ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — During the flooding caused by Hurricane Helene in late September 2024, the Biltmore Village district of South Asheville was submerged in as much as 20 feet of water. The flooding caused significant damage, closed businesses and coated buildings in a thick layer of mud. However, just shy of a year later, things are looking up for the historic neighborhood.

“Our biggest status update is that we’ve got businesses that are open and we have a group of businesses that are going to be open in the near future in the next few months as well,” said Kara Irani, the director of public relations for the Historic Biltmore Village Association. “It doesn’t sound like big news, but it’s really big news based on all the challenges that folks have faced here and how much of an uneven recovery Biltmore Village is facing compared to the rest of Asheville.”

Kara Irani, director of public relations for the Historic Biltmore Village Association, on Thursday, July 24 in Biltmore Village.

Biltmore is rebuilding

According to Irani, while several businesses will not return to Biltmore Village after the storm, nearly 70% of pre-storm shops will, with many opening this September and October. The full roster of Biltmore Village business should be up and running by the spring of 2026.

That includes the “fancy McDonald’s,” the Biltmore Village fast food location famed for its grand piano and handsome exterior but demolished after it was damaged during the storm.

“The fancy McDonald’s is definitely coming back,” Irani promised.

What is open in Biltmore Village now?

While full restoration of the historic district is still months away, much of Biltmore Village is open to the public right now.

“We have been encouraging folks to come in and walk around the district, even though we do still have places that are rebuilding,” Irani said. “That’s not just to support the local businesses here, which is a vital piece of recovery, that economic recovery piece, but also so that they can see the progress and the hard work that has been done since the storm.”

Among the reopened businesses are New Morning Gallery, the Grand Bohemian Lodge Asheville and Zen Skincare and Waxing Studio.

For a full list, visit www.historicbiltmorevillage.com/whos-open-hurricane-recovery.

Biltmore Village rebuilding photo gallery:

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