Business is booming as Unity’s Amish market picks up where it left off before the fire

Unity — The Amish store is already attracting throngs of customers just days after reopening after a fire that destroyed the building in January.

John Yoder, new owner of the popular Amish community market and bakery, described the reopening as “just great.”

The charred wreckage that stands on the market today is a distant memory. The front porch, lined with handcrafted wooden chairs, produce, and mother’s pots, creates an idyllic Maine autumn landscape and invites customers.

Etna resident Sue Reynolds said the new building was “amazing”. She used to visit the market every week. She’s been looking forward to reopening, and she was there on Friday, stocking up on her favorite items.

One product that is currently missing is the market’s famous donuts. They should be back later this week after a vent hood is installed over the fryer, said Yoder, who took over ownership of the market from Caleb Stoll during the rebuild.

The market is open from 8am to 5pm every day except Thursdays and Sundays. A hardware center, grocery store, bakery and a mix of products made by the surrounding Amish community and made in Maine. However, if you want to shop, leave your credit card at home and only accept cash or checks.

Laurie and Brian Yacino They live in Mount Vernon and were in the Common Ground Country Fair area when they decided to stop by. My aunt was talking about the market last year, but I didn’t get a chance to visit it before the fire.

Efforts have been made to maintain the overall look of the store, Yoder said, with a slightly wider front porch, a slightly larger bakery in the back, and a new layout for shoppers inside. .

Peek into the bakery and see the hustle and bustle as workers produce a wide variety of bakery products.

The store has a wide variety of products, from the utilitarian to the quirky. There are axes, tools, boots, baking supplies, and spices. There are also locally made sweets such as pies, breads, cookies and fudge in flavors ranging from raspberry to maple he nuts.

Last winter’s fires quickly engulfed the building, billowing smoke for miles and leaving employees to watch.

But it didn’t take long for the Amish community to begin cleanup and rebuilding efforts. And the wider community showed support as well, with many donating money to the construction work.

The State Fire Department investigated the fire but was unable to determine the cause. Yoder said the fire broke out near the boiler, which may have been the cause.

The new building has undergone some changes for fire protection. The boiler was moved outdoors, fireproof insulation was used, and Styrofoam was covered rather than left bare as in older buildings.

Standing in the new space on Friday, Yoder thanked those who helped rebuild.

“I would definitely like to thank the town, the community for their interest and support, and especially for their donations.