ASHEVILLE - Last September, floodwaters from the Swannanoa River submerged Ichiban Japanese Steakhouse up to its ceiling when Tropical Storm Helene rained down on Western North Carolina.

A year later, co-owners Richard and Jenny Chen stood outside the commercial property at 2 Hendersonville Road in Biltmore Village, unable to enter the severely damaged structure where generations of diners had been welcomed for nearly 25 years.

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