ASHEVILLE - The historic Biltmore Village keeps getting better as it rebounds from the floods caused by Hurricane Helene, with new and returning businesses bringing more vibrancy to the district.
A pizzeria food trailer that diners have followed for years has entered its first stage of developing its brick-and-mortar eatery, restoring a storm-ravaged building.
Brittany Kroeyr-Brown and Matthew Brown have operated the Paperhouse Pizza mobile food trailer since 2024. Kroeyr-Brown started the business as a tabletop pop-up in 2022.
In 2027, the couple plans to welcome guests to their first brick-and-mortar version of the eatery, finally getting it the permanent home they've long desired at 30 Lodge St.
"The food trailer is great. We get to go to different
places and have different groups of regulars for each, but the idea is to have that anchoring space where people can come to us instead of us going to find people where they are," Brown said.
Kroeyr-Brown said that when earlier plans for their original brick-and-mortar idea didn't work out, they pivoted to launch the food trailer. Helene once again caused them to put the restaurant on the back burner until the ideal opportunity presented itself.
After the derailments, Paperhouse Pizza is intended to open in the former Village Wayside Bar and Grille, which closed when the Swannanoa River flooded to a record 27.33 feet in Biltmore Village during Helene. Before it was a restaurant, the historic building, just outside of the famed Biltmore Estate, was a train depot.
Village Wayside is on track to reopen at a new address, 111 Grovewood Road in the historic Grove Park neighborhood, near the Omni Grove Park Inn.
Considering the unprecedented natural disaster, Kroeyr-Brown said they were hesitant to open in Biltmore Village but were more excited to preserve the past. The building was gutted, and the renovation is planned to incorporate water-resilient components.
"Bringing that area back was important to Asheville and us, and we're happy to be a part of its history," Kroeyr-Brown said.
Where to find Paperhouse Pizza
Diners don't have to wait until next year to get their hands on a Paperhouse Pizza pie.
Paperhouse Pizza regularly visits local breweries, including New Belgium Brewing on Wednesdays and Diatribe Brewing on Fridays. In September, they will also alternate serving taproom guests at Zillicoah Beer Co. in Woodfin and Burning Blush Brewery in Mills River on Sundays.
Brown said the brick-and-mortar will allow them to dish out the best hospitality, serve customers from an expanded menu of pizzas and other dishes, and offer a full bar.
He said the pizzeria is envisioned to be a neighborhood restaurant with locals at the forefront, though tourists will also be warmly welcomed as they visit Biltmore Village and Biltmore Estate.
The entrepreneurs will decide later if the pizza trailer will continue operating after the brick-and-mortar opens.
Paperhouse Pizza doesn't adhere to one style of pizza or region, which could be limiting. Sourdough crust forms the base of the artisanal pie, with light, non-cumbersome topping options that complement the dough.
The bestselling pizza is the Margherita Burrata, with others like the seasonal Green Tomato and the veggie-centric White pizzas becoming unassuming crowd-pleasers.
"Our pizza is about that slow-developed sourdough flavor. It's important to us that the dough be light, and have this almost marshmallowy crumb on the inside, and get that nice blister-char flavor on the outside. Everything else flows from that," Brown said.
View Paperhouse Pizza's menu and food truck schedule at paperhousepizza.com.
Tiana Kennell is the food and dining reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Co., covering the food and beverage industry, including the James Beard Awards, Michelin Awards, restaurant openings, closings and other hospitality industry news and events. Tips, comments, questions? Email tkennell@citizentimes.com or follow @PrincessOfPage on Instagram. Sign up for AVL Bites and Brews, our weekly food and drink newsletter here.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: An Asheville mobile pizzeria to open a brick-and-mortar with more pies
