Photograph of the “May men,” from left to right: John May Sr., Henry May, Glenn May, George May, John May Jr., Morris May. Digital community contribution via email from Anne May Cogburn, February 2026.

for five decades, beginning in the 1920’s, May’s Market, at 747 Haywood Rd., was a  fixture in central West Asheville as a source of high quality meat products,  a place to run  a tab, and a place to learn community news amidst its narrow aisles.  Pictured are founder, John May, and his four sons, all  of whom worked in the store as they grew up, with Morris later becoming the meat cutter.  Not pictured was John May’s daughter, Nancy, who kept the financial books for most of its years, and Frank Leppert, Nancy’s husband, who managed the store for many years following Morris’s premature death.  Frank would chair the West Asheville Business Association for many years.  

Robert M. Randolph, August 2026