When Hurricane Helene hit Western North Carolina, the devastation stretched across entire communities — homes, businesses, and lives uprooted in a matter of hours. In Asheville, the Tunnel Road corridor south of the Swannanoa River was one of the hardest-hit areas. Among the businesses devastated was a cornerstone of our community: the Goodwill store. For months, the building sat shuttered, its familiar aisles dark and its mission temporarily paused. Many wondered if it would ever return.
And yet — it’s back. As of February 20, 2025, Goodwill on Tunnel Road has officially reopened, and the moment is nothing short of symbolic. It represents not just the comeback of one beloved store, but the resilience of an organization whose impact stretches far beyond Asheville.
Goodwill’s Mission
For nearly 100 years, Goodwill Industries of Northwest North Carolina has operated on one simple but transformative idea: turning the sale of donated goods into fuel for social good. Founded in 1926 in Winston-Salem, Goodwill began with neighbors donating clothing and household goods, which were then mended and resold. The proceeds funded job training and support services for those in need — an idea that has since expanded into a worldwide force for empowerment.
Today, Goodwill operates in 31 counties across northwest NC, with a network of more than 50 retail stores and 20 career centers. Last year, Goodwill of Northwest NC helped over 34,000 North Carolinians access training, education, and job placement services, changing countless lives through what they call the “Power of Work.”
From veterans and single parents to people with disabilities or those rebuilding after incarceration, Goodwill continues to stand as a bridge between hardship and opportunity. Every shirt, chair, or book you donate is not just recycled — it’s repurposed into hope.
Local Impact
Here in Asheville and Western North Carolina, the Goodwill mission plays out in powerful ways. When you shop or donate at Goodwill, you are directly supporting programs that provide career training, job placement, skills certifications, and education pathways for thousands of local residents. One customer who spoke during the Tunnel Road reopening shared how Goodwill helped her through CNA school — a step that not only transformed her career but provided stability for her family of four children.
Another customer said she had just purchased a home and came to Goodwill to find items that turned a house into a home. These aren’t just stories of shopping bargains — they’re stories of empowerment, of families building foundations, of individuals stepping into new chapters of life because of a community resource we often take for granted.
Devastation & Recovery in Asheville
When Helene’s floods swept through Asheville in late 2024, the damage on Tunnel Road was catastrophic. Longtime staff member Andie recalled her sister calling her frantically, urging her to leave the area immediately. Phoebe, another staff member, remembered climbing to the mall parking lot and staring in shock as Lowe’s and Goodwill stood underwater. She admitted she believed that was the end — not just for the store, but for the businesses that made this part of East Asheville thrive.
And yet, hope didn’t drown. Phoebe soon began working with Goodwill in the aftermath, helping clean out the building and imagining a day when the lights would flicker on again. Volunteers, staff, and community members rolled up their sleeves. The work was long and difficult — but as of this winter, that day finally came.
Walking back into the reopened store is surreal. Familiar aisles filled with clothes, shoes, books, and furniture are once again alive with laughter, conversation, and grateful shoppers. Donors are returning, arms full of items to give. And woven through every conversation is gratitude — for survival, for community, for Goodwill.
Why It Matters
The reopening of Goodwill Tunnel Road is more than just a ribbon-cutting. It’s proof that resilience is not just about survival — it’s about thriving again. From its origins in Boston to its presence in Asheville, Goodwill has always been about second chances and fresh starts.
This comeback shows that mission in action. Today, when you walk through the doors of Tunnel Road Goodwill, you’re not just shopping. You’re part of a global movement that transforms donations into careers, hardship into opportunity, and loss into renewal.
Asheville is rising again after the flood, and Goodwill is at the heart of that story.
How You Can Help
Support Goodwill’s mission today:
Let’s celebrate the return of this community pillar and continue building a stronger Asheville — together.
