Asheville isn’t often seen as a hub of African-American culture, but it is home to The Block, a historic black business district that dates to the late 1800s. While the area began to fade in the 1970s, it’s now seeing a renaissance—one in which new tenants aren’t forgetting to honor the past. Anchoring the district is the 87-room Foundry Hotel, which opened in late 2018 in the former steel forge for the Biltmore Estate. The hotel recalls its industrial origins with expansive factory-style windows and original pulley elevators, while at its acclaimed restaurant, Benne on Eagle, chef de cuisine Ashleigh Shanti brings contemporary finesse to traditional Southern and African recipes.