Willey Farms in Townsend continues to recover from a massive fire that totally destroyed the farm-style store last November.
As spring approaches, Willey Farms is rebuilding and renovating its facility along Route 13.
Donna Cavender is Willey Farms’ marketing coordinator.
“We’re working really hard right now on preparing to open up. We want to be open in time for Easter and Mother’s Day,” Cavender said.
Cavender says part of that work involves the greenhouse area.
“We are working right now on getting the greenhouses re-wrapped so we can be open in the greenhouse area for Mother’s Day and for Easter. And then we are also working on renovating another location very near to us - a smaller location that we are renovating - to open up for produce and natural foods," said Cavender.
Cavender notes 12 to 15 of Willey Farms' 60-plus initial employees are working every day on the rebuild and renovations - buoyed by continuing community support.
Cavender says there still is NO target date for a total rebuild, "You know you can only do so many things at one time. And when you lose something as large as this, it’s just real difficult to do more than one thing at one time; you really have to concentrate on getting some things accomplished and then move on to the next step.”
Willey Farms was able to sell Christmas trees and other seasonal greenery in late November and December.
Assistant State Fire Marshal Michael Chionchio says the origin and cause of last year’s fire are still under investigation.
