At Marquee, Robert Nicholas stages a theater of home décor in Asheville’s River Arts District
The name says it all. Marquee embodies the idea of something you don’t want to miss: a curated collection of over-the-top décor, antiques, and artwork gathered under one roof. Think of it as a European street market with a boho vibe.
When you walk into the 50,000-square-foot warehouse in Asheville’s River Arts District (aka RAD), your senses are immediately engaged by the abundance of items inside. There are vintage furnishings and rugs, antique glassware, sculpture, woodwork, and row upon row of paintings. “We say we have fine art to fun art,” notes owner and curator Robert Nicholas, a 30-year veteran of the design world. “And prices that meet any budget from starter-home buyers to art collectors.”
Opened in December 2021—the same time he closed his custom-lighting shop, Splurge, which operated in RAD for nine years—Marquee fills its space with the awe-inspiring work of some 240 vendors. An artist and antique dealer, Nicholas exhibits his own creations here, too, in the form of light fixtures that hang throughout the space. The fixtures, some of the largest he’s done, are statement pieces in themselves, mixing metal, wood, and glass in unconventional shapes and combinations.
“The idea for Marquee was about creating a critical mass of people who would draw other shoppers and designers,” Nicholas says. “I wanted to create a one-stop shop under one big roof. The goal was to have a diverse group of people who were making things or working hard to find new things in the vintage world. I want Marquee to have soul. Part of our uniqueness is mixing the two worlds of art and vintage/antiques . . . .”
Added to the cast is a wine bar called Saint Brighid’s. Part of the original concept to include a food-and-beverage component in the space, the bar serves wine, beer, cider, mead, and non-alcoholic beverages, plus a menu of snacks. It’s a great spot to sit, sip, and ponder future purchases.
When choosing local and regional artists and vendors to display their wares in Marquee, Nicholas looks for unique and original work. It may be an accomplished artist, or one whose talent hasn’t been fully recognized yet. Either way, he tries to maintain a mix of 50 percent art and 50 percent antique and vintage.
It’s proven to be a successful formula. Since opening in December, Nicholas reports Marquee’s foot traffic is increasing and sales are growing each month. “It’s blown away our original projections,” he acknowledges. “We feel Marquee is on track to be . . . a destination for folks.”
In this world of Amazon shopping, people don’t get to touch or experience what they’re buying beforehand, Nicholas points out. “At Marquee, we really want to hit all of the senses when you come in, from the smell of food to the music soundtrack. We want things to be touchable. We want people to be inspired and to leave Marquee feeling better about their experience of the arts and design world.”
Cool Finds
Searching for something that no one else in the neighborhood has? Check out the retro-looking teardrop camper and the towering tin-man sculpture made of found objects.
