Innsbruck Mall, Asheville’s sleepy shopping center, may awaken under new plans

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Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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A commercial real estate development company is marketing the Innsbruck Mall, one of Asheville’s sleepiest shopping centers, as a planned “mixed-use lifestyle center.”

RealtyLink is advertising 85 Tunnel Road as one its properties available for lease. That’s the location of Innsbruck Mall, which for years has languished as a lonely shopping outpost with few attractions other than a relatively convenient DMV office. The mall was built in the mid 1960s and encompasses about 200,000 square feet of space on roughly 20 acres of land. RealtyLink is a Greenville, S.C., -based commercial real estate development company.

RealtyLink’s website says the company specializes in the development of commercial retail and restaurant space. The website lists the Tunnel Road property as a “brand new mixed-use Eat Play Live development located 1 mile West of downtown Asheville.” (The Innsbruck Mall is actually east of downtown Asheville, but oh well.)

The Innsbruck Mall location is kinda hot right now. Back in August, Asheville City Council voted unanimously to approve a 103-room, extended-stay hotel proposed for Tunnel Road near the old mall.

The developer’s plans call for the construction of a Candlewood Suites hotel to be built at 49 Tunnel Road, which is essentially a massive parking lot near the mall. The hotel will be five stories tall and will feature a green roof, LED lighting, a small dog park, artwork from local artists in room, as well as surfacing parking.

Image link for Innsbruck Mall.

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Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

  • 1

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11 Comments

  1. Tiger November 7, 2017

    I have read speculation of supermarket Publix coming to Innsbruck Mall. Publix’s Charlotte Division media and community relations manager has said Publix has no plans for a store location at Innsbruck Mall. Also, I do not know if Ingle’s is still leasing the former location of Ingle’s #7 Mark I, and if it or Innsbruck Mall’s owner prevents another supermarket or grocery retailer from moving in.

    Reply
    1. Tiger November 7, 2017

      Has anyone heard speculation of Publix seeking additional sites in the Tunnel Road trade area for a future store location?

      Reply
  2. weavervilleman October 25, 2017

    Everything EXCEPT Office Depot and Big Lots will be demolished in these preliminary plans.

    Reply
  3. Matt Johnson October 25, 2017

    Nahhh…Bulldoze that property and build something that peopled want to actually visit. I’m all for preserving Asheville’s past…but sometimes some things are not worth saving.

    Reply
  4. luther blissett October 25, 2017

    The marketing materials are weird. They don’t map to the existing map, and talk more about the developments by the Asheville Mall than the actual property, so either I’m misreading them, or the aim is to demolish everything and convert that space into a U-shaped strip mall. Except we don’t see any renderings for that.

    I’d be happier to see infill/refit development: Innsbruck Mall is pretty sad on the inside, but it’s structurally sound, and I wouldn’t want to see quirky local places like Ball Photo uprooted.

    The Chunns Cove Rd exit on I-240 is a mess already, even without new development on that intersection.

    Reply
  5. Sara Morris October 25, 2017

    An indoor market like North Market in Columbus Ohio would be amazing there.

    Reply
  6. Big Al October 24, 2017

    I see a lot of potential here. With downtown being so crowded with tourists, this would be a great alternative for locals. Lots of free parking, easy access and a charming retro vibe.

    Reply
    1. Murphy October 25, 2017

      Some of that “free parking” is going to be consumed by the new hotel that’s coming in behind the McDonalds and Mikado… and the guests that will stay there.

      Reply
  7. Murphy October 24, 2017

    They’ve tried to polish this turd before… and it didn’t work.

    Reply
  8. rosie October 24, 2017

    Parking,Parking,Parking will determine the demise, in the long run.

    Reply

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