A former television and film producer, Savoy proprietor and wine aficionado Eric Scheffer traveled the world as he worked with famed actors and musicians. Later settling into the commercial television side of entertainment, Scheffer spent many years living and working in Los Angeles and Rio de Janeiro , Buenos Aires, Europe, and South Africa. During his long stints in South America, he developed a passion for South American wines and for his wife, Heidi, whom he met on a commercial shoot in Argentina.

After Southern California's 1994 earthquake and a series of crime-related experiences that were just too close to home, Scheffer and his wife set out to find a safer area in which to raise a family. Friends introduced them to Asheville, N.C., and they immediately fell in love with the city's charm.

With the birth of their daughter, Jordan, Scheffer searched his soul to identify a new career that would allow him to spend more time with family and friends. Almost immediately it became clear that he would become a restaurateur. Scheffer's immense love for food and wine, coupled with the pure enjoyment he derived from entertaining, catapulted him into the business and he hasn't looked back.

Upon purchasing Savoy from Alan Laibson in 2000, Scheffer began to redesign the restaurant's wine list by introducing labels from California and South America. The result was a list that Wine Spectator has called one of the country's best - four years running.

In April, 2001, Scheffer became sole proprietor of Savoy and continues to evolve and improve the Savoy experience. Just one step inside demonstrates that Scheffer has infused the place with highlights from his extensive travels and experiences at some of the world's finest restaurants. With a complete renovation of the restaurant's interior and the addition of a martini bar, he has created a sophisticated dining ambience unrivaled in Western North Carolina.