Fire recovery update - and how you can help!

We’re continuing to recover from the damage caused by a building fire where Sweet Beet Market + Cafe operates back on February 18th. In the effort to keep our community informed on our progress and what to expect, we have a brief update on how the recovery is going.

The floor in the back of the kitchen has been torn out to remove char-damaged materials and avoid long-term issues.

We hoped the building repairs would not include ripping up the kitchen floor where the fire burned, but unfortunately this could not be avoided. The floor has been partially torn up to remove char-damaged materials and mitigate long term issues. By taking care of this now, we will not have to worry about addressing it and having to close kitchen operations in the future.

Reconstruction on the back kitchen is underway, including taking out the floor, addressing the structural needs beneath, as well as fixing the wall where the majority of the fire damage occurred.

Once the subfloor has been rebuilt, the floor finish requires specialty service and their availability will determine when that work can happen.

Beyond that, large equipment will need to be tested and cleaned before putting back into service, and small equipment may need to be replaced. This is dependent on insurance and is still evolving.

All of this means the kitchen will remain closed for at least another couple weeks.

The good news?? In the meantime Sweet Beet Market is open with all our regular fresh produce and grocery items from our partnering local and regional vendors - including greens from our own Sweet Beet Farm! Plus we will continue to source prepared foods and baked goods from Blue Loon Bakery.

So many of you have asked how you can help, and we can’t tell you how much that means to us.

The best way you can support us right now is by joining our Grow with Us Monthly Giving Program!

It is important for everyone to understand that while insurance covers a lot of the damage, it doesn’t account for our ongoing fixed costs, like rent and insurance, or labor costs to keep our amazing kitchen staff employed during this time. And it certainly doesn’t replace the lost sales that support our nonprofit programming and our crew.

And honestly? We had no idea just how many unexpected costs would emerge in the aftermath—costs that add up fast and take a real toll. And cashflow, in this off-season, is even tighter than usual. The expected financial loss from the fire that will not be covered by insurance is expected to be about $20,000.

Giving monthly is the best way to help and every dollar makes a difference. Whether it’s $10, $25, or $100 a month, your ongoing support is an investment in resilience—helping us rebuild today and strengthening our ability to weather whatever challenges come next.

And it’s not just about recovering from this fire event.

Fires, natural disasters, and other crises—whether it’s the increasing threats of climate change, supply chain disruptions, trade wars or the mass deportation of food system workers—are only making food security more fragile. But we are committed to weathering these storms with you.

We believe that access to nourishing, locally grown food is a basic human right, and together, we can build a food system that stands strong in the face of uncertainty.

We don’t know exactly when the café will reopen, but with this community beside us – with YOU beside us - we know we’ll get there. Join us today and be part of the recovery, the rebuilding, and the future of Sweet Beet and Kearsarge Food Hub.

Sign up for Monthly Giving now at any amount that works for your budget. We are SO grateful for your ongoing support.