SWANNANOA, N.C. (828newsNOW) — A new neighborhood grocery store is on its way to historic downtown Beacon Village in Swannanoa, with a focus on providing fresh food to the local community.
The Rite Buy Grocery, under construction at 106 Alexander Place, will occupy just under 1,200 square feet and offer a selection of produce, meat, dairy and bulk pantry staples. The store may also include a limited beer and wine section.
Owners Justin and Diana Rhodes said they are still navigating the county permitting process and do not yet have a firm opening date, though they hope to launch sometime in the fall.
“We’ve been working hard on our building and have more work to do, but we figured it was time to introduce ourselves and make it official,” the store shared in a social media post. “We’re excited and hope you are too!”
The owners plan to give the building on Alexander Place a facelift with color and windows. The building will include an ADA-accessible restroom, and owners are prioritizing essential groceries to serve the needs of the Swannanoa community.
The decision to open the store was deeply personal, according to Diana Rhodes, who lives in Swannanoa with her husband and has been active in the Swannanoa Grassroots Alliance since the aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene.
“With every community meeting and conversation we participated in, the calling to undertake this project became clearer and clearer to me,” she wrote.
The announcement has generated an outpouring of support from residents, with dozens commenting on social media to express enthusiasm.
“This is going to be something,” one supporter wrote. Another added, “We desperately need this in Swannanoa!”
Updates on construction progress and the store’s launch will be shared via social media and a forthcoming website.