Since Chris Barroso opened Guajiro Cuban food truck in 2002, he’s built a steady following.
People come for his classic Cuban sandwiches, yuca fries, sweet plantains, slow-cooked meats with rice and beans, and other traditional comfort foods inspired by his grandmother’s cooking. “I’m a second-generation Cuban American, and cooking Cuban meals with my nana was a big part of my childhood,” Barroso explains. (He’d been visiting Asheville since he was little and moved here not long before opening Guajiro.)
Barroso’s original enterprise wasn’t mobile but rather a permanently stationed trailer along Riverside Drive in front of the Cotton Mill Studios, which is owned by his parents, Jannette Montenegro and Richard Patino. Just before Hurricane Helene, he’d transitioned his business into one of this historic building’s interior spaces. He had been working to obtain a liquor license and had plans for live music too. But Helene had other ideas.
The floodwaters nearly reached the building’s second story, and if the old warehouse next door had not taken the brunt of the massive flow of debris, the entire structure would likely have been destroyed. Recovery efforts kicked into gear soon after the storm. With help from volunteers, he and his family spent two months cleaning up the site, and thanks to a GoFundMe campaign, Barroso was able to purchase a used food truck—this one fully mobile—and get back to work.
Just up the river, Hi-Wire Brewing’s owners were picking up the pieces of their RAD Beer Garden location, which had also been severely damaged (and remains closed indefinitely). They had known Barroso and were big fans of his food. They’d even discussed partnering before the storm, but it didn’t make logistical sense at the time. But post-Helene, with Hi-Wire seeking a food truck to help feed patrons at their Biltmore Village location and Barroso ready to serve food again, the timing worked perfectly.
Guajiro reopened at Hi-Wire Biltmore Village on November 16, 2024, and it’s been a mutually beneficial move for both businesses. Despite the damage suffered in Biltmore Village proper, Hi-Wire sits on higher land on the edge of the neighborhood and was able to reopen about a month after the storm. “We have people coming for the food truck who are new to our beer, and people coming for the beer, who then discover the food truck,” says co-owner Bryna Frosaker. “It’s been a great relationship. And the food’s so good. I’m eating there all the time.”
Barroso agrees that it’s going well. He’s noticed past customers turning out and has earned some new fans as well, including a construction crew from Tampa aiding in Asheville’s recovery who’ve become regulars. “I’ve never gone through anything this crazy,” he says. “It makes me a lot more appreciative for what I have and for the community.”
