It has stood along the Trans-Canada Highway for decades, selling local produce, dairy, foods — and lately artisan goods — to travellers and locals south of Nanaimo.
Whirly Bird, who graduated from Vancouver Island University’s entrepreneurial training program last fall, and fellow food entrepreneur Sabrina Anderson started their own renovations to the market in February, and launched Stray Moat Farm Market on Mothers Day with an all-woman team and a fresh take on the space. Before the fire, the market was just getting into the rhythm as a hub for local farmers and artisans and a meeting place in the community.
But that changed quickly, he said. In the eight minutes it took crews to reach the site, the fire surged, triggering alarms and mutual-aid supports from the Extension, North Cedar and North Oyster fire departments. It’s unclear how old the building was, but the fire chief said the owner did some repairs to the floors in one portion of the structure recently and found newspapers dating to 1931.
The building had been a farm market since the early 1970s, and the Fongs have owned it for the past 22 years. They woke up Wednesday to find a total loss and their anticipated “Thanksgiving weekend sales rush” to end the season wiped out.
United Kingdom United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Source: timescolonist - 🏆 15. / 75 Read more »
Source: CTVNews - 🏆 1. / 99 Read more »
Source: SooToday - 🏆 8. / 85 Read more »