Answer Man: Patton Avenue Ingles under development? What's up with the old Stein Mart?

ASHEVILLE - Two readers ask well-worn, but burning questions that circle around one Black Mountain-based supermarket chain.

Got a question for Answer Man or Answer Woman? Email Executive Editor Karen Chávez at KChavez@citizentimes.com and your question could appear in an upcoming column.

Question: What's the story on the Stein Mart shopping center in North Asheville? Some history and current status would be appreciated.  Thanks.

Answer: In a previous Answer Man column, the Citizen Times received a similar, if not identical question regarding this location.

However, reader, I'm glad you asked. I'll take this opportunity to give you a more in-depth update as to the happenings of both this vacant commercial lot along with another.

As my grandfather would say: "Hold on to your breeches!"

First, a little history.

The former Stein Mart is owned by Ingles

Stein Mart had entered the 1973 building, located at 848 Merrimon Ave., sometime in the early 1990s, and stayed through the purchase of the location by Sky King Inc. in 1999. The former Stein Mart in North Asheville closed in 2020 after Stein Mart filed for bankruptcy.

According to the city of Asheville development and permitting portal, no new permits or applications for construction have been submitted for the site.

Will Palmquist, principal planner for the city of Asheville, confirmed as much.

"Regarding the property at 848 Merrimon Ave, the only recent application I see on record is the approval of a telecommunication co-location project," Palmquist wrote in an email to the Citizen Times.

The owner of the building — Sky King Inc. — is a subsidiary company of the Black Mountain-based Ingles Markets, according to an SEC filing.

I reached out to Ingles Markets CFO Pat Jackson for a comment on the Stein Mart location but didn't hear back by deadline.

What about the Kmart?

Question: A question for the Answer Person. Not the most vital, urgent, or explosive question, but a question nonetheless. Is there any update on the abandoned K Mart site on Patton and Louisiana? Does a business have plans to build there? I thought Ingles had plans for it a couple of years ago, but …

Answer: As we continue our 'possible commercial development journey,' I'll do a little bit of history here too.

The Kmart at 1001 Patton Ave. was conditionally-rezoned by City Council in May 2022 after much anticipation from the Emma community. Kmart closed at this location when Sears filed for bankruptcy in 2019.

As for the holdup on development, our city principal planner is here to save the day.

"The Ingles project at 1001 Patton Ave was approved as a conditional zoning by City Council on 5/24/22. They have not yet returned to Final TRC to have their final zoning plans reviewed. Once they do this and address any outstanding comments, as well as addressing Stormwater requirements, they would then be able to apply for building permits." Palmquist said in an email.

Per the city's unified development ordinance, Ingles Markets has until May 2024 to submit final planning documents and be approved by the city Technical Review Committee. Otherwise, the rezoning process may start over.

I reached out to Ingles Markets CFO Pat Jackson about this location too. I didn't hear back by deadline.

Recent Answer Person: Asheville Answer Woman: Update on Merrimon Avenue study? Chances of reversing road diet?

How much land does Ingles own in Buncombe?

Readers, you didn't ask. However, I do have an answer.

While the Stein Mart and Kmart locations are certainly of interest, many other commercial storefronts in Buncombe are owned by Ingles subsidiaries, or, at the very least, owned by companies that list Ingles Markets' primary mailbox as their primary mailing location.

Six companies list Ingles Markets primary inbox as their inbox and have Robert P. Ingle II as their primary manager in the NC Business Registration system.

In Buncombe, these companies own a little over 400 acres of mostly commercial property, according to Buncombe County tax records collected by the Citizen Times.

The collective holdings are tax appraised at around $275 million, according to the Buncombe County property record system.

Of course, this is tiny compared to the 8,000 acres of Biltmore Estate, but still a sizable holding nonetheless. Ingles is the second largest employer in Buncombe County, according to the Asheville Chamber of Commerce.

Most of the holdings are the 20 Ingles stores in Buncombe or part of the over 100-acre distribution center off of U.S. 70.

However, some properties are rented out. Examples of some Ingles tenants are the ACE Hardware at 1070 Haywood Road and the Chick-fil-A at 139 Smokey Park Highway, a property which is currently under commercial lease.

Other locations include the land south of Stein Mart, where the Sav-Mor Foods — a smaller grocery chain run by Ingles Markets — sits. In this area, Ingles also owns an adjacent house at 29 Lakeshore Drive, the apartment complex at 81 Lakeshore Drive and the front lot occupied by Truist Bank.

The companies that own these lots, Grace Plaza Holdings LLC and Mineral Springs LLC, both have Robert P. Ingle II as their primary manager.

The two large commercial storefronts at 1000 Brevard Road, next to the former Ryan's Buffet, are also owned by subsidiary Brevard Road Plaza LLC, which also lists Ingle II as its primary manager.

There are several "squint too hard and you might see Ingles" situations around town. If you have a question about one, feel free to send it my way.

I checked for any major permits recently filed for these locations, but was unable to find any big movements happening. If that changes, expect to hear something from me.

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Will Hofmann is the Growth and Development Reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Got a tip? Email him at WHofmann@citizentimes.com.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Answer Man: Ingles on Patton still coming? What about Stein Mart?