Wednesday marks the two-year anniversary of the fire that destroyed the main building St. Jacobs Farmers’ Market.
But on Tuesday, it wasn’t the devastation of 2013 on the minds of people at the market – it was the rejuvenation of 2015.
More than 100 people attended a ceremony to mark the grand opening of the new market building, which first opened to the public in June.
“As much as we loved the old place, it was just a building,” Marcus Shantz told the crowd.
Shantz is the president of Mercedes Corp., which runs the market.
While rebuilding has been a “long road,” he says the support the effort received was both surprising and welcome.
Tiia Planert feels the same way about the market community.
Her booth, Cupcakes! Cupcakes! Cupcakes!, was one of nearly 60 affected by the fire.
“When the fire happened, it felt like losing a home – like you weren’t going to see your family anymore,” she said.
“The support’s been outstanding.”
No cause has ever been determined for the fire, which caused an estimated $2 million in damage.
The old building didn’t have a sprinkler system. The new one does – as well as elevators and wider aisles.
