Village Wayside Bar & grille to Reopen in Grovewood Village After flood damage
ASHEVILLE,N.C. – After being shuttered as being damaged by floodwaters from Hurricane Helene on September 27, 2024, Village Wayside Bar & Grille will reopen its doors, owners Mark and Polly Harding announced on December 1, 2025. The restaurant will relocate from its original location adjacent to the historic Biltmore train depot to Grovewood Village in North Asheville.
The Hardings have sold the property impacted by the flooding and are currently overseeing construction at the new site, formerly the ELDR Restaurant.They anticipate opening in the winter of 2026.
The new location also boasts a connection to the Biltmore legacy. The site once housed Biltmore Industries, initially supported by Edith Vanderbilt, and was later purchased in 1917 by Fred Loring Seely, son-in-law of Edwin Grove and the driving force behind the Grove Park Inn.
“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 wiht the community,” said Mark Harding in a released statement. “We can’t wait to welcome back our loyal patrons of many years and introduce the Wayside to the North Asheville community.”
Village Wayside operated for 15 years in Biltmore Village, near the train depot, which opened in 1896 and served as a transportation hub until 1975. The depot and surrounding village were originally envisioned by George Vanderbilt when he visited the area in 1888, and were brought to life through the work of architect Richard Morris Hunt and landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted.
