a historical timeline of grove arcade

Click through the dates of the timeline below to view historical times highlighted from the history of Grove Arcade and its founder E.W. Grove.

1878
1890
1910
1920
1927
1929
1942
1951
1976
1980
1992
1995
1997
2002

1878

Grove's Tasteless Chill Tonic Is Invented

“I had a little drug business in Paris, Tennessee, just barely making a living, when I got up a real invention, tasteless quinine. As a poor man and a poor boy, I conceived the idea that whoever could produce a tasteless chill tonic, his fortune was made.” —E.W. Grove

When E.W. Grove first suspended quinine in liquid form, he knew he had something big. In other words, the ingredients in Grove’s Tasteless Chill Tonic were not soluble, but suspended in the syrup. It may not have been tasteless, but his chill tonic became an overnight sensation and a household name for decades.

And make a fortune he did, although while his chill tonic was still in the experimental stage, North Poplar Street neighbors in Paris sometimes became upset with Grove as odors drifted from his pharmaceuticals bubbling in a kettle outdoors. Ironically, some of these families, including the O.C. Barton’s, became millionaires after investing in Grove’s Paris Medicine Company.

1890

Grove's Tonic Sells More Than Coca-Cola

Grove’s Tasteless Chill Tonic started to explode in popularity. It was created not as a cure, but as a preventative and relief of malaria and its resulting chills and fever. Those who remember taking the chill tonic did not agree with the “tasteless” billing, although it was better than taking straight quinine (which is extremely bitter). Quinine had been used for more than three centuries and, until the 1930s, was the only effective malaria treatment.

The chill tonic was so popular the British army made it standard issue for every soldier going off to mosquito infested lands and, by 1890, more bottles of Grove’s Tasteless Chill Tonic were sold than bottles of Coca-Cola.

in Paris, Tennessee, just barely making a living, when I got up a real invention, tasteless quinine. As a poor man and a poor boy, I conceived the idea that whoever could produce a tasteless chill tonic, his fortune was made.” —E.W. Grove

When E.W. Grove first suspended quinine in liquid form, he knew he had something big. In other words, the ingredients in Grove’s Tasteless Chill Tonic were not soluble, but suspended in the syrup. It may not have been tasteless, but his chill tonic became an overnight sensation and a household name for decades.

And make a fortune he did, although while his chill tonic was still in the experimental stage, North Poplar Street neighbors in Paris sometimes became upset with Grove as odors drifted from his pharmaceuticals bubbling in a kettle outdoors. Ironically, some of these families, including the O.C. Barton’s, became millionaires after investing in Grove’s Paris Medicine Company.

1910

E.W. Grove Moves To Asheville

After moving his tonic operation to St. Louis, the heavy pollution of the factory district caused Grove to develop lifelong breathing issues. E.W. Grove visited Asheville for its climate, which he found was good for his health and relieved his bronchitis. The Grove Arcade was the grand dream of E.W. Grove, a self-made millionaire who moved to Asheville in 1910 after establishing a summer home there twelve years earlier.

1920

Construction Begins on Grove Arcade

By 1915, E.W. Grove had completed the Grove Park Inn and became involved in other civic projects. Grove understood that a successful city needed a vibrant downtown.

In the early 1920s, he began plans to construct a new building to enliven the downtown of the city he had come to love. He conceived of Grove Arcade as “the most elegant building in America”—and as a new kind of retail center. Architect Charles N. Parker designed the Arcade, which was originally envisioned as a five-story base with a 14-story tower, filled with shops, offices and living spaces.

1927

E.W. Grove Passes Away

Grove died in 1927, two years before his dream was completed. Only the base of Grove Arcade was built, yet at 269,000 square-feet, it was by far the largest building in the region.

1929

The Grand Opening of Grove Arcade

When Grove Arcade held its Grand Opening 1929, it quickly became home to a fine collection of local shops and services. Tenants included candy and cigar stores, a haberdashery, a public stenography office, fruit stands, millinery shops, beauty parlors and barbershops, a photography center, bookstalls and specialty groceries. Offices filled the upper floors. For 13 years, from 1929 to 1942, the Arcade was the center of commercial and civic life in Western North Carolina.

1942

Grove arcade is closed during wwII

As part of the United States efforts during World War II, the Grove Arcade was closed by the federal government and used by the military for the duration of the war. Officials chose the building because it was large and located in a safe, remote place—important considerations in the war effort. Seventy-four shops and 127 offices were evicted with less than one month’s notice.

1951

Grove Arcade becomes home to national weather records center
After the war, Grove Arcade continued under federal ownership and eventually became the headquarters of the National Weather Records Center (later known as the National Climatic Data Center). Given its size, Grove Arcade was an ideal location to house millions of pages of weather records. It was becoming increasingly popular at that time to store data on pieces of paper called “punch cards” which could be read by early computers. Millions of pieces of paper were stored in filing cabinets throughout Grove Arcade. So many, in fact, that it was thought that the combined weight of the cards would cause structural damage to the building!

1976

Grove Arcade Added To National Register of Historic Places

In 1976, Grove Arcade became the first enclosed mall in America to be listed on the list – a point of pride here in Asheville.

The National Register of Historic Places is an official federal list of America’s historical buildings, sites, districts, and other areas worthy of protection. These are places identified for their significance in American history, architecture, art, culture, and more.

1980

Government aanounces plan to remodel grove arcade

Public support began to grow for a plan to return the Arcade to its original use. In the 1980s, the government announced plans to remodel and enlarge the building. The renovation efforts coincided with a push to revitalize Downtown Asheville, which had fallen into disrepair and was largely abandoned as a commercial center.

1992

Grove arcade public market foundation is formed

The G.A.P.M.F. was formed out of concern for the historical integrity of Asheville’s architectural jewel. Following more than a dozen considerations from private development companies, they all discovered that Grove Arcade was impractical for a conventional financing.The Foundation is a not-for-profit, 501(c)3 corporation with the mission of restoring Grove Arcade to its original form and function.
photo of grove arcade arch looking up

1995

NWRC vacates grove arcade

The National Weather Records Center in Grove Arcade was changed into a new organization, the National Climatic Data Center. A new Federal Building was built to house the new organization 1995, and plans for Grove Arcade to become Asheville’s new Public Market started to take shape.

1997

198 Year Lease Signed

In 1997, the City of Asheville acquired title to the building under the National Monument Act and signed a 198-year lease with the Grove Arcade Public Market Foundation.

exterior architecture of grove arcade

2002

Grove Arcade Reopens
Following years of construction and restoration, the historic Grove Arcade reopened in late 2002 to the welcoming arms of the Asheville community. Rather than endless rows of filing cabinets, local crafts & arts, shopping, restaurants, local services, office spaces and 42 luxury apartments now fill the building’s iconic and illustrious architecture. Today, the Grove Arcade serves its original purpose through E.W. Grove’s vision as the heart and character of Asheville. Grove Arcade also remains Western North Carolina’s largest commercial building and has become an essential downtown resource for both residents and visitors. We thank everyone who fought to restore and preserve this historic building. Through your effort, future generations can admire the architecture and come together as a community within these walls, just as E.W. Grove had dreamed about over one hundred years ago.