Building 4, devastated by a Nov. 2014 fire at the market, is open with 11 shops.
SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP - Thirteen months have passed since the Columbus Farmers Market fire and Building No. 4 has just recently starting to regain its normal rhythms.
The building's 11 stores - both old an new - are settled into their locations, with only the food court still under some construction.
"It looks a hell of a lot better," Hamilton resident Donald Shipley said as he strolled the hallways of Building No. 4, which was gutted in the Nov. 18, 2014 fire.
Shipley said he is happy to see the building fully functional as he comes "every Thursday and Sunday in the summer and probably the winter too this year granted there's no snow."
Hamilton resident Vanessa Cruz said she comes to the market two to three days a month, "sometimes more," so she was happy the buildings are all connected again.
"There's a lot more stores available," Cruz said. "I like how there's a nice food court and I just noticed the arcade."
Of the new stores that moved in, like oman Jewelers, hair salon Market Cuts and cell-phone store Cell Zone, Cruz said she enjoyed Mimi's Alterations and Embroidery which sells logo jackets and sports jerseys.
A man and woman play a NASCAR game in the arcade at Columbus Farmers Market. Along with an arcade and stores, Janice Ackerman, one of the market's owners, had announced this past summer a new food court featuring indoor and outdoor seating, larger bathrooms and high windows and ceilings.
"The windows give it a nice open look," Cruz noted.
Anna's Corner Cafe selling bagels and pastries is the only current restaurant in the food court. Cha's Seafood, Wojiciechowski Bologna Kitchen and Golden China will be joining the cafe in coming months.
"It looks like a mall with the new food court," Shipley said.
For one of three store owners returning to Building 4 after the fire destroyed his business, Bob Weekley of Typos Magazines said the market is different, but he is trying to be optimistic.
"The vibe just feels a little different," Weekley said.
His magazine store used to be located around the corner from where it is now, so Weekley said he just needs a little time to adjust to the change in venue.
"It's actually very busy, busier than in the old store," Weekley said.
The other returning Building 4 mainstays are the Wicker Emporium and Columbus Shoe Repair.
The returning owners however - still with the devastating day of the fire in their minds - have no closure as a cause for the blaze has yet to be determined.
"I was at home at the time," said Weekley, a South River resident. "The previous owner texted me that the market was on fire. I wasn't sure how bad it was or where it was. So I went online to see an aerial view and said 'those are my doors that I come through every day. Oh my gosh that is my store.'"
Marci Strauss of Wicker Emporium - the first store to move back into Building 4 in October - said she left around 2 p.m. the day of the fire and less than an hour later got a text from a friend that the market was ablaze.
A year after the fire she has described it as "one of the worst days" of her life. Wicker Emporium, which sells indoor and outdoor household items, has been in her family for 37 years.
"As I reached Route 206 I saw billowing black smoke and was instantly overcome with nausea and fear," Strauss had said. "Fire truck after fire truck zoomed past me and the fear within me grew, along with feelings of shock and dread. The closer I got to the market, the worse I could tell it was."
Columbus Shoe Repair owner Johnny Shoi says he is focused on his return rather than the fire itself. His store moved back in on Nov. 14.
"I can see a good future," Shoi said. "Everything is good. I've had so many customers, too many customers. We're very happy."
On Thursday Strauss told Shoi she has a pile of shoes just waiting for him to work his magic on.
"You don't find people like him anymore," she said. "Nowadays people just throw their shoes away when they become damaged."
Lindsay Rittenhouse may be reached at lrittenhouse@njadvancemedia.com. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
