Brian Fetting and his lifelong friend Dan Juhnke invested not just their savings, but their passion into their establishment, New Origin Brewing. They undertook the restoration of the historic building themselves, acquiring skills in woodworking and welding to craft the tables and chairs that adorned the venue.

Since its launch in 2021, the craft brewery quickly became a favorite gathering spot for locals and tourists. “People began as visitors, then became regulars, and eventually turned into friends – it was an amazing community experience,” Fetting shared with YSL News. Travelers frequently stopped by to sample their unique small-batch brews available nowhere else. “You could tell it wasn’t a large-scale enterprise,” he noted.

When news of Hurricane Helene broke, the brewers prepared for two days, packing thousands of pounds of sandbags while anticipating some flooding. “We went to bed that night feeling good about our efforts,” he recalled. “The situation was troubling, but we thought we might get through it.”

However, on the morning of September 27, as Helene struck, New Origin was utterly destroyed. What remained was a heap of debris and twisted metal, as floodwaters hurled a train car into the brewery.

Hurricane Helene is among the deadliest storms to hit the U.S. in recent history, leaving behind unimaginable destruction. Despite weakening to a tropical storm upon reaching North Carolina, it still unleashed intense flooding, heavy rains, and strong winds. As of Thursday, the death toll has exceeded 200, with many still without power or water. Multiple homes and businesses suffered severe damage or total destruction.

For business owners, the situation is particularly dire. “It’s tough for businesses, especially for those whose homes were also affected,” said Fetting, whose residence was hit by a tree branch that pierced his roof. “There’s a lot of work ahead; we just hope we can keep our homes after all this settles. It’s really frightening.”

Small business owners, the lifeblood of Asheville and vital to its unique character and vibrancy, are now grappling with extraordinary challenges and losses. Many have lost both their homes and their livelihoods. One thing is evident: the journey to recovery will be lengthy.

A hurricane like no other

While a hurricane was anticipated, few expected Helene to cause so much damage.

Asheville had recently emerged as a popular travel destination, cherished for its quirky arts and culture and particularly favored by leaf peepers in the fall due to its surrounding parks. Visitors spent a record amount in 2023 in Buncombe County, which includes Asheville. Approximately one in seven jobs is tied to tourism, based on data provided by Tourism Economics to the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority.

“We’ve faced hurricanes before and are aware they can hit annually, but this one was uniquely severe,” Fetting stated.

On the night prior to the storm, Shane and Rachel Miller wrapped up their ax-throwing venue, Valhalla Indoor Axe Throwing, early to ensure their safety. “It was only then that we learned this one was going to be significantly worse than usual, and it still didn’t prepare us for what happened,” remarked Shane Miller.

Valhalla Indoor Axe Throwing served not only as a community gathering point but also attracted numerous tourists seeking a fun activity.

Based in the Asheville Mall, the largest shopping center in western North Carolina filled with various specialty stores, Valhalla is not anticipated to reopen for at least a month, contingent on the restoration of water and power. “That’s an optimistic estimate,” he recognized.

“Communities in western North Carolina, including Asheville and Buncombe County, are working to recover after the severe flooding and impact of Hurricane Helene,” stated Vic Isley, CEO of Explore Asheville, in a message to YSL News. “While our downtown area, accommodations, and a significant portion of our hospitality infrastructure held up reasonably well, many residents still lack power and water, and recovery efforts are just beginning in various parts of our cherished community.”

“This will definitely be a setback”

Rebuilding New Origin seems improbable at this point. Due to municipal regulations, they cannot restore the building as it was. “It’s not a viable project; we are trapped here,” Fetting mentioned. The flood insurance will only cover about one-third of their losses, leaving them with significant bank debt.

“We will have to find a way to repay the bank without any assets to liquidate and a substantial loan,” he expressed. Recently, Fetting and Juhnke set up a GoFundMe campaign aiming to raise $300,000 to avoid selling their homes.

Numerous other businesses have been completely destroyed or, if still standing, lost everything inside.

For Shane Miller, the toughest aspect of recovery has been “watching many friends in our community quickly decide not to reopen after the storm.”

As leaf-peeping season is crucial for Asheville’s tourism, the city will feel the impact of reduced visitors. The Blue Ridge Parkway and some areas of Great Smoky Mountains National Park are indefinitely closed due to hurricane damage, which is still being evaluated. “This will definitely be a blow,” Isley stated. “Our focus right now is supporting our community and laying the groundwork for recovery moving forward.”

Community Support

In the wake of the disaster, the Asheville community has come together to assist one another. The city is currently focused on cleanup efforts, clearing debris and distributing supplies, particularly in rural locations that are only accessible by dirt paths.

“From manufacturing to hospitality businesses, we all need water and power to survive, just like the residents. It’s tragic, but we will remain resilient,” Isley emphasized.

Miller mentioned he and Rachel feel lucky compared to other small business owners in Asheville. With Rachel working for the nonprofit United Way, the couple has been part of the cleanup efforts. However, it has been “challenging to process everything,” Miller shared, as emotions fluctuate throughout the day.

Miller hopes that travelers and supporters of Asheville will continue to aid the community by donating supplies or contributing to recovery efforts. Organizations like The Salvation Army of Asheville, MANNA FoodBank, and United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County, as noted by Explore Asheville, are in need of support.

Fetting acknowledges there is a lot to be done, but witnessing the community unite—whether it’s distributing food and water, donating to their GoFundMe, or assisting in the cleanup of a small business—has been “remarkable.”

“Keep an eye on Asheville and come back when the city is ready,” Fetting encouraged. “The city will welcome you back with open arms.”