Grocerying in Asheville

Sav-Mor Foods

I don't have a lot of info on this store, but it is located off Merrimon in north Asheville. Some say it was former a Best Foods? Leave comments if you've got any information on this store. I've seen a couple others throughout the mountains.
Update: Anonymous said "Regarding Sav-Mor, it was a Best Foods prior to being Sav-Mor. The name has just changed on the front but the store itself (with the exception of some sundry items) and the staff are all the same as when it was Best Foods. It's owned by the Ingles chain and carries their LaraLynn store brand products. Before Best Foods opened there, it was a Winn-Dixie store and then stayed vacant for quite a while when that closed. Harris Teeter wanted to open a store there but, as I recall, there was some neighborhood resistance to it (problem with right of ways and loading docks) and during that time Ingles bought the property and installed their Best Foods store shortly thereafter."

Bi-Lo, Hendersonville Road

This Bi-Lo store serves communities along Hendersonville Road between Asheville and Arden. Bi-Lo's presence in Asheville is natural due to the fact that they are based just down the highway near Greenville, SC. This one is located at the corner of Overlook Drive at the base of a hill, across K-mart.

Ingles / Long Shoals Road (near Biltmore Park & Arden)

Ingles - Merrimon Road / North Asheville

Ingles is Asheville's omnipresent food retailer and is a homegrown chain too. Their stores range from new prototypes to smaller stores which still have a charm of yesteryear, and they carry a wide range of products to serve Asheville's eclectic population. The store above is on Merrimon Road, near Asheville Country Club and UNCA. The store at the top is the new Ingles prototype, akin to that of newer Harris Teeter, Lowes Foods, Bloom and Super Bi-Lo stores.

Food Lion - Weaverville Road (Newbridge Shopping Center)

This Food Lion store is located between Asheville and Weaverville, and serves north Asheville. Additionally, it is the closest Food Lion store to UNC Asheville.

Earth Fare - Westgate, Asheville.

This store is Earth Fare's flagship location and first store which began in 1975 and helped enable them to be the fine natural and organic foods retailer that they've become today. Read more about this store here: http://www.earthfare.com/storeinfo/details/3079

See Also: Harris Teeter - Asheville

Also: Greenlife Grocery
Unfortunately, I never did get a chance to get a pic of Greenlife Grocery, as anonymous #2 was asking about (who also mentioned that they were rated best grocer by the Mountain Xpress). However, I must say that they are definately worth mentioning and supporting. Personally I like them because they carry LOCAL organic produce (which seems to be a rarity nowadays) and it is my wish that there were more stores like theirs. Here's more info from their Myspace:
[yes, a grocer with a myspace!]

"The Asheville store opened on July, 17th 2004. The original Greenlife Grocery was opened by Chuck Pruett in July 1999, located in an charming old corner grocery on Hixson Pike in the Riverside area of Chattanooga. Greenlife Grocery is a full service natural foods store dedicated to bringing you and your family the freshest and healthiest foods and products available. No artificial flavors, colors, preservatives, or hydrogenated oils. We are committed to supporting local foods and local economy. We believe a healthy environment starts with a healthy community. We strive to support organic local produce, local meats, local cheeses, local breads, local supplements & body care, and other local goods whenever possible. We pride ourselves in offering as many organic options to our customers as are available. We believe that supporting organic is one of the best ways to make positive changes in people's health and the environments of local communities, and the earth itself. Greenlife operates two full-service natural foods grocery stores dedicated to bringing you and your family the freshest and healthiest foods and products available. No artificial flavors, colors, preservatives. The freshest and finest in Chattanooga, TN, and Asheville, NC. Greenlife Grocery is proud to support local suppliers of food and other natural products, as well as serve the Chattanooga and Asheville communities through education, events, promotions, and sponsorships. The original Greenlife Grocery was opened by Chuck Pruett in July 1999, located in an charming old corner grocery on Hixson Pike in the Riverside area of Chattanooga. Originally built as a Food King grocery store, the Chattanooga Greenlife has about 8,000 sq. ft. Greenlife expanded with the opening of the Asheville store in July, 2004. Chuck Pruett and his partner John Swann transformed an old A&P grocery store with attached laundramat, built in the mid-1960's, into the new 20,000 sq. ft. store. Greenlife Grocery Asheville is located one block off I-240 just north of downtown Asheville."