The Rite Buy Grocery opened Dec. 20 in Swannanoa’s Beacon Village. The store is owned by married couple Diana and Justin Rhodes, who felt inspired to start the business as a way to better serve the community in the wake of Tropical Storm Helene.
“Since [the local] Ingles [Market] closed, Swannanoa has faced a food desert, making it harder for many to access fresh, affordable groceries close to home,” the Rhodeses say on the store’s Instagram page. “Rite Buy is changing that by bringing essential food options back to the neighborhood. Having a grocery store right here means more than convenience — it means new jobs, local dollars staying local and easier access to healthy food for families all around Swannanoa.”
In July, Diana told Xpress that the shop will sell produce, meat, dairy, eggs, pantry staples and bulk food such as flour and sugar. The store is open Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m…