Tag: food

As the vendors in the stone building at Harrisburg’s Broad Street Market reopened Thursday morning, others displaced by the fire that destroyed the brick building are trying to figure out what is next for them. 

 Ryan Hummer, owner of R.G. Hummer Meats and Cheese, who has been doing business in the market for 21 years, said he plans to reopen when the market is rebuilt. 

“I want to rebuild and set up the most beautiful meat shop Harrisburg has ever seen,” he said. 

The Broad Street Market’s brick building was destroyed by fire in the early hours Monday after an electrical short circuit in a large ceiling fan ignited. The City of Harrisburg, owner of the market, has pledged to rebuild. Federal and state officials have said they will help. 

Hummer, who said he was insured, said he lost all his equipment, including a 50-foot refrigerator case. 

“We are a full-service butcher,” Hummer said. “I lost half my business, so this is important to us.” 

Hummer has a stand at the West Short Farmers Market that, he said, will help keep his business running.  

David Morrison, executive director of Historic Harrisburg Association said the Broad Street Market has been the institutional and economic anchor of the community for 150 years.  

“It is the home and livelihood of 40 permanent vendors and many additional ones who rent space by the day or week,” Morrison said.  “It is, for many Harrisburg residents, the only place where they can buy fresh food and groceries.  It’s a destination for regional shoppers and for tourists from across the country and the world.” 

Morrison said the association has heard differing opinions on how much can be restored vs rebuilt.  

“There is no reason to think that it will not come out every bit as good, if not better, that what has stood there since 1886, when the eastern half of the Brick Market House was completed,” he said. 

 Dan Hartman, Harrisburg’s business administrator and chief of staff to Mayor Wanda Williams, said there is no timeline yet for when the renovations will begin as the damage assessment and cleanup are still underway. 

Hartman said the city is looking at temporary and interim options to help the vendors and the community because the loss of the market has created a “food desert” for many residents. 

Melvin Glick, owner of Many Blessings Bakery, said the Broad Street stand was his only place of business and all his equipment was in the building. 

“It is what it is. We can’t change any of it,” Glick said. “How we move forward is still to be determined.” 

Glick said he is fortunate to have a construction job with his brothers to keep him going while plans are being made to rebuild the market. He plans to reopen when the construction is completed. 

He, too, attended the vendors’ meeting Tuesday, but said no one has answers yet. 

“There have been a few options offered but if a new space is not real close, it’s not worth [reopening],” he said. “My customer base is within two miles of the market, so opening farther way is very unlikely.” 

Glick, who said he had no insurance for the stand, said he will be covered because the Amish community will help him out.  

“Everyone is trying to adjust,” Hummer said.  

One possibility offered was space in the plaza between the buildings. Hummer said that won’t work for his business because of his need for refrigeration.  

“I will have to wait until the building is rebuilt,” he said. 

In the meantime, Hummer said he is trying to take care of the six to eight employees he had working at the stand.  

“I hope to do something for all of them, but I’m not sure. I’m trying to stay positive and take this day by day,” Hummer said. “This is a struggle for every vendor. It’s devastating.”