y now you have probably already discovered that the place to shop and eat is the beautiful Grove Arcade in the center of downtown Asheville. What you might not know is the role it played during WWII. In 1942, largely because of the security of its remoteness, the building was commandeered by the United States Government for a wartime role. The existing merchants and other tenants were given a one month notice to vacate before the location was converted to the accounting office of the US Army. It would be sixty years before the Grove Arcade was restored and returned to its original civilian use as a center city mall for shops, restaurants, and business offices.
The idea for the Arcade came from E.W. Grove. He was a self-made millionaire who moved to Asheville in 1910 and began plans in 1920 to build the Arcade to enliven the downtown of the city he had come to love. He conceived of the Arcade as an elegant building that would be a new kind of retail center—in a sense he invented the mall. Architect Charles N. Parker designed the Arcade as a 5-story base with a 14-story tower, filled with shops, offices and living spaces. Grove died in 1927 prior to the completion of the Arcade. With his death, the 14 story tower was never built even though the five floor base was designed to support its addition. It opened in 1929 and quickly delivered on its promise, becoming the center of commercial and civic life in Western North Carolina. Tenants included candy and cigar stores, a haberdashery, a public stenography office, fruit stands, millinery shops, beauty parlors and barbershops, a photography center, bookstalls, and specialty groceries. Offices filled the upper floors. The Arcade was closed when the Federal Government took over the building as part of the effort to win World War II. Following the war, the Arcade continued under Federal ownership and eventually became the headquarters for the National Climatic Data Center. By 1997, the Government discontinued use of the facility and the City of Asheville acquired title to the building under the National Monument Act. A restored Grove Arcade reopened in 2002 after its sixty year hiatus.
Today, the Arcade is one of North Carolina’s most historic and beautiful commercial buildings. Outside, the Portico Market features farmers and craftspeople selling their wares—including local crafts, honey, handmade soaps and much more. Restaurants and shops occupy the first floor. Most of the restaurants have outdoor sidewalk dining—a prime evening spot in downtown Asheville for locals and tourists. The interior corridor features mostly shops and galleries. Their offerings include fine local art, antiques, fine gifts, and international cuisine. The second floor is reserved for business offices, and the third through the fifth floors are residential apartments referred to as The Residences at Grove Arcade.
While the sidewalk shops and restaurants are pet friendly, pets are not allowed in the interior corridor where the most serious shopping occurs. So, plan accordingly.