Heart of West Asheville is a new business coalition for owner/operated businesses located anywhere in West Asheville.

HoWa members and the group as a whole want to bring the businesses that make West Asheville special into one community organization. Together, we hope to shine a light on this often overlooked part of the city for tourists and locals alike. HoWa has multiple subcommittees including an Advocacy group, designed to help the group better support and advocate for important causes that impact our residents and businesses.

If you own or manage a small, “owner operated” business located in West Asheville - YOU! Examples of businesses who qualify would include retail, restaurants, breweries and coffee shops, dispensaries, hair salons and barber shops, markets, tattoos parlors, professional service providers to consumers (photographers, graphic designers, social media marketers, music instructors…), community organizations and non-profits, and more.

We are an energetic and passionate group looking to make WAVL a better place while still honoring what makes it special. If you vibe with that, you’ll love our group. Collectively, business owners can have a greater say in the future of WAVL and plan for a better future. We want businesses in this community to thrive, without compromising on the uniqueness and independent spirit WAVL is known for. Meetings will be a place where business owners are informed of important updates that affect us all, and in some cases, a place to organize against or for those changes.

This is a new group so currently HoWa is not a registered non-profit, however this is in progress. Stay tuned.

Yes. Monthly meetings, held the third week of each month, are open to anyone with an interest in joining. We are a friendly group - find the next meeting on our events page and show up!

Great question. As a brand new organization the board and officers have not been elected -yet. There will be regular elections happening soon. For now, it’s operating a a grassroots organization and any decisions that need to be made are voted on by anyone in attendance, or decided on in the existed subcommittees.

Yes of course. Many of our HoWa members are in multiple organizations and coalitions.

Patton Avenue Pet Company, rEvolve Buy, Cooperative Coffee Roasters and Cafe, WaxOn Batik and Dye Studio, BeBop Bottle Shop, Period Nirvana, and many more.

Fill out a membership request form on our website. Memberships will be reviewed by existing members. The yearly membership rate is on a sliding scale and you select the price that best fits your business size and revenue. Upon approval you will be asked to pay the yearly fee.