Southern Highland Craft Guild Tunnel Road location. Photo by Chelsea Lane Photography
The Southern Highland Craft Guild is commemorating two significant events this year: the 70th anniversary of its Tunnel Road shop and the opening of its new location in the Grove Arcade. These milestones reflect the Guild’s long-standing commitment to preserving and promoting traditional and contemporary Appalachian craft while adapting to the ever-changing local landscape.
The Tunnel Road shop, a cornerstone of East Asheville’s craft community since 1955, has been a hub for locals and visitors alike. In recognition of its 70 years in business, the Guild will offer live craft demonstrations and complimentary refreshments every Saturday throughout June. The shop, which continues to carry a diverse range of works by Guild members, is a place where both seasoned patrons and newcomers can experience the beauty and skill of regional crafts.
“Customers are our number-one priority,” says Laura Spreitzer, manager of the Tunnel Road shop. “We not only want to sell things, but my staff and I know enough about the artists and their creative process to answer customer questions. We also serve as ambassadors for the Southern Highland Craft Guild and its mission. Sometimes educating folks and sending them off with a bit more appreciation for the area and its handicrafts is just as good as making a sale.”
As the Guild celebrates this milestone, it also looks toward the future with the opening of a new shop in Asheville’s historic Grove Arcade. Set to replace the former Mountain Made craft shop, the new location will continue to honor the region’s artists and their work. “I am so excited and honored to be a part of bringing the Guild back to downtown Asheville,” says Judy Dillingham, manager of the new Grove Arcade location. “This location is so beautiful and iconic, and the fact that it is only steps away from Harrah’s Cherokee Center, where the Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands is held twice a year, is icing on the cake.”
Dillingham emphasizes the Guild’s connection to the Mountain Made legacy. “I understand the love our community feels for Mountain Made,” she says. The new space will continue that legacy, maintaining the Mountain Made signage while adding the Southern Highland Craft Guild logo.
The Grove Arcade’s history aligns with the Guild’s own history, with both institutions born in the late 1920s. “The historical significance of the Grove Arcade juxtaposes beautifully with the history of our Guild,” says Dillingham. “We’ve only been here a short while, but already enjoy the welcoming warmth of the Grove Arcade community.”
The Tunnel Road Shop is located at 930 Tunnel Road, Asheville. Hours are Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Grove Arcade is at 1 Page Avenue, Asheville. For updates on opening events and shop hours, visit CraftGuild.org or follow the Guild on Instagram @craftguild or @craftguild.grovearcade.
