At a Glance:
- Bette Boutique suffered significant damage from Hurricane Helene in Biltmore Village, a well-known area in Asheville, N.C.
- Heart on Main Street is leading a three-day volunteer rebuild project from April 1–3 to help the boutique return home.
- The rebuild includes moving inventory, installing displays, landscaping, and preparing the store for reopening.
After nearly two years of rebuilding, waiting, and working toward recovery following Hurricane Helene, Bette Boutique is finally returning home. From April 1–3, Heart on Main Street will lead its next Independent Rebuild project in Asheville, N.C., helping Bette’s Boutique move back into its original storefront in Biltmore Village.
The three-day volunteer initiative will focus on moving, visual merchandising, fixture installation, and landscaping to prepare the store to reopen its doors in the community where it belongs. Bette’s Boutique was devastated by Hurricane Helene, which left visible water lines and significant structural damage throughout Biltmore Village. Like many small retailers, recovery has not been quick or simple. Insurance delays, construction timelines, and the financial strain of being displaced forced the business to operate outside its original space while repairs slowly progressed.
Now, nearly two years later, the boutique is returning home. “This project is about more than moving boxes,” said Patrick Keiser, executive director of Heart on Main Street. “It’s about restoring a sense of place. Independent retailers are the heartbeat of Main Street communities, and when they come back, the whole community feels it.”…