ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — Destroyed by the floodwaters of Helene on Sept. 27, 2024, Village Wayside Bar & Grille in Biltmore Village has been closed since and its future seemed in doubt.

But on Dec. 1, over a year after Helene, owners Mark and Polly Harding made an announcement all of their loyal customers have been waiting to hear – they will be reopening.

The Hardings decided to sell the old property, located adjacent to Biltmore’s historic train depot, and announced on Dec. 1 that they will be reopening at yet another historic location in Asheville: Grovewood Village.

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According to the news release, construction is now under way on the new Village Wayside, which will be in North Asheville’s historic Grove Park neighborhood at Grovewood Village. They are anticipating to be open by the winter of 2026.

This spot, formerly the ELDR Restaurant, also has ties to Biltmore, the release said. It was the site of Biltmore Industries — originally founded in Biltmore Village with support from Edith Vanderbilt — and was purchased in 1917 by Fred Loring Seely, son-in-law of Edwin Grove and the visionary behind the Grove Park Inn, the release said.

Village Wayside owner Mark Harding said he and his wife are looking forward to starting business back up in the restaurant’s new home.

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“Although we will forever cherish the memories of our time in Biltmore Village in the iconic old train depot, we are excited to embrace this new chapter as a chance to rebuild, grow, and connect with the community,” he said in the release. “We can’t wait to welcome back our loyal patrons of many years and introduce the Wayside to the North Asheville community.”

The Hardings operated Village Wayside in Biltmore Village for 15 years at the historic spot next to the depot, which itself represents a pivotal chapter in Asheville’s development. According to the release, when George Vanderbilt visited the region in 1888, he envisioned both a grand estate and a surrounding village. To bring this vision to life, he hired architect Richard Morris Hunt and landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted. Their combined efforts shaped not only the Biltmore Estate but also the community that became Biltmore Village.

The train depot opened in 1896 and remained a transportation hub until 1975.