Asheville's River Arts District
The River Arts District is a creative haven, with working artist studios and galleries filling former warehouses and mills.
Despite being hit hard by Hurricane Helene, a significant portion of the River Arts District is open and ready for visitors!
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What You'll Find In This Article
Hurricane Helene In The River Arts District
On September 27, 2024, Hurricane Helene brought significant rainfall and flooding to Western North Carolina.
The storm caused widespread damage to the area, particularly in the River Arts District.
The River Arts District is home to many local shops, restaurants, and artist studios + galleries. Many artists lost their work, their tools, and their studios during this catastrophic natural disaster.
While some areas of the River Arts District have been able to reopen, others will take much longer to recover.
Restaurants, Coffee & Breweries in the River Arts District
Many of the River Arts District's restaurants, coffee shops and breweries were affected by flooding from Hurricane Helene.
To support the recovery efforts, we've compiled a list of businesses that have reopened their doors. We encourage you to visit these establishments and show your support.
Additionally, we've included information on businesses that were significantly impacted by the hurricane. Many are raising funds for recovery and/or to support their team. You can directly contribute to the district's revitalization through monetary support.
Open After The Hurricane
Baby Bull
Open
Casual burger spot with outdoor seating and a small but mighty menu.
All Souls Pizza
Open
Wood-fired pizzas and excellent salads. Try their chocolate soft serve topped with olive oil.
Anoche
Open
Agave spirits and espresso bar with a charming interior and outdoor seating.
Olde London Road English Pub
Open
English-style watering hole with a full bar and a menu of pub grub.
Grey Eagle
Open
Grey Eagle is reopened and even hosting events again.
RAD Brewing Co
Open
Family-friendly brewery in the River Arts District.
The Bull & Beggar
Open
Date night-worthy restaurant in a charming space.
PennyCup COffee
Open
Their location was spared but they have not yet reopened.
Grind
Open
Coffee shop with large garage door open with nice weather.
Summit Coffee
OPEN
Summit Coffee RAD is now operating as a food truck! Check their social channels for the latest location.
Hi-Wire RAD
Open
Beer garden with rotating food trucks.
Wedge Studios
Open
Brewery with rotating food truck and outdoor seating.
ButterPunk
Open
Breakfast stop with the best biscuits in town!
Closed Following The Hurricane
Rosabees
Closed
Rosabees was completely destroyed by floodwaters.
Pleb Urban Winery
Closed
Pleb's building washed away.
Wedge At Foundation
Closed
Wedge's Foundy Street brewery was completely destroyed.
White Duck Taco
Closed
White Duck Taco's building was severely flooded.
12 Bones
Closed
12 Bones was severely damaged and is closed indefinitely. Their South Asheville location is open.
Vivian
Closed
Vivian was damaged by floodwaters but plans to reopen.
Mother
Closed
Mother was not damaged but remains closed. Their South Slope cafe is open.
Chop SHop Food Truck
Closed
The truck was moved prior to the storm and did not receive any damage.
Bottle Riot
Closed
Their location flooded but they have not shared any fundraising details yet.
New Stock Pantry
Closed
New Stock Pantry was severely flooded and is closed indefinitely.
Galleries and Studios in the River Arts District
Many of the River Arts District artist galleries and studios were destroyed by floodwaters, though some were spared. Updates are provided below.
Open After The Hurricane
The studios and galleries below did not receive any damage and have been able to open, though their hours vary so confirm in advance before visiting.
North Carolina Glass Center
NC Glass Center is a non-profit, public-access glass studio and gallery. Shop around, catch a glimpse of their glassblowing technique or sign up for a class.
Odyssey Gallery of Ceramic Arts
An artist collective that features the dynamic work of 23 local ceramic artists of Western North Carolina.
Mark Bettis Studio Gallery
A working studio with paintings, sculptures, glassworking and more. It's fun to stumble upon a work in progress and occasionally even meet an artist.
