ASHEVILLE – Liz Tallent, the marketing and events director of The Orange Peel music venue, emphasizes the controversy surrounding the request for people to support entertainment venues in the wake of Tropical Storm Helene. Some individuals express reluctance due to concerns about added traffic on already congested and closed roads. However, Tallent and other small business owners believe this attitude must change for the venues to survive. "If we want Asheville to remain this unique, locally owned place we love, supported by local artists, restaurateurs, and retailers, we need to find ways to support these community pillars through the winter," she says.

"Surviving the Storm: Asheville's Entertainment Venues in Turmoil"

Local Tourism and Entertainment Venues

Local entertainment venues face a tough time as Buncombe County could experience a 70% decline in tourism over the last three months of the year, resulting in a loss of more than $584 million in revenue. The hospitality and travel industries, which make up 20% of the local economy and generate $3 billion in local spending, are significantly affected.Over the years, these venues have been the heart of the community, attracting tourists from places like Knoxville, Tennessee, Greenville, South Carolina, Charlotte, and Boone. But with the impact of the storm, business has slowed down. October and November are usually the busiest months for The Grey Eagle, with five or six sellouts, but currently, no shows have sold out. The storm even destroyed The Grey Eagle's outdoor venue, The Outpost at 521 Amboy Road, and there are no plans to restore it.

Governor's Message and Its Impact

Governor Roy Cooper's message to tourists to stay out of Asheville initially had an impact. Russell Keith, the owner of The Grey Eagle at 185 Clingman Ave., noticed a change. "It kind of hit home for a while having the governor say that. Our shows that usually sell out were only at half capacity. It felt like a strange recurrence of the COVID years," he said.Despite the initial setback, Keith believes people might have been misled by graphic images of storm damage or driven through certain areas and thought everything was closed. He emphasizes that Asheville is open and ready to welcome visitors. "We have water, and the community is strong. It's just a little dirtier and rougher now," he says.On Sunday night, Nov. 24, nearly 300 people attended a night performance at The Grey Eagle with opener Angela Autumn and headliner Odie Leigh. The audience's enthusiasm showed that people are still willing to support local entertainment.

Musician's Perspective and Support

Angela Autumn, a solo musician from Pennsylvania who lived in Asheville six years ago and now in Nashville, was pleasantly surprised by the turnout at The Grey Eagle. "I was not expecting so many people showing up in good spirits. I expected the opposite, but they were one of the best crowds on the tour," she said. She felt the need to support the city after hearing about the damage. "I was saddened but came here to show my support as an important place," she added.Liz Tallent, who has been at The Orange Peel for 18 years, notes that business at the venue has been flat compared to last year. With no events held in October, the busiest month for the venue, she expects business to be down at the end of the year.

Challenges for Other Venues

The anxiety about the future is not limited to The Orange Peel. The owners of Fleetwood's, a rock 'n' roll wedding chapel with a unique atmosphere, also feel the impact. They created a GoFundMe account to cover payroll, rent, and insurance in the aftermath of the storm.Co-owners Christi Whiteley and Mary Kelley said October business was down compared to last year, but November's success is helping. However, they are concerned about the months ahead, especially January and February. "The real aftermath is just starting. This month has been great, but the next few months are scary," Whiteley said.Wes Woods II, a USA TODAY Network journalist reporting for the Asheville Citizen Times, can be reached at wesley.woodsii@vcstar.com, 805-437-0262, or on Twitter @JournoWes.