Village Wayside Bar & Grille to Reopen After Flooding
ASHEVILLE, N.C. — The Village Wayside Bar & Grille in Biltmore Village was devastated by the flooding from Helene on September 27, 2024, leading to its closure. Since then, its future had seemed uncertain.
However, on December 1, the owners, Mark and Polly Harding, shared some long-awaited news with their loyal customers—they plan to reopen.
The Hardings opted to sell their previous location near the historic Biltmore train depot and announced that their new venue will be situated in Asheville’s Grovewood Village, a site rich in history.
According to a news release, construction is currently underway at the new Village Wayside, located in the Grove Park neighborhood of North Asheville. They expect it to be operational by winter 2026.
This new location, previously known as the ELDR Restaurant, has connections to the Biltmore legacy. The property was originally part of Biltmore Industries, which was established with help from Edith Vanderbilt and was acquired in 1917 by Fred Loring Seely, who was instrumental in developing the Grove Park Inn.
Mark Harding expressed excitement about reopening in the restaurant’s new home, looking forward to serving their longtime patrons while also reaching out to the North Asheville community.
“While we will always treasure the memories from our time in Biltmore Village, this new chapter gives us a chance to rebuild and connect with the community,” he mentioned in the release. “We can’t wait to welcome back our loyal customers and introduce Wayside to new faces.”
The Hardings had managed Village Wayside at its previous location for 15 years, an area instrumental in the evolution of Asheville. When George Vanderbilt moved to the region in 1888, he envisioned both an expansive estate and a village. He engaged architect Richard Morris Hunt and landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted to turn this vision into reality, shaping not just the Biltmore Estate but also the village itself.
The original train depot was established in 1896 and served as a transportation center until it closed in 1975.
