With the one-year milestone of Tropical Storm Helene approaching, local restaurant industry leaders gathered for a roundtable discussion at The Market Place restaurant on Sept. 5 to share firsthand accounts of insurance disputes, lingering impacts of lost revenue from the storm and concerns about the area’s changing foodscape.
National culinary arts nonprofit the James Beard Foundation organized the event to help connect local restaurants and farms with policymakers as part of the foundation’s Climate Solutions for Restaurant Survival campaign. The effort mobilizes chefs and hospitality leaders across the country to push for policies that protect small businesses from climate disasters and support long-term sustainability for the restaurant industry.
Economic losses
Across Western North Carolina, 96% of small businesses were affected by Helene, with $188 million in reported losses, according to Mountain BizWorks’ 2025 Local Business Impact survey, When the data was released in July, 86% still reported earning less than before the storm.
Economic harm accounts for 20% — a total of $12 billion — of total Helene damages. And the vast majority of the economic impact is from loss of revenue, said Alex Campbell, a public policy analyst at the N.C. Budget and Tax Center who focuses on climate-related spending…