Asheville Mayor Appeals to Costco Amid Hurricane Recovery Setbacks

ASHEVILLE, NC — As Asheville continues its long recovery from the catastrophic impacts of Hurricane Helene, Mayor Esther Manheimer has formally requested that Costco reconsider its decision to withdraw its application for a proposed retail store. In a letter sent Thursday, March 12, 2026, Manheimer emphasized the critical economic role the project could play for the Greater Asheville area, where the storm caused more than $5 billion in regional damage and triggered a 15 percent unemployment spik