Grove Arcade

Edwin Wiley Grove, the visionary who created the Grove Park Inn, also conceived a new retail establishment for Asheville, NC which he hoped would be "the most elegant building in America." The Grove Arcade is certainly a unique shopping destination with its marble floors, skylights, spiral staircases, arches, gargoyles, and Gothic ornamentation. It served as a retail outlet from its completion in 1929 until 1942 when the federal government took over to house government offices displaced by the war effort. It was not until 2002 that the Grove Arcade was returned to its former glory and intended purpose -- offering a most elegant setting for a wide variety of restaurants and shops. For more on the Arcade's history, click here and here.

Hours and Directions: The Grove Arcade is open Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. -6 p.m. and noon - 5 p.m. on Sundays. Restaurant hours may vary depending on the establishment. For directions, click here.