Lydia Weinberger, Arts & Entertainment Editor 

Just past the intersection of South Elm Street and Gate City Boulevard and a few steps from the Downtown Greenway, you’ll find a refurbished industrial space, flanked with silos and concrete, and overflowing with warmth and the sound of local musicians. If this scene greets you, you have gotten lucky and found: Back Table, a cafe, venue, and creative space. Back Table is a relatively new addition to the downtown Greensboro arts scene—first opening its doors in January of 2025— but one that has already become a beloved community institution. 

A Work, Study, and Art Space with Extensive Hours 

Located at 816 South Elm Street #1A, Greensboro, NC 27406, Back Table is open 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, and is open 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Friday, Saturday, and Monday, giving you plenty of time to set up shop, fuel up with high-quality caffeine, and get some work done. Where else in town can you get a delicious range of specialty coffee and teas that late at night? If you’re seeking body-doubling and community around your craft, you may also be interested in Caffeinate and Create, which runs on Mondays and Wednesdays from 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. and encourages folks to come with their current artistic project or just themselves and their inspiration (some art supplies provided).  

There is comfortable seating throughout the venue (a mixture of tables to spread out on, couches to lounge on, and a gigantic beanbag to sink into) and plenty of things to look at during breaks from your current endeavor. If you’re like me and enjoy browsing any-and-all things used, you’ll be ecstatic to explore the well-curated thrift store that is open for the same extensive hours as the general space. 

Events 

Back Table hosts and brings life to music and arts events almost every day. Some recurring events include an Open Mic Night and Second Sunday Flea. The open Mic Night is held every Monday—signups starting at 5:30 p.m. with the event starting at 6:00 p.m. and running until 10:30 p.m. (when the venue transitions to live band karaoke). Second Sunday Flea Market—hosted, as the name implies, on the second Sunday of each month, currently from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Other upcoming events include but are in no way limited to: Sudden Blue Pictures Film Night (September 9, 7:00PM), Strange Charms – a folk punk ritual (recurring every 3rd Wednesday through the end of the year, 8:00 p.m.), and Silo Series #20 with Tom Troyer (October 2, 7:00 p.m., Cover: $10).  

Please check the Back Table Instagram (@backtablegso) and their website (backtablegso.com) for a full list of upcoming events. If you have a proposal for an event to add to Back Table’s line up, please email Events Manager, Laura Jane Vincent, at eventsmanager@backtablegso.com (booking proposals will not be taken via Instagram direct message). 

Not many places have it all, but Back Table may be one of them. Check them out and let us know what you think!