'Great to see it alive again'; Fire Hall Market in Port Stanley opens with successful weekend
From tourists to residents, those visiting the new Fire Hall Market in Port Stanley, Ont. described opening weekend as "bringing new life into the village."
Five months after two couples purchased the former Central Elgin Fire Hall, the food and beverage market opened for business on Canada Day weekend.
The local owners transformed the two parking bays for fire engines into a vibrant artisan market.
"It’s great to see it come alive again," says Brenda Arnold, a Port Stanley resident who visited the market twice in the first three days.
"I came to check it out, and left with strawberry rhubarb scones, and some jalapeno cheese bread," says Janet McKay.
On February 1, 2022, Dale and Angela Homewood, along with Gerry Hensels and Lorraine McElroy bought the fire hall, with plans for a market, and a luxury apartment at the back of the hall.
"We had we had a good shell of a building," says Angela Homewood, the project manager for the redevelopment.
"We had some infrastructure requirements that we needed to meet upgrading. The gas, the water, the sewer, and storm water. Literally everything and adding some structural support beams to open it up more. We also had to get rid of the dispatch area of the old fire station and moved the bathrooms into the back to make them wheelchair accessible."
There are ten vendors, including four who are first time businesses.
"Everyone seems very happy to have a butcher in town, because I guess there has not been one in quite some time," says Caleb Fothergill, 24, a first-time business owner from Meaford, Ont.
"I’ve been in the industry and I loved it. I knew I wanted to have my own shop and when we heard about the market here, it was just a dream come true."
Fothergill has Fire Hall Fine Meats, and the reception was massive over the first few days.
He sold out of his Tomahawk steaks and Ribeye steaks, and joked he’ll need more each day going forward.
"I’m going to have a good BBQ tonight," says local resident Erwin Kohl, who says he would normally have to go to St. Thomas or London to get local cuts of that quality.
At the front of the market, there was a steady lineup waiting to purchase fresh bread. The demand was a pleasant surprise for first-time entrepreneur Miram Kleinsasser.
"I started working at a bakery, back home when I was 17 years old," says Kleinsasser, 39, of Port Stanley who is using family recipes for her multi-grain bread.
"Throughout my life, I've always baked my own bread. A family member and I used to joke around that we wanted to start our own bakery. So here I am. She's doing her own thing, and here I am starting a bakery."
Giving new start-ups was exactly what the owners were looking for when they started looking for businesses to fill their market.
"People we’ve talked to are so excited that we are just bringing back the businesses that we've missed and haven't had here in Port for so long," says Homewood.
CTV News got a tour of the luxury apartment above the market which is expected to be complete with the next couple months.
Hensels who has 40 years of construction experience is doing the renovation which will include two bedrooms, an open concept kitchen/living space and a rooftop patio.
The market is open seven days a week, from 10am to 5pm.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Police arrest 3 Indian nationals in killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Three people have been arrested and charged in the killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar – as authorities continue investigating potential connections to the Indian government.
Suter scores late goal, clinches series for Canucks
Pius Suter scored with 1:39 left and the Vancouver Canucks advanced to the second round of the NHL playoffs with a 1-0 victory over the Nashville Predators on Friday night in Game 6.
TD worst-case scenario more likely after drug money laundering allegations: analyst
TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected, says a banking analyst after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.
Quebec man who threatened Trudeau, Legault online sentenced to 20 months in jail
A Quebec man who pleaded guilty to threatening Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier François Legault has been sentenced to 20 months in jail.
Human remains found in rural Sask. possibly a decade old, RCMP say
RCMP say human remains found in a rural area in central Saskatchewan may have been there for a decade or more.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
Canadian doctor concerned new weight-loss drug Wegovy may be used inappropriately
As Wegovy becomes available to Canadians starting Monday, a medical expert is cautioning patients wanting to use the drug to lose weight that no medication is a ''magic bullet,' and the new medication is meant particularly for people who meet certain criteria related to obesity and weight.
Drew Carey is never quitting 'The Price Is Right'
Drew Carey took over as host of 'The Price Is Right' and hopes he’s there for life. 'I'm not going anywhere,' he told 'Entertainment Tonight' of the job he took over from longtime host Bob Barker in 2007.