From Devastation to Determination: How Moe’s BBQ Became a Beacon After the Flood
When Hurricane Helene swept through Hendersonville, Moe’s Original BBQ wasn’t spared. In fact, the beloved local restaurant became one of the storm’s most dramatic stories—and most powerful symbols of resilience.
In an emotional and revealing interview with Michael Sundburg, Moe’s co-owner John recounts the moment they realized this flood wasn’t like the others. “We got pictures that morning—ankle-deep water inside. But by the time it peaked, it was seven feet high in the restaurant.” Two employees, Keith and Paul, had to swim out of the building to escape the rising waters.
A Total Loss—But Not the End
Nearly everything inside Moe’s was destroyed: food, equipment, inventory, even the HVAC system. “It was a total loss,” John said. “From floor to ceiling, everything had to be replaced.” But while the damage was overwhelming, John and his team didn’t just pick up the pieces—they started giving back immediately.
Just days after the storm, Moe’s transformed its parking lot into an emergency relief center. They used frozen seafood spared by the flooding to host community shrimp boils and fish fries, feeding emergency crews, line workers, and displaced residents. Pallets of water, socks, MREs, and supplies began showing up out of nowhere, delivered by neighbors, local companies, and total strangers.
A Hub for Hope and Recovery
Moe’s became more than a restaurant. It became a hub for relief and resilience.
Even members of the local homeless community, many of whom lost what little they had, pitched in to help clean up—and were met with food, clothes, and dignity in return. Some, John shared, even found their first jobs in years through Moe’s recovery efforts.
“We gave them dry socks, a sandwich, and a little work—and some of them started turning their lives around,” John said.
A Food Truck, a GoFundMe, and a New Beginning
With help from the community, grant programs, and a GoFundMe campaign, Moe’s secured a food truck to keep serving their loyal customers and paying their staff. “The food truck kept us going. We were basically working for tips, but we never gave up.”
Through the months that followed, they rebuilt—slowly, thoroughly, and with the support of a town that refused to let them go under. Crest Investment Properties and Dunlop Construction handled a full renovation of the restaurant. The City of Hendersonville, the health department, and various nonprofits all stepped up.
And on May 21st, Moe’s BBQ quietly reopened its doors. No big ad campaign. Just food, family, and the smell of smoke and second chances.
What’s Next: Grand Opening + Fundraiser
Later this summer—late June or early July—Moe’s will host an official grand opening with a Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting. That day will also be a fundraiser for the staff who stood by Moe’s side, worked for tips, and helped rebuild from the ground up.
A Story of Resilience, Recovery, and Community
Looking back, John says the hardest part wasn’t the mud or the paperwork—it was staying motivated in the face of so much loss. But with a full dining room again and loyal customers walking back through the doors, the reward is clear.
“Today, we sent out the first real payroll checks at full pay in six months. That’s what makes it all worth it.”
Moe’s story is a reminder that true strength isn’t found in the absence of hardship—but in how a community comes together to overcome it.
📍Moe’s Original BBQ
1794 Asheville Hwy, Hendersonville, NC
moesoriginalbbq.com
🎥 Watch the full interview with John, produced by Hendo.Today, and witness how a BBQ joint became a backbone of hope during Hendersonville’s hardest days.
📲 More stories of local resilience: Hendo.Today
