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ASHEVILLE, N.C. — It’s been over a year since Helene struck western North Carolina, and in that time, 93% of small businesses have reopened.
For some, it’s been a much longer road just to get to this point.
What You Need To Know
- Ole’s Guacomoles and Okie Dokie Smokehouse reopen after Helene
Both of the Ole’s Guacamoles locations suffered severe damage during Helene. Ole’s Guacamoles recently reopened this location in Black Mountain after many months of repairs.
Co-owner Elena Delatorre is prepping a classic appetizer, fresh guacamole, which is also the namesake for her family’s business. She says customers were excited to return, filling every table including the patio.
“We felt the love all the way, all day long since we opened at 11 a.m. for lunch. We got busy. We got crowded.”
About 13,000 people lost their jobs in Buncombe County after Helene, the largest number of any western North Carolina county.
Though the restaurant suffered great loss, Delatorre says Ole’s Guacamole was able to employ most of their staff throughout the past year to help with the rebuild and operate their temporary location.
“A lot of them have been with us over 10 years, 10 years, 12 years, and a lot of them depend on us. You know, they have family to support children,” Delatorre said.
But the Mexican restaurant may be an exception.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports Asheville’s employment rate in leisure and hospitality fell nearly 10% since August of last year through August 2025.
In Swannanoa, Okie Dokies Smokehouse also recently reopened its doors, welcoming lines of hungry customers.
But co-owner Jody Dunning said, while they still have some positions to fill, all the employees who stayed in the area have returned to work.
“We’ve actually had former staff who have moved on to different careers come back and offered to help during the transition times, and they just have called us up and said, hey, we’ll come help you,” Dunning said.
Both Ole’s Guacamoles and Okie Dokies Smokehouse said their comeback is thanks to their communities, which have shown immense support.
“We just feel that we’re part of Black Mountain and Black Mountain strong. We feel stronger than the hurricane. Stronger than the storm, Delatorre said.
Economic revitalization is one of the key recovery areas in the Buncombe County Helene Recovery Plan.
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Jordan Grantz
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