Burned-out meat market reopening
Martinsburg shop ready for business again one year after devastating fireBy Toni Marshall, For the Mirror
Article Photos
MARTINSBURG - Every day, Tammy Dibert of Martinsburg drives past the site where Rhodes Meat Market once stood.
She has been waiting patiently for the store to reopen after a fire destroyed the family-owned meat market a year ago.
''I don't like to buy store-bought meat. I like to buy it fresh,'' she said.
Plus, her 8-year-old son, Austin, loves the ox roast.
''You can't buy ox roast at the grocery store,'' Dibert said.
The market is scheduled to reopen at 8 a.m. Thursday.
On Aug. 26, a fire of undetermined origin started in the barn next door and raced through a vent into the ceiling of the market.
Owner Kathryn Rhodes heard a loud pop and immediately called the fire department.
Shortly after the fire, the rebuilding and recovery process began.
''I never thought it would take this long,'' said Christine Violet, store manager and Rhodes' daughter. ''It just takes time. You don't do anything fast."
The new building is situated further off the road to allow for more parking.
The store has a larger sales floor to accommodate the numerous items sold there, including meat products from homemade smoked items to rotisserie chicken; ready-to-bake items such as lasagna and ham loaf; homemade soups; and jellies.
Violet and Rhodes said they will sell new items including homemade subs, hot sandwiches and ice cream.
Violet said her 12 employees are looking forward to Thursday.
''We're excited, but we have a lot of work to do,'' she said, noting that the building had to be inspected by codes officials and a state inspector.
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notsureofanything
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07-22-08 10:35 PM
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I'm really glad this is all coming together for you. Congratulations and best of luck!
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