Episode 642: Asheville N.C. Chef & Restaurant Owner Eric Scheffer on Optimism and the Road Ahead for Restaurants

This episode of "Restaurant Owners Uncorked" features a conversation with Eric Scheffer, owner of The Scheffer Group in Asheville, North Carolina. Eric provides an update on his successful concepts (Vinny's, Jetty Ray's Oyster House, Ganshan, and a fifth on the way) and shares a harrowing account of the 2024 Hurricane Helene flood. This 1,000-year disaster crippled Asheville, leaving the city without power and water for months.

Eric and his team immediately pivoted, mobilizing their four dark kitchens to feed the community, eventually serving nearly 50,000 meals in partnership with World Central Kitchen. The biggest challenge was securing water: Eric brokered a personal "handshake deal" over bourbon with a Texas water tanker driver. This, combined with the ingenuity of a local plumber, led to the creation of a temporary, complex filtration system, allowing his restaurants to safely operate. Demonstrating remarkable community leadership, The Scheffer Group then helped 21 other local restaurants replicate the expensive system to get them back online.

Eric reflects that the tragedy changed his philosophy, underscoring the vital importance of deeply supporting employees who are often "a paycheck away from nothing." He emphasizes that in business, self-reliance is crucial ("the cavalry is not coming") and success hinges on the ability to pivot and be resourceful. Despite seeing the dark side of disaster profiteering, Eric remains optimistic about the economy stabilizing and Asheville's strong rebound.

Key Takeaways

1. Community Heartbeat: Restaurants are vital social and physical hubs, essential for leading disaster relief and support.
   
   
2. The Pivoting Imperative: Business survival requires an immediate capacity to pivot operations, such as shifting to counter-service, to navigate sudden crises.
   
   
3. Disaster Mobilization: Eric's group successfully leveraged closed kitchens and existing stock to serve nearly 50,000 meals in partnership with World Central Kitchen.
   
   
4. Resourceful Solutions: When city utilities failed, water was secured through a personal "bourbon and a handshake" deal with a contracted tanker driver and a plumber's innovative filtration system.
   
   
5. Mutual Aid: Eric's team extended their water solution to help $\sim 21$ other Asheville restaurants quickly achieve operational status.
   
   
6. Employee Focus: The crisis reinforced the importance of deep employer support for staff, many of whom face significant financial precarity.
   
   
7. Self-Reliance: External help (FEMA, government) is unreliable. The core philosophy is that "The cavalry is not coming," forcing businesses to figure it out themselves.
   
   
8. The Dark Side: Disasters expose the "disgusting" reality of individuals and companies exploiting human tragedy for obscene financial gain.
   
   
9. Optimism/Stabilization: Eric sees stability returning; commodity prices (fuel, distribution) are starting to drop, suggesting a positive year ahead.
   
   
10. Vendor Partnerships: Communicate financial struggles with vendors; negotiating product alternatives or pricing can foster collaborative survival.