Recently celebrating their 10th anniversary, Pig & Grits, a Southern cuisine and barbecue restaurant, has long been a cornerstone of the Burnsville community. When Hurricane Helene tore through the region, the restaurant and its owners, Leigh and Melissa Howell, found themselves not only rebuilding their business, but also playing a crucial role in their town’s recovery.

The night before the hurricane struck, the Howells closed their restaurant early, planning to reopen the following day. Those plans quickly changed as flooding submerged Jack’s Creek Bridge, cutting off access to the town. Days later, when the waters receded enough to reach the restaurant, they discovered significant damage to its water and sewer systems in addition to power outages. Salvaging what they could from the kitchen, the Howells immediately shared supplies with their staff and local churches.

“It wasn’t only us, but a lot of different places were doing the same thing in the very beginning, because we didn’t know how long it would be for help to come,” Leigh Howell said. “Of course, the shelters weren’t exactly fully stocked. Knowing the extent of the damage and that the water system in Burnsville was destroyed, people from out of the area were coming to drill wells and bring in supplies. There were helicopters everywhere saving people’s lives and helping position supplies. It’s just amazing when you’re going through it; you don’t realize how much outside help there was.”

Amid the chaos, ensuring the safety of their team was paramount. Using the communication platform Home Base, they reached out to employees, but it took a week and a half to confirm everyone’s safety. Remarkably, many staff members instinctively gathered at Pig & Grits, knowing it would be a place of refuge and support. Together, they began tearing down damaged walls, pulling up flooring, and planning for the restaurant’s rebuild.

Despite these challenges, the Howells found ways to serve their community. Partnering with Mountain Strong 828, a local women-owned organization, they deployed their food truck to provide meals to first responders and residents in need. Generous support from US Foods helped supplement their efforts, allowing them to distribute community meals at the West Yancey Fire Department and a senior center hosting law enforcement and National Guard members.

During these efforts, Melissa Howell noticed a young boy peeking out of a tent and realized many children had lost their homes. Moved by the moment, Pig & Grits and Mountain Strong 828 launched the Pancakes for Presents Toy Drive, partnering with other local businesses and hosting a pancake breakfast with Santa to bring holiday cheer to families affected by the storm.

“We’re very thankful,” Melissa Howell said. “It’s our team and these amazing men and women who want to help, and every one of them has a heart for the community. It’s Burnsville who takes care of Pig & Grits, and without the community, Pig & Grits doesn’t exist.” 

The Howells also faced challenges at their other venture, the Mount Mitchell Cafe and Eatery, which sustained roof damage from 100-mph winds. Public access to the cafe has been blocked due to damage along the Blue Ridge Parkway, leaving its future uncertain. 

“October would’ve been our best month of the year for business,” Leigh Howell said. “The state park was shut down because of concerns of instability and erosion under the road. We worked closely with the park superintendent to bring a couple of items down for us, but as far as going to the park, he shared he is going to get us up there as soon as he can do so safely, and we’re still waiting on that. It’s just not a safe venture. We’ll see how that goes in the future; if we’ll be able to be back up there next summer or not.”

“We’re very fortunate that Pig & Grits is now 10 years old and is now reopened, and because of the community and the team, it is a self-sufficient business,” Melissa Howell said. “ I think when we look back, the survival of this will be because we all had each other.”