Local Residents Voice Concerns Over Storm-Damaged Ingles Store Replacement, Water Service Issue Reported
In the Greenville-Spartanburg-Asheville-Anderson region, a local news column addresses resident concerns over the delayed replacement of the Swannanoa Ingles store, damaged by a storm last year, and investigates an issue where the Asheville Water Department's after-hours service initially provided a…
Greenville Spartanburg Asheville Anderson, SC, September 24, 2026 —
Region, NC – Residents in the Swannanoa area, part of the broader Greenville-Spartanburg-Asheville-Anderson region, are expressing concern regarding the extended delay in replacing a local Ingles grocery store. The store was damaged by a storm that occurred last year, and its replacement has not yet been completed, leading to ongoing resident apprehension.
The local news coverage has highlighted these resident concerns, focusing on the impact of the prolonged absence of the grocery store on the community. The specific timeline for the reconstruction or the reasons for the delay beyond the initial storm damage were not detailed in the available information. The contractor’s name and the specific storm’s impact details were also not provided.
In a separate, but related, local service issue, the Asheville Water Department has faced scrutiny for its after-hours customer service protocols. An incident was reported where a resident experiencing a water outage contacted the department’s after-hours service, only to initially receive a robotic response. This automated interaction reportedly occurred when the resident was seeking immediate assistance for a water outage, raising questions about the responsiveness and effectiveness of the department’s emergency support system during non-business hours.
Further details regarding the specific nature of the robotic response, the resolution of the water outage complaint, or the specific date of the incident were not provided. The Asheville Water Department’s internal review process for such customer service interactions, if any, was also not mentioned.
These issues highlight community reliance on essential local services, from grocery availability to utility support, and the importance of timely and effective responses to disruptions.
Story summarized from the original created by JOHN BOYLE on avlwatchdog.org, see more information here.
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