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The Biltmore Village restaurant is facing major renovations after Helene brought in floor-to-ceiling water

The Corner Kitchen in Biltmore Village, NC suffered massive flood damage from Helene's impacts in the area. Restaurants had to lay off all of their staff and temporarily close to allow for reconstruction.

ASHEVILLE, N.C – The owners of Corner Kitchen in Biltmore Village, a neighborhood in Asheville, North Carolina, are working to put the pieces back together after the restaurant was destroyed by flooding from Hurricane Helene.

Kevin Westmoreland, co-owner of Corner Kitchen, said the water was “almost up to the ceiling on the first floor.”

The damage was so extensive that it took weeks before the building could even be rebuilt.

“The ground floor had to be completely gutted,” he said. “We will probably start rebuilding in a few weeks. We probably won’t be open for four to six months.”

BILTMORE ESTATE PLANS TO REOPEN NEXT MONTH AFTER HELENE'S DEVASTATION IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA

  • Damage caused by Hurricane Helene's flooding in western North Carolina is seen at the Corner Kitchen restaurant in Asheville, North Carolina.
    (Kevin Westmoreland)

  • Damage caused by Hurricane Helene's flooding in western North Carolina is seen at the Corner Kitchen restaurant in Asheville, North Carolina.

    Damage caused by Hurricane Helene's flooding in western North Carolina is seen at the Corner Kitchen restaurant in Asheville, North Carolina.
    (Kevin Westmoreland)

  • Damage caused by Hurricane Helene's flooding in western North Carolina is seen at the Corner Kitchen restaurant in Asheville, North Carolina.

    Damage caused by Hurricane Helene's flooding in western North Carolina is seen at the Corner Kitchen restaurant in Asheville, North Carolina.
    (Kevin Westmoreland)

  • Damage caused by Hurricane Helene's flooding in western North Carolina is seen at the Corner Kitchen restaurant in Asheville, North Carolina.

    Damage caused by Hurricane Helene's flooding in western North Carolina is seen at the Corner Kitchen restaurant in Asheville, North Carolina.
    (Kevin Westmoreland)

  • Damage caused by Hurricane Helene's flooding in western North Carolina is seen at the Corner Kitchen restaurant in Asheville, North Carolina.

    Damage caused by Hurricane Helene's flooding in western North Carolina is seen at the Corner Kitchen restaurant in Asheville, North Carolina.
    (Kevin Westmoreland)

  • Damage caused by Hurricane Helene's flooding in western North Carolina is seen at the Corner Kitchen restaurant in Asheville, North Carolina.

    Damage caused by Hurricane Helene's flooding in western North Carolina is seen at the Corner Kitchen restaurant in Asheville, North Carolina.
    (Kevin Westmoreland)

  • Damage caused by Hurricane Helene's flooding in western North Carolina is seen at the Corner Kitchen restaurant in Asheville, North Carolina.

    Damage caused by Hurricane Helene's flooding in western North Carolina is seen at the Corner Kitchen restaurant in Asheville, North Carolina.
    (Kevin Westmoreland)

  • The Corner Kitchen restaurant in Asheville, North Carolina is seen in front of the damage caused by Hurricane Helene's flooding in western North Carolina.

    The Corner Kitchen restaurant in Asheville, North Carolina is seen in front of the damage caused by Hurricane Helene's flooding in western North Carolina.
    (Kevin Westmoreland)

  • The Corner Kitchen restaurant in Asheville, North Carolina is seen in front of the damage caused by Hurricane Helene's flooding in western North Carolina.

    The Corner Kitchen restaurant in Asheville, North Carolina is seen in front of the damage caused by Hurricane Helene's flooding in western North Carolina.
    (Kevin Westmoreland)

  • The Corner Kitchen restaurant in Asheville, North Carolina is seen in front of the damage caused by Hurricane Helene's flooding in western North Carolina.

    The Corner Kitchen restaurant in Asheville, North Carolina is seen in front of the damage caused by Hurricane Helene's flooding in western North Carolina.
    (Kevin Westmoreland)

  • The Corner Kitchen restaurant in Asheville, North Carolina is seen in front of the damage caused by Hurricane Helene's flooding in western North Carolina.

    The Corner Kitchen restaurant in Asheville, North Carolina is seen in front of the damage caused by Hurricane Helene's flooding in western North Carolina.
    (Kevin Westmoreland)

  • The Corner Kitchen restaurant in Asheville, North Carolina is seen in front of the damage caused by Hurricane Helene's flooding in western North Carolina.

    The Corner Kitchen restaurant in Asheville, North Carolina is seen in front of the damage caused by Hurricane Helene's flooding in western North Carolina.
    (Kevin Westmoreland)

While none of their 115 employees were injured during the storm, all employees at Corner Kitchen and another restaurant called Chestnut had to be laid off, Westmoreland said.

He and his co-owners created a GoFundMe to help their employees with the devastating losses they suffered during Helene. As of Tuesday, the site had raised over $60,000.

Westmoreland said Chestnut, in downtown Asheville, was not damaged by the flooding. However, it remains closed as the building does not have drinking water.

“As soon as we have drinking water, the restaurant will reopen. We have staff waiting,” he said. “We plan to reopen on November 11th.”

But Chestnut's reopening could be delayed if they don't have water by then, he said.

HELENE RUINS FALL LEAF PEEPING SEASON FOR MOST WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA

FOX Weather's Kiyana Lewis is on the ground in Asheville, North Carolina, getting a first-hand look at the extent of the devastation left by Hurricane Helene's flooding.

According to Westmoreland, this isn't the first time the Corner Kitchen has been flooded. The restaurant also flooded in 2004. At that time, they received small business support from the government. Westmoreland said they applied for help again, but it couldn't come fast enough.

“In 2004, it helped us survive,” he said. “It has helped us survive and move forward so far, and we look forward to the SBA helping us again.”

Westmoreland said the Corner Kitchen also has flood insurance, which will also help them rebuild.

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