03/25/2026
Went to City Council last night. Thought you’d wanna read what I said to them…
My husband and I own Finch Grocery in Biltmore Village. Before Hurricane Helene, we fed and supplied Village employees, neighbors, and tourists. We lost our entire business in the flood—after the water receded from over our roof, it was as if a bomb had exploded in our little shop. Tea bags were hanging from light fixtures. Our thousand pound benches were found on Hendersonville Road. If you’re not familiar with where we are, let me assure you, that’s quite a way for a bench to travel! If I never have to smell the mud, rotting food, mold, and mildew I smelled during that time it’ll be too soon! It was thirteen months before we were able to reopen. And we’re considered the lucky ones!
I’m here tonight with my neighbors and fellow small business owners to remind folks that we are an economic and cultural engine in this town. And we would appreciate it if we were treated as such.
Have y’all been to the Village as businesses opened and reopened? Have you bought any art or crafts from Village Artist Market or New Morning Gallery? Books or plants from Gardner’s Cottage? Toys from Dogwood Darlings? Have you bought any clothes in the Village? Kitchen gadgets? Ice cream? Have you directed City Staff to use their purchasing power to buy food from restaurants in Biltmore Village for meetings and department events? Has Biltmore Village been in your mouths and pocketbooks? Because I know Costco has. And I’d like to see Council and staff give an iota of thought and consideration to our local businesses in the Village that it has recently given to Costco.
Local businesses that lost everything. Local businesses that constantly fight to stay alive and relevant. Local businesses that defied the odds and reopened. Local businesses that buy local goods produced by local makers with ingredients grown by local farms. And we, these local businesses are already here. We’re already here clothing, supplying, & feeding folks. We’re already here paying property taxes, fees & charges, & sales tax. Yall don’t have to convince us. Because we quite literally pulled ourselves from the mud & the muck to be here
