ASHEVILLE, N.C. — A mess of concrete blocks and the foundation are all that remain of Asheville Tea Company. The building was washed away during floodwaters from Helene.

What You Need To Know

  • Many people have watched the viral video of a building in Asheville washing down the river before getting split in half by a power pole

  • That building was Asheville Tea Company along the Swannanoa River

  • We spoke with the owner who tells us what’s next for her company after the devastating loss

“The entrance to the building was right here and the sidewalk still survives. There was a set of steps that went up right here, into the building,” Jessie Dean said. 

Dean started this business in 2016, but only moved to this location less than a year ago.  

“This space was actually the first space that was our own space. We had been in a small business incubator program, which was wonderful. Then we graduated from that and we moved in here. We had just set up all of our equipment and manufacturing processes and shipping and fulfillment processes and our offices. Everything was here,” Dean said. 

But then came powerful flood waters from Helene, washing away Asheville Tea Company down the Swannanoa River. Its ultimate demise captured in this now viral video.

“It provided me with some sense of closure or understanding of what had happened, but it was also something that’s just been like playing on a loop in my mind ever since. It’s just really hard to watch,” Dean said. “You know, we just put a lot of heart and soul into the space and the products that we made. It’s really heartbreaking to see it all strewn about.” 

Bits and pieces of her company are sprinkled throughout Biltmore Village, even as far as nearly a mile down the road. 

“It’s really, really sad. There’s a part of me that’s like, you know, happy to see them. It’s like little old friend peppering around, all around Asheville and Biltmore Village,” Dean said. 

She's now left figuring out how to move forward, but her mission remains clear. 

“We want to keep doing the work that matters to us in the world, which is working with local farmers and making great tea for our customers. We do plan to rebuild, it’s just going to be a long road,” Dean said.

Jessie says she’s received donations from farmers after Helene and hopes to sell teas during the holiday season. She encourages people to continue donating to all small businesses in the region impacted by Helene.