Nearly a year after Hurricane Helene struck Swannanoa, Ingles Markets has announced plans to reconstruct its demolished supermarket. This decision follows months of speculation and community advocacy for the store’s return, as it once served as a crucial resource for residents without transportation.
The grocery chain had remained silent on its intentions for the Swannanoa site until this week. Community members had been urging Ingles for clarity, pointing out the store’s essential role in the local community. In the interim, local organizations stepped in to meet food accessibility needs.
Pat Jackson, Ingles’ Chief Financial Officer, confirmed the reconstruction plans on Tuesday. The strategy involves demolishing the current structure, elevating the site, and constructing a new store that will also feature spaces for other retail businesses.
“Plans are in the process of being approved for the new Ingles Swannanoa Valley shopping center,” Jackson communicated via email. “We intend to get started as soon as we get final approval from the County.”
The Swannanoa site was previously occupied by a post office and an Ace Hardware store. It remains uncertain if these businesses will return once the new development is complete.
Buncombe County Commissioner Jennifer Horton, who has been instrumental in the push for Ingles to rebuild, has assured that a site plan will be made public after the permit application is submitted, expected within a month or two. No specific timeline for construction has been established yet.
“Ingles has met with our Buncombe County Planning Department and shared plans to rebuild their Swannanoa store on the existing site, which includes the spaces formerly occupied by the hardware store and post office,” Horton stated in an email. She emphasized Ingles’ longstanding role in the community, saying their decision to rebuild “reflects a deep commitment to the people they serve.”
Editor’s note: Ingles is a corporate sponsor of BPR.
