Year Two in Review
When I wrote last year’s anniversary post, I imagined spending the next twelve months fine‑tuning strategy and polishing new programs. Then Hurricane Helene barreled through, turning long‑term plans into day‑to‑day triage. What followed was the most demanding—and, in many ways, the most inspiring—year I’ve experienced in downtown work.
The weeks after the storm felt surreal. Storefronts were dark, sidewalks were quiet, and the questions pouring in were urgent: Where do I get relief funds? When will visitors feel safe returning? So we pivoted fast. Partnering with our friends at Go Local, we held a series of recovery info sessions that filled the room and spilled onto livestreams. They weren’t glamorous—just five-gallon buckets to flush the toilets, coffee, and hard questions—but they reminded us how willing this community is to rally for its own.
Through suggestions from stakeholders, the “Doors Open Downtown” campaign was launched with orange balloons and across social feeds. Foot traffic spiked on those Saturdays in October. Re‑opening wasn’t enough; downtown businesses needed cash registers ringing. We were fortunate that the Winter in Downtown Campaign was fully baked and fully funded, with winter lights hung in November along with pole banners, a Winter Window competition for retailers, and a micro-grant campaign with Bank of America to encourage local spending for the holidays. This in combination with a reimagined Holiday Parade, countless artisan markets, and the Grove Arcade Tree Lighting filled our streets with hope for the future.
We heard from our community, and Downtown businesses encouraging us to re-think our signature events. Downtown After 5 moved into Pack Square, and the impact on surrounding restaurants and shops was immediate. A single evening of live music translated into packed patios and lines at the registers—exactly the infusion our merchants had been waiting for since the storm. Hosting the Steep Canyon Rangers on a post‑holiday Thursday was strategic, and it paid off. People flooded in on a night that’s usually quiet, proving that strong programming can create its own calendar. South Slope’s July 4 Block Party, which prioritized highlighting brick and mortar businesses, had significant economic impact. Breweries and restaurants reported their best day since Helene, and many had their best day since the last July 4 event.
The launch of the Asheville Downtown Improvement District (ADID) may be the biggest achievement of the year. With the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce at our side, we hired a cadre of ambassadors who now spend their days sweeping sidewalks, removing graffiti, giving directions, and offering a helpful presence to the community. Business owners tell me the change is tangible: morning deliveries arrive to cleaner stoops; visitors get a friendly “hello”—and folks are being connected to important, life-changing resources.
Helene taught us that small touches matter. Flower baskets now hang from North Lexington to Pritchard Park, re-enforcing the notion that Downtown is cared for. Pritchard Park is activated with live music, dance, and even science. July is Independent Retailer Month, produced with Explore Asheville, Go Local, and the Merchants of Downtown, drawing customers to local businesses when Prime deals are hot. None of it is flashy on its own, but together these touches thread a sense of invitation through every block.
To meet the pace of change, we welcomed a Deputy Director, Development Manager, and Program Coordinator—expanding our capacity to respond when members call, to engage sponsors, and to keep projects moving. Our Board of Directors leaned in harder than ever, scheduling extra meetings, phoning legislators, and volunteering at events. Their steady hands turned an emergency year into a forward‑looking one.
Downtown’s rebound is real, but momentum can be fragile. If you believe in a vibrant, inclusive city center, there are easy ways to help: Renew your membership or join for the first time. Consider a Community Partnership—unrestricted support that fuels placemaking, events, and policy initiatives. Volunteer on a committee or at an event. We truly couldn’t do this work without the nearly 1000 people who support this organization.
My door is always open. Whether you’ve got an idea, a concern, or a spare hour to lend, I’d love to hear from you. Here’s to another year of building a Downtown that is welcoming, resilient, and distinctly Asheville—for residents, for visitors, and for every business that calls these streets home.
Loyally,
Hayden Plemmons
