New St. Jacobs Farmers' Market main building opens to the public
CBC News | Posted: June 11, 2015 6:03 PM | Last Updated: June 11, 2015
The brand new St. Jacobs Farmers' market building was opened to the public for the first time on Thursday, nearly two years after the original building burned to the ground on Sept. 2, 2013.
- St. Jacobs Market new main building: get a sneak peek inside
- St. Jacobs Farmers' Market fire causes estimated $2M in damage
The 34,000-square foot building is roughly 40 per cent larger than the previous one according to Mercedes Corp., the company that owns the market.
The extra space wasn't lost on Ward Skinner of Gerber Meats, who said he now has double the space to sell his goods.
"We are so excited about this," he said, while his colleague slid a tray of meat into a display cooler. "This is going to be extraordinary."
Skinner was at the market site the day after fire ripped through the old building, reducing it to a pile of burnt rubble.
He said he was pleased to see how well his fellow vendors bounced back.
"Everybody was going around last night saying, 'Good luck tomorrow. Have a good day tomorrow.' It was just wonderful," said Skinner.
Some vendors set up for first time in 2 years
The market opened to the public at 7:00 a.m., but vendors were there setting up as early as 5:30 a.m.
Victoria Martz of Yog 'N' Shake was one of the first in the building.
"I make oatmeal and coffee in the morning," she said. "So, I like to be here first thing for the vendors, so that they can eat before they start working."
Unlike many of the sellers, who spent the past two years working out of a temporary building, Martz was vending for the first time since the fire.
"I'm really excited to see all my old customers....There's a lot of people that I really, really missed."
Customers enjoyed the new space
Vendors weren't the only ones excited about the new building.
Kelsey Baker came out to buy some maple syrup for her brother-in-law, who is visiting from Nigeria.
"I think it looks great," she said, looking up at the building's ceiling. "It's a lot bigger and it smells nice."
Her brother-in-law Charles Agunmadu said the building felt warm and welcoming.
"It may smell woody," he said, "but people will get used to it with time."
From now until September, the farmers' market will be open every Tuesday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and every Thursday and Saturday from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.