Earlier this month, Drew Wallace, the owner of the Bull and Beggar, a restaurant in Asheville, North Carolina, was able to start paying his staff for the first time since a flood hit in September. The dining room was completely submerged, leaving a layer of silt on the floor.
“It feels like a victory,” Drew said, reflecting on the challenges they’ve faced. “It’s strange to say, ‘I can’t wait for payroll to kick back in.’” Running a restaurant is hard, and payroll is one of the biggest costs. Luckily, the Bull and Beggar is on track to reopen on January 31, becoming one of the first to bounce back after the storm.
Hurricane Helene caused significant damage, with estimates of the total cost around $60 billion. The storm wreaked havoc, washing away buildings near the French Broad and Swannanoa Rivers. It affected not just businesses, but the whole food community, which thrives on collaboration among local growers, makers, and eaters.
Most of Asheville’s restaurants and bars have their lights back on, but areas like the River Arts District and Biltmore Village are still struggling. Sadly, Bottle Riot, a wine bar next door to the Bull and Beggar, has closed for good, along with El Patio de Guajiro, a new spot that had just opened. Many other beloved local eateries, food trucks, and breweries have also shut down, leaving a gap in the community.
Even Gourmand, another local favorite, was damaged just weeks before its planned opening. The owners are hopeful and aim to reopen next year, bringing back that special farm-to-table experience Asheville is known for.
Check out this related article: Understanding Florida’s Rejection of Federal Food Aid for Children: What It Means for Families | Jacksonville Today
Source linkAsheville (NC),Restaurants,Chefs,Floods,Shutdowns (Institutional),Agriculture and Farming
