ASHEVILLE – Nearly two days after Tropical Storm Helene arrived in Asheville on Sept. 27, Austin Fuertes waded through knee-high floodwaters and mud that swept through the aisles of the Walmart Supercenter in East Asheville.
The Swannanoa River rose nearly 6 feet above the record and crested at 26.1 feet. during the historic storm that killed more than 100 people in Western North Carolina.
“The devastation was evident. You could see merchandise from about waist-high had been strewn across the store,” said Fuertes, an Asheville resident and store manager of store No. 1317. “It was very heavy because, at that moment, I knew how tough and how long to recovery it would be not only for the store, but it gave more clarity to what I already knew ― that Western North Carolina as a whole had a long way to go for recovery.”
On Feb. 14, the Walmart at 125 Bleachery Blvd., near Swannanoa River and Tunnel roads, partially reopened.
Walmart Supercenter reopened after Tropical Storm Helene at 125 Bleachery Boulevard on Feb. 14, 2025.
The occasion was marked with an uplifting, balloon-studded celebratory ribbon-cutting ceremony where updates were shared, and special recognition awards and a gift to a local food relief nonprofit were presented.
Fuertes, addressing more than 100 staff, first responders, community leaders and customers, thanked the store No. 1317 staff, construction team, and the many others who contributed to the monthslong cleaning, remodeling and restoration process.
Joe Swingle, a 38-year Walmart employee, was selected to cut the ribbon using a pair of large blue scissors.
Swingle began with the company in 1986. He’s worked at four stores between Atlanta and Asheville. He helped open the original Tunnel Road Walmart in 1990 and the relocated store in 2005.
On Feb. 14, 2025, Walmart associate Joe Swingle cuts the ribbon at the ceremony celebrating the reopening of the supercenter at 125 Bleachery Road in East Asheville after Tropical Storm Helene.
He was promoted to store manager within that time and later stepped back to become assistant manager. He is now a part-time sales associate. He said that two months ago, he returned to work at the East Asheville store, pitching in on tasks like installing fixtures and placing merchandise.
More: Isolated from the world, Asheville residents scavenge for food amid Helene floods
He said he’d never experienced anything like Helene, not even the COVID-19 pandemic.
“First time for everything. First time to ever have to go through this,” Swingle said. “I know people had a hard time with COVID, but it’s nothing like what’s going on with Helene. You could wear a mask any place you wanted to. Now, it’s, ‘Can I get the stuff I need?’ That’s why we’ve tried to get this (store) opened back up as quick as we can.”
Job openings at Walmart
Fuertes said that before Helene, the store employed about 320.
Fuertes said all were accounted for after Helene. He said an estimated 80% were reassigned to the stores of their choice while the East Asheville store was closed post-Helene, including in Weaverville, Arden and across North Carolina.
Muddied water covers the floor inside Walmart on Bleachery Boulevard after Tropical Storm Helene, in a video published on the store’s Facebook page.
“We accommodated associates at whatever location was most convenient for them,” said Ivy Barney, Walmart’s senior vice president of operations for the East Coast. “If they went and stayed with family or friends or relocated to other parts of the state we would accommodate them.”
Barney said those who returned were reinstated to their previous positions.
Walmart is hiring for all positions. Apply at careers.walmart.com. The average hourly wage is reported to be about $18.
More: Living wage for Asheville, Buncombe County up 5% amid post-Helene economic uncertainty
Swingle said Walmart made it possible for him to retire.
“I can’t express enough to the young people that if they stay with the job, learn the job and put in their time they can have a full life after they get done with work,” he said.
According to Just Economics of Western North Carolina, a nonprofit advocacy group, the 2025 living wage for a single person renting a one-bedroom apartment in Buncombe County is $23.15 an hour, or more than $48,000 annually.
A ‘new and improved’ Walmart shopping experience
The East Asheville store only has dry groceries, snacks, beverages, and the general merchandise departments, like fashion and electronics. The fresh produce and freezer sections, remains closed.
Staff, first responders and community leaders were a part of the grand reopening ceremony at the East Asheville Walmart Supercenter on Feb. 14, 2025.
Barney said the store will reopen fully in the spring.
She said several improvements were made during the remodel with a new floor plan and new fashion brands. New layouts were rolled out for the home, infant and pet departments, which include specialty displays.
Storm damage and remodeling costs and revenue losses were not disclosed.
Christy Fry, a customer and Candler resident, visited the store with her family on the morning of Feb. 14. While the East Asheville store was closed, she shopped at the Arden and Waynesville locations.
“It feels great. It’s nice to come back out and support the community,” Fry said.
Several food and beverage companies and area restaurants participated in the celebration, distributing free samples, hot snacks and coffee, coupons and swag in the store and parking lot.
‘Making a Difference’ and other awards
Three Walmart employees, Fuertes and store leads Madonna McCoy and Carlos Wardlaw, received the company’s Making a Difference Awards, recognizing their above-and-beyond work during Tropical Storm Helene’s recovery.
(left to right) Walmart market manager Greg Oliver, senior vice president of operations for the East Coast Ivy Barney, and store manager Austin Fuertes present Manna FoodBank’s corporate engagement manager Olivia Onderlinde with a $500,000 check on Feb. 14, 2025.
MANNA FoodBank was presented with a $500,000 check to aid the nonprofit’s recovery after its Asheville headquarters and warehouse were washed away by the Swannanoa River during the storm.
“Walmart has been an incredible partner of ours for years but for them to come alongside us means so much for MANNA and our entire community,” said Olivia Onderlinde, corporate engagement manager.
She said the gift would help construct the new Mills River facility’s 15,000-square-foot freezer, cooler and refrigerator space. MANNA serves 16 WNC counties and the Qualla Boundary, distributing an average of 57,000 pounds of food daily to individuals and families facing hunger.
Little Debbie mascot greets customers at the East Asheville Walmart Supercenter reopening at Feb. 14, 2025.
More: Isolated from the world, Asheville residents scavenge for food amid Helene floods
Fuertes said the East Asheville store is a lifeline for many families and Helene hard-hit communities like Oteen, Swannanoa and Biltmore Village.
“It added a level of gravity to the situation,” Fuertes said. “We wanted to get reopened for the community as fast as possible.”
Walmart Supercenter, No. 1317
Where: 125 Bleachery Blvd., East Asheville.
Hours: 6 a.m.-11 p.m. daily.
Info: For more, visit walmart.com.
Tiana Kennell is the food and dining reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Tips, comments, questions? Email [email protected] or follow @PrincessOfPage on Instagram/Bluesky.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Walmart near Tunnel Road partially reopens after Tropical Storm Helene
