Recovery efforts at the Kitchener Market are continuing after a fire from nearly three months ago, with major milestones and autumn fun now pushing progress in the right direction.
The City of Kitchener saying that the next step in on-site recovery has officially begun, helmed by the Kitchener company Woodhouse Restoration Services, which is now pushing into the restoration and remediation phase of those efforts.
“Before on-site remediation and restoration work could begin, the City completed the planning and assessments needed to understand the full extent of the damage, identify the work needed to safely reopen the building and select a qualified remediation and restoration contractor,” said the City of Kitchener in a release.
“These steps were necessary to ensure the building can be safely reopened, and protect the interests of vendors, customers and taxpayers.”
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It comes after a fire over the summer forced the closure of the popular local destination, with damage estimates initially pegged at around $50,000.
The latest recovery phase will centre around a few key areas, including:
- Preparing the building for the initial stages of remediation.
- Removing and disposing of fire-damaged building materials, including walls, flooring and other affected structural components.
- Removing building contents, including furniture and equipment that can be cleaned, restored and returned to service.
- Cleaning and decontaminating affected surfaces, including sandblasting ceiling areas to remove soot, smoke residue and charred material.
“Our focus has been clear: support vendors, keep the Market open and continue creating opportunities for residents to shop local. This included investments in temporary infrastructure so we could keep the majority of vendors operating while keeping the Market open every Saturday, during the entire recovery period,” said Mayor Berry Vrbanovic.
“As the remediation and restoration work gets underway, we are pleased to see it being led by a Kitchener-based company, reflecting our commitment to Support Local and Build Kitchener at every opportunity.”
As work progresses, the city has said it’s also now preparing the Market for winter operations in the coming months, with some of those efforts also centred around the upcoming Fall Fair.
The annual event is set to run Saturday, Oct. 10, and is set to feature a list of seasonal activities, local shopping opportunities, and family-friendly experiences such as balloon artists, amusement park rides, carnival snacks, and more.
It will also work to provide some focus on local farmers, food producers, and entrepreneurs who have continued to be impacted by the recovery efforts at the Kitchener Market.
The city stated that it will continue to provide regular updates as restoration work progresses, with a current full reopening timeline pegged for Spring of 2027.
“Our Kitchener Market team continues to work towards bringing vendors and customers back into the Market building as quickly and safely as possible.”
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