Dunkin’ to Replace Long John Silver’s in Biltmore Village

Contractors with John W. Abbott Construction Company, Inc. have begun remodeling the former Long John Silver’s building at 781 Biltmore Ave in Biltmore Village to make way for a Dunkin’ shop, company officials said. The firm expects the work to take about 12 weeks from start to finish, and project managers are planning, if everything goes well, to have the store open before Valentine’s Day.

The renovation will largely preserve the existing building while updating interiors and the customer flow. Project manager Matt Erdy said the changes will be primarily aesthetic and operational, noting specifically, “It’ll have all new interior. The drive thru lane will change up a little bit and it will have some exterior seating on the very front.” Construction crews are already on site as the company carries out that scope of work.

Necole Zeigler, vice president of finance at Abbott Construction, described redevelopment activity as broadly positive for Asheville, citing the franchise’s popularity and the potential for job creation and improvements to the city. The Dunkin’ conversion is the latest revitalization project Abbott Construction has pursued in the Asheville area.

Local reaction has been split. Some residents expressed excitement about a familiar national brand and the convenience it brings to the Biltmore Village corridor. Others voiced support for locally owned donut shops and concern about preserving the character of the historic district. Those tensions reflect a broader local policy question about balancing economic development and historic preservation as Buncombe County's downtown tourism and retail mix evolves.

For nearby businesses and municipal planners, practical impacts will include short term construction disruption, possible changes in traffic patterns from the revised drive thru lane, and longer term effects on foot traffic and sales tax revenue for the village. Property owners and local officials will be watching how the new tenant integrates into the historic fabric of the neighborhood and whether the project spurs additional investment.

Readers seeking more information about businesses and activity in the area were directed to the Historic Biltmore Village website for updates and resources.