Grove Arcade
Downtown's terra-cotta landmark, restored and full of local shops
⏱ 45 minutes-1.5 hours👤 All agesFree
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Grove envisioned the arcade as the base of a much larger tower, a plan abandoned after his death; even at its built height the building is among the finest examples of 1920s commercial architecture in the South, and details like the winged griffins and the ornate entrances reward a slow look. The Explore Asheville architecture trail includes it as a key stop, alongside the Art Deco buildings that make downtown one of the best-preserved interwar cityscapes in the Southeast.
Visit craft: walk the central corridor end to end and look up at the skylights, then step outside to see the terra-cotta facade and its sculpted details. Browse the Southern Highland Craft Guild gallery for regional craft, grab a coffee or a snack inside, and continue to Battery Park, the Basilica of St. Lawrence a few blocks away, or Pack Square.
Practicals and fit: 1 Page Avenue, downtown Asheville; free to enter; shop hours vary by tenant. Nearby public parking decks. Fit: first-timers, couples, families and craft and architecture lovers.
What to Expect
Format
A free-to-enter historic neo-Gothic arcade with local shops, cafes, restaurants and the Southern Highland Craft Guild's gallery, plus apartments upstairs.
Best Time
Late morning or early afternoon when all shops are open; any rainy day.
Duration
Forty-five minutes to an hour and a half depending on shopping.
Tips
Look up at the skylights and step outside for the sculpted terra-cotta facade. Visit the Craft Guild gallery for regional handmade work. Use a nearby public deck for parking.
⚡ Quick Picks
Best For
A free, beautiful downtown wander with real local shopping.
Families
An easy, dry hour with snacks and things to look at.
Couples
Browse craft and architecture, then head to dinner downtown.
Pair With
Downtown Asheville's Art Deco blocks, the Asheville Art Museum and the Moogseum.
Time Needed
About an hour.
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Get Tickets →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Grove Arcade?
A neo-Gothic shopping arcade built in the 1920s by E.W. Grove, restored and reopened in 2002 with shops, restaurants and apartments.
Is it free?
Yes — it is free to enter and wander; individual shops and restaurants set their own prices and hours.
What is the Southern Highland Craft Guild shop?
A gallery of handmade craft by Guild members from across the Southern Appalachians. It moved into the Grove Arcade in 2026 after Hurricane Helene flooded the Guild's Biltmore Village shop.
Why did the building close in the 1940s?
The federal government took it over during World War II, evicting all tenants; it later housed the National Climatic Data Center before its restoration.
Where should I park?
Use one of the nearby downtown public parking decks; street parking is limited.
More Asheville Attractions
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Downtown Asheville
A walkable, lively downtown with one of the Southeast's best collections of Art Deco architecture — the historic Grove Arcade, indie shops and galleries, a celebrated food-and-beer scene, buskers, and bohemian charm. Free to explore.
Folk Art Center
Home of the Southern Highland Craft Guild, on the Blue Ridge Parkway — a showcase of fine Appalachian craft with exhibitions, daily craft demonstrations, and the historic Allanstand Craft Shop. Free to visit.
Asheville Art Museum
Twentieth- and twenty-first-century American art on Pack Square, with deep holdings in Appalachian craft, studio glass and Black Mountain College — plus a rooftop terrace that frames the mountains around downtown.