ASHEVILLE – Fifteen years after opening one of downtown’s popular fine dining institutions, a local couple is preparing to welcome guests into a new dining room in South Asheville.

Martha and Peter Pollay, founders and owners of Posana and Mandara Hospitality Group, opened Posana downtown at 1 Biltmore Ave. in 2009.

Posana’s contemporary American farm-to-table menu rotates seasonally with dishes celebrating the Appalachians and ingredients sourced from local farmers and purveyors.

A second Posana is tentatively slated to debut in spring 2025 at 264 Thetford St. in Biltmore Park Town Square, formerly Leo’s Italian Social.

“There’s a point in our career where we feel like we should grow. We feel like there’s a whole other demographic in Asheville that we’re not hitting,” Peter Pollay said.

He said many residents, especially south of the city, don’t visit downtown.

Martha Pollay said the Biltmore Park location may attract more locals than its tourist-driven downtown location, allowing the team to create stronger bonds with regulars.