For Akasha Nickolas, “it’s all about the puppies.”
Nickolas has had a career in travel sales and real estate, but she said her true passion is dogs.
She and her business partner Cathy Lusk previously owned a dog grooming salon and now own WagWorld, a dog resort that will soon include a bar and event center in Fletcher.
“WagWorld is my future, it’s my retirement,” said Nickolas. “WagWorld is becoming me.”
The resort allows a maximum of 20 dogs at a time and is open to dogs that may not be accepted in other establishments due to their aggressiveness.
“We definitely take our time and work with dogs that need it,” Lusk said. “We’re not worried about the number of dogs. We’re more worried about the quality of what we’re giving the dogs.”
The bar and event center’s planned opening date is Sept. 1, but Nickolas said that date is subject to change due to construction requirements.
Nickolas said there will be an area in front of the bar where dogs can regularly run off-leash. The dogs will also be allowed into the bar off-leash. This part of the property is on a 4,000-square-foot area. Other parts of the property include the dog resort and the house where Nickolas lives with her wife, Amanda Nickolas.
In order for dogs to be allowed to run free, they must be spayed or neutered and have all vaccinations up to date. Owners pay a membership fee that includes access to the grounds and field managers who supervise the dogs and even collect their feces. Memberships are offered at a special price during a grand opening event, and annual, monthly and daily rates are available.
Nickolas said this is different from other similar operations she has seen, as owners can relax knowing their dogs are being taken care of. Field managers are trained on how to deal with dog aggression should it become a problem.
“We want to make sure we have everything under control and that people feel safe bringing their dogs here,” Nickolas said.
At some special events, dogs must be kept on a leash.
The bar and event center will be open seven days a week, opening as early as 8 or 9 a.m. Live music is expected every Thursday through Sunday, and there will be a food truck with rotating food trucks for events throughout the year.
The event center offers space for weddings, holiday parties and other large events.
Nickolas said it is important to her to give back to the community, especially organizations that work with animals and LGBTQ+ organizations.
As an LGBTQ+ business, WagWorld Bar and Event Center will host “Prideful Pup” nights as well as drag nights or brunches. Nickolas said she also hopes to support Hendersonville Pride.
“We’re not going to be too intrusive because we want everyone to feel welcome here,” Nickolas said. “We want to provide a place for our community to feel safe. That’s very important to us. … We want to be open to everyone, but we don’t want anyone to feel uncomfortable here.”
Nickolas said the space is also welcoming to those who don’t drink alcohol, as Tuesday nights are completely alcohol-free nights.
Nickolas said she has many ideas to help animals in need.
Aluminum is used instead of glass in the bar and event center. The proceeds from the sale of recycled aluminum are donated to animal welfare organizations.
WagWorld will also host adoption events.
“I want to give back as much as I can,” Nickolas said. “If I were a millionaire, I wouldn’t have a dog resort. I would have a dog rescue.”
Nickolas said WagWorld wouldn’t be what it is without the help of her employees, whom she calls her “pack.”
She said she has big dreams for WagWorld and doesn’t want to create any limitations.
“I want to be a kind of hospitality mecca here,” Nickolas said. “I want WagWorld to be a household name in Western North Carolina, and I want everyone to feel welcome here. I want people to come here, see this place, and just see the beauty and feel the energy.”
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Karrigan Monk is a reporter for Black Mountain News and Hendersonville Times-News, part of the USA TODAY Network. You can reach them at [email protected].