Provisions Featured in The Biltmore Beacon
Provisions Mercantile is Now Open in West Asheville
Provisions Mercantile, a modern-day mercantile for locals and travelers, will has opened the doors to their new West Asheville shop. Located at 728 Haywood Road, the renovated 4,000-square-foot store will provide shoppers with a varied selection of exceptional gifts, including items for home and kitchen, as well as inspired apparel for adults and kids.
Wife and husband team Heather and Matt Wright created Provisions as an homage to Heather’s grandmother Claudene McHone, an Asheville local who once ran a community mercantile in the basement of her home in West Asheville. The couple are native to Buncombe County—Heather was raised in Asheville, Matt in Fletcher—and the desire to build something for their community was paramount to them.
About the shop, Heather Wright says, “Our desire has always been to create a place not only to fill pantry shelves but a place of community, fellowship, and education. We want to create an experience. We consider the mercantile an extension of our family. To have the opportunity to open our doors in an area that I have known and that has helped influence who I am, feels, well, very full-circle. When we say, ‘y’all come on in and stay awhile,’ we mean it.”
Provisions Mercantile, which was initially housed in Biltmore Park as a temporary pop-up, specializes in curating merchandise you can’t find elsewhere in Asheville like carved wooden spoons and wood and marble mini bowls to one-of-a-kind gifts and local commodities such as Soberdough Bread, a bread mix that only requires your favorite local beer. Every customer can find something to delight and surprise during their visit.
The couple looks forward to opening Provisions as a means of extending their inherent sense of southern hospitality. During this unusual time, they wish to create a safe and welcoming space where basic needs can be met, as well as access to fun and creative gifts. Heather and Matt recognize there are still plenty of reasons to shop and occasions to celebrate—birthdays, baby showers, graduations, and Father’s Day, to name a few—and Provisions has the unique goods for anyone on your list.
“Heather and I find so much joy in deep conversation, a drink on the porch with friends, or breaking bread together. Our shop offers goods and products that create opportunities to deepen relationships and I love that. We hope you’ll find that same southern spirit and love of community and ‘the little things’ at Provisions,” remarked Matt.
During this time at Provisions, visitors will find arrows on the floor to guide shoppers in a uniform direction and only 15 guests are allowed in the shop at one time. Staff are required to wear masks and will pay careful attention to all social-distancing practices and guidelines. The owners gently request that shoppers wear masks upon entering the store.
Provisions Mercantile is open Monday-Saturday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Customers can also buy their products online at provisionsmercantile.com but should stop by the new shop at 728 Haywood Road for a truly mercantile experience.