New St. Jacobs farmers' market building to be built by spring

A new permanent building at the St. Jacobs farmers' market will be up and running by the spring as a replacement for the structure that was destroyed in a massive blaze last September.

The new 34,000-square foot building will be roughly 40 per cent larger than the previous one, said the owner of the market, Mercedes Corp., in a release. That extra space will allow for more vendors to set up shop, the company said.

Construction is expected to begin this month, take 10 months to complete, with the goal of having the building operational by the spring.

The building will incorporate the heavy wooden beams that characterized the previous structure, with a barn-like aesthetic that is intended as a tribute to the region's agricultural heritage, said the company.

The temporary structure erected in the wake of the fire to house displaced vendors will continue to operate when the new building is opened. Mercedes Corp. says the space would be available to seasonal vendors who operate outdoors.