Elise Okrend
Elise is a contemporary pastel artist with a working studio in the Wedge building
Hofman Studios
An artist-owned pottery studio featuring handbuilt porcelain that uses antique lace to create patterns. All of the pieces are just so beautiful and unique there. It’s a great place to grab a special souvenir.
Pink Dog Creative
Home to over 30 artists and features a mix of work, including handcrafted jewelry, portraits, mosaics, landscapes and watercolor.
Damaged By The Hurricane
Curve Studios: A working studio that was home to over 11 artists in fiber, clay, landscapes, jewelry and woodworking, among others. Donate to Curve Studios.
Riverview Station: A large, two-story building that featured the work of over 60 local artists, craftspeople and entrepreneurs.
River Arts District Shops
Not only is the River Arts District a great place to shop for art, but there are also a few shops that sell goods like clothing, gifts and home decor. Many of these shops are located at the bottom level of the RAD View apartments.
Jeffrey isn't just a jewelry store; it's an experience. This unique space blends gallery and shop, showcasing the exquisite designs of its namesake. Each handcrafted piece tells a story, reflecting the artist's passion and creativity. Stop by for a glass of champagne while you browse!
Wonderful Jewels + Wears showcases emerging and established local and international designers with a focus on sustainably produced collections. You'll find Italian silk skirts and hand-painted scarves among other goodies.
Rite of Passage is a slow fashion label with a River Arts shop. They design and craft clothing from natural fibers, Jacquard textiles, and re-purposed fabrics.
Wondering About The RAD FArmers Market?
The RAD Farmers Market relocated to New Belgium Brewery after Hurricane Helene. They are open 3-6pm on Wednesday evenings.
Getting to and Around the River Arts District
Location details: The River Arts District is along the French Broad River, southwest of downtown. It is on the east side of the river, with West Asheville being on the west side.
Parking details: Parking is free, but limited now that the area is a lot smaller. You'll find street parking around the businesses that are now open.
Trolley: You can catch the Gray Line Trolley in the River Arts District on Roberts Street by the traffic circle.
Is the River Arts District Walkable?
Prior to the hurricane, we would have recommended driving between the various areas. Today you can easily walk around the main section of businesses that are open.
At a quick glance, All Souls Pizza is at one end of the area and ButterPunk is at the other (~12 minute walk.) The bottom of this area are the galleries along Roberts Street.
There are a few exceptions to this, two of which are Baby Bull and Hi-Wire RAD.
And finally, Marquee is set to reopen at the end of September 2025. This is located in the Foundy Street area, which was one of the hardest hit parts of the River Arts District.
About the River Arts District
Early Days
Asheville's River Arts District was originally the city's industrial and commercial hub, close to the river and with an abundance of railway lines. The once-thriving industrial area was hit hard with flooding and closures in the early 1900s, ultimately leading to the abandonment of several warehouses for over 50 years.
The River Arts District as we know it today started taking shape in the 70s when a businessman and his wife purchased several properties and began renting them to local artists. Over time, many of these same properties were sold to artists.
RAD In The 90s
Next, in the early 90s, the Asheville Riverfront Plan began to take shape to revitalize the riverfront, with an emphasis on the environmental, recreational, and business needs of the community. It was eventually approved and would have a major impact on the surrounding area and the River Arts District itself.
The nonprofit group RiverLink, which steered the efforts to develop the Riverfront Plan, began to revitalize the River Arts District in 1992 with the purchase of Warehouse Studios.
Other buildings were also purchased and made available for artist studios around the same time.
Hurricane Helene
The River Arts District was devastated by Hurricane Helene on September 27, 2024. The French Broad River flooded and most of the area was underwater. Most galleries, shops and restaurants were destroyed.
Prior to Hurricane Helene in 2024, there were over 200 studios and artists in the RAD mixed in amongst food establishments and other shops.
Today, the district is showing its resilience with many spots already reopened, and a strong sense of a comeback in the air.