Answer Man: Ingles store closure rumor squashed? Where to watch planes?

Today’s batch of burning questions, my smart-aleck answers and the real deal:

Question: I’ve heard a rumor that Ingles will be moving its store from Fletcher up to Airport Road, once that store is finished. Supposedly they don't own the land that store in Fletcher is built on and are losing the lease. Sounds pretty unusual, but who knows? Can you check on this? Also, when will the new store be open?

My answer: I've got to think Ingles has made enough money the past two weeks to fulfill its dream of putting a store on every corner in every city everywhere.

Real answer: "There is no truth to that," said Ingles Chief Financial Officer Ron Freeman. "Our store in Fletcher is here to stay." 

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This property, located at 2901 Hendersonville Road, does not belong to Ingles. The owner is listed in Henderson County tax records as Calvary Episcopal Church, which sits right across the road. This store is within the Town of Fletcher limits, in Henderson County.

Back two decades ago, the church had a residence on the site, but it agreed to lease the land to Ingles for a store.

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Ingles is indeed building a new store on Airport Road, which I've written about a couple of times, including in 2017. Ingles, based in Black Mountain, bought the 7-acre site for $4.6 million.

"Construction is going well for the Airport Road store and we hope to open later this year," Freeman said.

The stores are 2.2 miles apart, but hey, Ingles likes to saturate the market.

Question: Is there a designated area where families can take kids to watch planes landing and taking off at Asheville Regional Airport. I know with security concerns now, you can't go into the terminal to do this.

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My answer: If you're lucky enough to live in northern Henderson County like I do, or even southern Buncombe County, watching airplanes take off and land is a backyard cookout kind of activity.

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Real answer: "Relating to 'designated area to watch planes,' yes, the airport has a small viewing area on the north side of the airport campus, near Signature Flight Support," airport spokeswoman Tina Kinsey said. "It is a viewing area with a picnic shelter, and is open to the public."

This is the opinion of John Boyle. To submit a question, contact him at 232-5847 or jboyle@citizen-times.com