ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — When Hurricane Helene hit Western North Carolina in September 2024, major damage was done to one of the region’s biggest industries: its restaurants.
Asheville, in particular, has racked up a reputation as a foodie town over the last 20 years, sporting a diverse food and drink scene made up of James Beard Award-winning restaurants, accessible local eateries and a long list of micro-breweries, distilleries and coffee shops.
As our community looks back at the Sept. 27, 2024 storm that knocked out power grids, polluted drinking water and shuttered restaurants, 828newsNOW checked in on the state of the WNC food and beverage industry.
Ask AIR
“When we heard the stats from FEMA last year, that 40% of businesses never even reopened, that was a scary, scary number,” recalled Meghan Rogers, executive director of the Asheville Independent Restaurant Association, or AIR…