ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Nearly a year after Tropical Storm Helene devastated the River Arts District, Marquee Asheville is preparing to reopen its doors — bigger, stronger and more community-focused than ever.

The art and vintage marketplace, which sustained severe flood damage in September 2024, will celebrate its grand reopening on Sept. 25 — just days before the anniversary of the storm that brought 15 feet of water through the building and wiped out the work of hundreds of artists and vendors.

“When we first opened four years ago, we had 120 vendor spaces, and they were full,” Marquee owner Robert Nicholas said during a walk-through of the space Friday. “Now, we’re opening with 320 spaces. That’s about 300 unique vendors.”

Nicholas said some vendors have multiple booths or showcases, but the vendor count represents a strong return — about 75 percent of former vendors are coming back, many expanding their spaces.

“These are people who did well here before, and they’re coming back with even more ambition,” he said.

The updated Marquee will feature dual checkouts, a redesigned layout with towers and kiosks, antique jewelry cases repurposed as secure showcases, at least one restaurant and a grab-and-go snack area.

The updated Marquee will feature dual checkouts, a redesigned layout with towers and kiosks, antique jewelry cases repurposed as secure showcases, at least one restaurant and a grab-and-go snack area.

The updated Marquee will feature dual checkouts, a redesigned layout with towers and kiosks, antique jewelry cases repurposed as secure showcases, at least one restaurant and a grab-and-go snack area.

The updated Marquee will feature dual checkouts, a redesigned layout with towers and kiosks, antique jewelry cases repurposed as secure showcases, at least one restaurant and a grab-and-go snack area.

The updated Marquee will feature dual checkouts, a redesigned layout with towers and kiosks, antique jewelry cases repurposed as secure showcases, at least one restaurant and a grab-and-go snack area.

The updated Marquee will feature dual checkouts, a redesigned layout with towers and kiosks, antique jewelry cases repurposed as secure showcases, at least one restaurant and a grab-and-go snack area.

The updated Marquee will feature dual checkouts, a redesigned layout with towers and kiosks, antique jewelry cases repurposed as secure showcases, at least one restaurant and a grab-and-go snack area.

The updated Marquee will feature dual checkouts, a redesigned layout with towers and kiosks, antique jewelry cases repurposed as secure showcases, at least one restaurant and a grab-and-go snack area.

New layout, expanded offerings

The updated Marquee will include dual checkouts, an upgraded layout with towers and kiosks and antique jewelry cases repurposed into secure showcases. The venue will also feature at least one restaurant space, with negotiations underway for a second eatery. A grab-and-go snack area and multiple bars are also in the works.

“We’re aiming for a breakfast-lunch spot up front and something more lunch-dinner in the back,” Nicholas said. “The idea is to keep people here longer — shop, eat, relax.”

While the full reopening is set for late September, Marquee hopes to begin moving vendors in by early to mid-September, with a possible soft opening by the third week of the month.

The reimagined Marquee will retain its original branding and recognizable touches — including the recently acquired “Wire Man” sculpture — but also introduce fresh experiences for longtime visitors and new fans alike.

The reimagined Marquee will retain its original branding and recognizable touches — including the recently acquired “Wire Man” sculpture — but also introduce fresh experiences for longtime visitors and new fans alike.

The reimagined Marquee will retain its original branding and recognizable touches — including the recently acquired “Wire Man” sculpture — but also introduce fresh experiences for longtime visitors and new fans alike.

The reimagined Marquee will retain its original branding and recognizable touches — including the recently acquired “Wire Man” sculpture — but also introduce fresh experiences for longtime visitors and new fans alike.

A cultural hub returns

More than just a retail space, Marquee has become a creative community and event venue. Monthly events are expected to resume, including its long-running Uncommon Market — formerly known as Asheville Flea for Y’all.

Uncommon Market, now in its 11th season, had never missed a date until last fall’s flooding. The event was moved to Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, but Nicholas hopes to bring it back to Marquee by October.

“Our vision isn’t just to be a marketplace. It’s a cultural quilt of inspiration — people come in and feel something,” Nicholas said. “It’s the vendors’ creativity that makes Marquee what it is.”

Rebuilding after the storm

While the building is structurally sound, nearly everything inside was destroyed. Insurance helped cover the building, but not the individual items lost by the vendors.

“That was about 120,000 uninsured items,” Nicholas said. “We spent the first few weeks just trying to salvage anything.”

Support came from community members and nonprofits. One group, Operation Blessing, donated an estimated $115,000 in materials to help rebuild interior walls and kiosks. Their volunteers have continued working in the area for months, assisting with recovery projects in Swannanoa and Black Mountain, as well.

“They’re not just in-and-out responders,” Nicholas said. “They’re still here, and that says everything.”

A personal and collective journey

Nicholas, a veteran antique dealer, also lost his entire inventory in the flood. “I’ve had to become even pickier about what I buy now,” he said. “What I’m bringing in is the best I’ve ever had.”

Along with his team and vendors, Nicholas sees the reopening as a chance to honor the past and create something new. The reimagined Marquee will retain its original branding and recognizable touches — including the recently acquired “Wire Man” sculpture — but also introduce fresh experiences for longtime visitors and new fans alike.

“It’s not just about the stuff,” Nicholas said. “It’s the culture, the community, the hugs, the smiles when vendors walk through the doors. We’ve missed that.”

Grand reopening details

• Soft opening: Expected mid-September (TBD)
• Grand reopening: Sept. 25
• Location: Marquee Asheville, River Arts District

“Our followers became friends. Our friends became family. And we can’t wait to bring the family back together,” Nicholas said.