Willey Farms is starting to make a comeback from the fire that burned it to the ground earlier this month.
The Townsend-area, farm-style store plans do what it can to take advantage of the holiday shopping season that traditionally brought customers in.
“The good news is we will be opening up for limited sales as of Black Friday. We’ll be selling fresh-cut Christmas trees, wreaths, roping, and the Christmas greenery. And we will have our famous hand-tied bows,” said Willey Farms marketing coordinator Donna Cavender.
Cavender says those holiday related items were not caught up in the fire, offering Willey Farms an opportunity
“The trees and the greenery...that is something that had not been delivered yet (when the fire broke out). And we just kept the order and it’s coming," said Cavender. "And the community has been so supportive. Not only do we want to get back up and selling something, but we really don’t want to disappoint the community.”
Cavender says Willey Farms will sell Christmas items in its nursery area from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week during the holiday season, starting Black Friday.
Willey Farms started as a roadside stand in the mid 1970’s. It quickly evolved into a grocery store and nursery covering six acres and became a local staple in the community.
But a November 5th fire completely destroyed the building.
Assistant State Fire Marshal Michael Chionchio says the cause of that blaze - which caused between $2 and $3 million in damage - is still under investigation.
Also, Cavender pointed out that many area businesses have offered some of Willey Farms’ estimated 60 employees work so they can remain employed until the business is rebuilt.
