Readers poll names Buncombe favorites, highlights community recovery

The annual readers poll released this week named a wide range of Buncombe County businesses and nonprofits as top picks across dozens of categories. Standout winners include Little Jumbo for best happy hour, The Hop Ice Cream Cafe for best ice cream and desserts, Finest for best lunch spot, Sunny Point Cafe for best outdoor dining, Malaprop’s Bookstore Cafe for best bookstore, The Orange Peel for best music venue, and the Asheville Art Museum for best museum. The full roundup includes runner up listings and short descriptions of winners in each category.

For residents, the timing of the poll results is significant. Many of the winners are small and locally owned, and recognition during holiday season activity can translate into essential revenue as restaurants and retail recover from disruptions caused by Storm Helene. Local nonprofits and arts organizations named on the list play a dual role by providing services and by supporting community morale during a period of recovery.

There are public health implications to that increased patronage. Indoor and outdoor dining, live music venues and crowded retail spaces create conditions where communicable disease risks rise unless businesses maintain recommended safety practices. Sustaining a healthy workforce is also critical. Workers in hospitality and retail often face irregular schedules and limited paid leave, which can undermine both economic stability and public health if sick employees feel compelled to work.

From a policy and equity perspective, the poll highlights where county and municipal leaders can target support. Recognition concentrates customer attention and spending, but smaller businesses in underresourced neighborhoods may not receive equal benefit. Targeted recovery grants, workforce training, enhanced access to mental health and substance use services, and strengthened sick leave policies would help ensure that the economic boost reaches a broader cross section of the community.

As the county moves through holiday season activity and ongoing recovery, local choices about where to spend and how to support employees will shape neighborhood resilience. The readers poll provides a snapshot of community favorites, and also a reminder that public health, economic policy and social equity are interconnected in maintaining a thriving Buncombe County.