Following Hurricane Helene, small business owners in Asheville are struggling to make ends meet after losing their homes and livelihoods.
The community is coming together despite the destruction in the hopes of reconstructing what has been destroyed and setting the groundwork for recovery.
Hurricane Helene devastated the area, dealing a severe blow to Asheville’s thriving small business economy. New Origin Brewing, a well-liked neighborhood brewery that Brian Fetting and Dan Juhnke co-founded, was among the hardest impacted.
The storm destroyed the facility. Getting remarked, “We put our heart and soul into this place,” considering how the company, which opened in 2021, has become a gathering spot for the neighborhood.
Homes were left in poor condition and businesses were devastated by the flooding. A tree branch that crashed through the roof of Fetting’s own home caused damage, and the brewery’s losses are only partially covered by insurance.
Fetting and Juhnke have resorted to crowdsourcing as a means of support due to their rising debt.
The impact is also being felt by other nearby companies, such as Valhalla Indoor Axe Throwing, whose reopening is questionable.
Due to the closure of important attractions, the city’s renowned tourism industry is projected to suffer, especially during the busiest “leaf peeping” season.
In spite of the difficulties, Asheville locals are coming together, raking trash, giving out supplies, and organizing fundraisers. “We will not be broken, even though it’s heartbreaking,” Vic Isley, CEO of Explore Asheville, said, offering optimism for the city’s future. “Asheville will welcome you back with open arms.”
