Eateries in Western North Carolina Embracing New Beginnings Post-Hurricane Helene
Disaster has struck the foodie scene in Asheville, North Carolina, leaving many culinary hotspots in ruins following Hurricane Helene in September 2024. From the hip downtown area to outlying districts like Historic Biltmore Village and the River Arts District, restaurants faced a crushing blow, even as buildings miraculously survived the storm.
During these trying times, not every restaurant is on an equal path to recovery. We spoke with some storm-battered establishments to explore the various roads they're navigating.
Noodle Hole in Marshall
With a brief but magical four-week run before Helene struck, Noodle Hole - the brainchild of husband-and-wife team Ryan Martin and Hallee Hirsh - had already cultivated a loyal following in the charming town of Marshall. But as the storm approached, their hopes turned to packing their new restaurant into boxes. By late October, they were still pressure washing away the muddy resiue of floodwaters that flooded their dining room to 12 feet.
Though many businesses in Marshall were devastated and some washed away, Hallee looks back at those four weeks of operation with admiration. "It was absolute magic," she says, citing the enthusiasm of neighbors and the generosity of philanthropists like Helen Rich, who provided funds to help restaurants rebuild. Hallee and Ryan plan to reopen their noodle bar with one key addition: flood-adaptive designs to protect against future natural disasters.
12 Bones Smokehouse in Asheville
The vibrant River Arts District had long been a must-visit area, awash with art, restaurants, and culture. But Helene's onslaught left the River Arts District submerged, with 12 Bones Smokehouse owners Angela Koh and Bryan King finding mud in their attic. Having relocated to another River Arts District structure a few years prior, they weathered the storm on slightly higher ground, but their original building took a brutal hit.
Unable to be in Asheville during the storm, Angela and Bryan watched footage of their establishment being swallowed by floodwaters. Thanks to their second smokehouse located ten miles from downtown, they were able to resume operations shortly after the power was restored and employees were accounted for. With a smaller venue, they could simplify their offerings and even start planting some greenery in the back patio.
The NuWray Hotel and Maples in Burnsville
Burnsville's The NuWray Hotel and Maples, Susan Scoggins' beloved bakery, faced the full force of Helene's wrath. Five days after the storm, Susan, who had been caring for her 93-year-old mother, was able to wrap her head around the devastation her cafe had suffered. Her slate gray sewing machine, a favorite of local patrons who used it for making masks during the pandemic, was ripped from its place and half-buried in the debris. The mud-caked shards of teatime china lay scattered, and the guitar necks poked from the wreckage.
But Susan found solace in the community, which had rallied around the Keiths to serve free hot meals to desperate residents in the storm's aftermath. It wasn't long before the Keiths approached Susan with a job offer to helm the bakery of their on-site restaurant, Carriage House Sundries. By the end of October, Susan was back in action, baking up her popular chocolate chip cookies to delight regulars of both Maples and The NuWray.
Helen's Restaurant in Bakersville
Facing extensive damage after the floodwaters rushed through Cane Creek, longtime family-owned restaurant, Helen's Restaurant, has yet to reopen. Owners Mary Stafford and Donna have been forced to face the heart-wrenching truth that they may not be able to rebuild this beloved institution.
- Despite the devastating impact of Hurricane Helene on Asheville, North Carolina, in September 2024, Noodle Hole in Marshall, a new restaurant concept by the husband-and-wife team Ryan Martin and Hallee Hirsh, has shown resilience, planning to reopen with flood-adaptive designs to prevent future natural disasters.
- Southern Living reports that 12 Bones Smokehouse in Asheville, a popular attraction in the River Arts District, faced significant damage during the hurricane, with mud found in their attic, but the owners, Angela Koh and Bryan King, were able to resume operations at their second location shortly after the storm, simplifying their offerings and even adding a back patio garden.
- Another affected establishment is The NuWray Hotel and Maples in Burnsville, where Susan Scoggins' bakery suffered severe damage, but she found support from the community, who provided free meals to storm victims and offered her a job at Carriage House Sundries, the on-site restaurant of The NuWray.
- Helen's Restaurant in Bakersville, a long-standing family-owned establishment, has yet to reopen following the extensive damage caused by Hurricane Helene, and owners Mary Stafford and Donna are now contemplating the heart-wrenching possibility that they may not be able to restore this beloved institution.
- In calculating the recovery process for these and other culinary hotspots in North Carolina, Southern Living agreed that the situation was far from equal for the restaurant owners involved; establishments like Noodle Hole and The NuWray have found solace in their communities and support from philanthropists, while others like Helen's Restaurant face an uncertain future.
