News

Ask Matt ... why pole went up, restaurant came down

A demolition contractor removed the building on Asheville Highway that last was home to Sumo’s Japanese Steakhouse, which never reopened after it burned in August 2018. [MATT MATTESON/Hendersonville Lightning]

By MATT MATTESON, Published: August 30, 2026

Q. Who put up that tall pole on South Main Street and what is it for?

 That pole is a 5G cell tower installed by Verizon. The technical term is “nodes” which includes the equipment affixed to the pole. The poles are intended to improve wireless phone service all across the country.

“We are currently installing 10 small cell sites — approximately 40-foot poles equipped with compact antennas and radios — in high-density areas, including West Allen Street and Washington Street,” said Karen Schulz, a Verizon spokesperson.

So why 5G?  The quick answer is that 5G networks are up to 100 faster than existing 4G networks plus they support AI applications.

“Unlike traditional cell towers that provide broad coverage from a distance, small cells sit closer to street level where people use their devices most, delivering faster mobile speeds and a more reliable home connection,” Schulz said.

So, will those ugly towering “macro” cell towers that no one wants in their back yard go away? Nope. They still serve a purpose, particularly providing phone coverage in rural areas.

The 5G system works by transmitting broadband wireless signals (radio waves) across a network divided into hexagonal “cells,” allowing phones to switch from pole to pole. Verizon’s wider network spectrum will allow more users at the same time plus a reduced power draw that should extend the battery life of a cell phone. That should please tourists taking selfies with the bears on Main Street.

The newer 5G nodes, the actual electronic equipment that is attached to the pole, is relatively compact. Some are about the size of a backpack or pizza box. This feature allows them to be mounted on street lights, utility poles, buildings and similar structures. It is not uncommon for more than one telecom company to use the same tower. I pulled up a cell tower website online and found that there were more than 100 such towers in Henderson County.

Schulz said that most of the new sites should be completed by late 2026. In recent years during the Apple Festival, Verizon set up temporary truck-mounted “repeaters” to serve the thousands of phone users. I suspect that the new downtown poles will eliminate that need.

Verizon competes with T-Mobile (merged with Sprint) and AT&T Mobility, to round out the “big three” telecoms. T-Mobile plans to spend $60 billion on 5G networks in the next five years while AT&T will drop $250 billion on its wireless and fiber systems.

Q. I see they tore down the old Sumo’s restaurant. What’s going to be built there?

The demolition contractor said his job was to remove it from the site and had no knowledge of what will be there, if anything. Built in 1985 as a Hardee’s, the graffiti-ridden building is valued on the tax books at $204,300. The building, at 1730 Asheville Highway, was last a going concern as Sumo’s Japanese Steakhouse. RC Gray Enterprise Inc. has owned the property since 2023. After the structure was damaged by fire in August 2018, the restaurant never reopened.

“It was an eyesore,” said Dave Rice, owner of Moe’s Original BBQ, the popular roasted-pork purveyor next door. “Hopefully, something useful will be built there.” Rice was snakebitten by Hurricane Helene.

“We were under seven feet of water,” he said. Moe’s was one of the last restaurants to reopen. Rice said that Moe’s food truck kept them in business.

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Send questions to askmattm@gmail.com.