, two, three years ago? It's not been long. Not that long, but literally about two weeks before we found out that they were opening, I was driving, I think, to the grocery store with my wife, Victoria, and she goes, there is one thing that you wish Hendersonville had that it doesn't have right now. What would it be?

Indian food. I wish we had Indian food. And then I walk in the door two weeks ago, you're not gonna believe this, they're opening an Indian spot on Main Street. That's awesome. That's where, is it Enzo's was? Yeah, exactly. across from Mass General for those wondering. ⁓ My daughter loves it, so I can't say I'm the biggest Indian food fan, but what about barbecue? You didn't say barbecue. You gotta pick a barbecue place here from the south. I know, I know. Well, if I had to pick a barbecue place, for me it's 12 Bones.

So we kind of they've been around a long time in their yeah, we make them we make the trek up there We say it's a trek. What is it 30 minutes? I just say it's not even it's not even it's right 20 minutes And that's up in Arden Fletcher depending on what you consider or South, Asheville, right? whatever you want to call it. Yeah, I think they're for barbecue place. Yeah, the sides are incredible. Yep smoked. What is it the smoked? potato salad

I have not added in years, but there are some barbecue places that have some delicious sides. Actually, barbecue has What's your go-to barbecue place? Mo's. I really enjoy it. When they have squash casserole or sweet potato casserole, that's kind of my draw. ⁓ Yeah, I really like it. And on Main Street, I like Tipsy Taco, honestly. It's quick and it's good. We haven't tried the competing Mexican places. But it's on my to-do list. You should.

And sitting outdoors is nice. Yeah the outdoor space there is really nice. Well Tristan this has been awesome. A you love Hendersonville, which is great B you built your business in Hendersonville, which is great. C it sounds like you have a great business going for you, which is great Hopefully get tons of extra traffic from this podcast and in the future SEO rankings and for everybody again Please tell them how they find you

Oh yeah, so the easiest is our website or just Google Maps, up Alura HVL. Which is A-L-L-U-R-A-H-V-L. A-L-L-O-R-A. my gosh. See? A-L-L-O-R-A-H-V-L.com. We also have an Instagram, Alura HVL. should follow you on that. We don't really post much there. think I've got about five posts. It would be the most boring Instagram follow you can Maybe won't follow you then. It won't do anything for me.

So for anybody, so how old are you? Age, ballpark range? I'm 39. Awesome. So you're not the typical demographic that's moved to Hendersonville in the past. No. But I feel like there's more younger people moving here. Is that an area? So you like it? Yeah. Obviously. And you didn't retire here. I did not retire here. You know where I'm going? I'm actively doing things. that's awesome. I think that's great for our community because typically in the past, we see a lot of people retire to Hendersonville, but this is great to see.

younger people move into the area to start a business and see the opportunities. And I think it's great from the perspective of it's to me and our age demographic one if you want to raise a family it's just it is a great place to raise a family that's undoubtedly so but also it's so as an adult it can be hard to make new friends in a place right but here it's actually been incredibly easy because everybody's just so welcoming and looking to make friends you don't even a lot of friends we have don't even necessarily have

anything initially in common. not like, we both do this activity. It's sort of just, oh, okay, you seem like a cool person. I like you, yeah, let's go hang out. You wanna come grab dinner, do whatever? So it's really been very easy to meet people here, which has really been nice. That's awesome. So one other thing we haven't said is the Bed and Breakfast Allora is two blocks off Main Street, which is a big draw. So for people wanting to visit Hendersonville, that's a great location. You won't find a hotel.

with that proximity to downtown. You might find some Airbnb options, but bed and breakfast, slim to none, and definitely check them out. A-L-L-O-R-A-H-V-L.com. Exactly. Tristan Patterson. But you wouldn't find him there. would be A-L-L-O-R-H-V-L.com. Awesome. Thank you, Tristan, very much for taking time. thanks so much We'll have to have another one, and we'll talk about croissants or something.

The baking edition? Yeah, that'd be awesome. Do you do chocolate chip cookies? Actually, I'm making a bunch of chocolate chip That's my favorite. I should have brought you some. croissants and chocolate chip cookies. That'd be great. Yeah, that's a super idea, the baking edition. But not in the kitchen. It has to be right here. Yeah, exactly. Just lay out the ingredients. Awesome. Thank you, Tristan, very much. Again, thanks Appreciate your time. Absolutely. Have a super day