SALISBURY — Many of the hundreds of vendors that lost everything last September when fire destroyed the 25-year old Webb Road Flea Market will be selling their wares today as the market officially opens its new facilities.
Webb Road Flea Market will celebrate its grand reopening today through Sunday. That’s good news to the close-knit community of vendors who rely on the flea market for their livelihood, a press release said.
The original wooden structures destroyed by the blaze are gone, but the market now offers a 130,000-square-foot metal structure with a distinctive red roof. The new facility includes 10 buildings, each 12,000 square feet, with a covered breezeway.
Two of the buildings are fully enclosed and heated, six are enclosed and unheated, and two are open, shed-type buildings. LaFave’s Construction Co. of Landis served as general contractor for the rebuilding effort.
“We are extremely grateful to our loyal vendors who have struggled to replace their inventory and rebuild their businesses since the devastating fire,” co-owner Catherine Popp said in the press release. “We are all thrilled that the new facility is finally complete and our vendors are able to start anew in a fresh, new space.”
Popp also expressed gratitude to the thousands of customers who patronized the flea market during its first 25 years and continued to do so as it operated as an open-air market during the past 11 months. She encouraged customers to continue to support the vendors victimized by the fire by shopping at the market during the grand opening weekend and throughout the coming months.
“By trading with the vendors at the all-new and improved Webb Road Flea Market,” Popp said, “you’ll help many small businesses as they struggle to survive and prosper in these difficult times.”
She said shoppers will find many bargains during the grand opening weekend. “And because it’s the annual tax-free weekend, shoppers can buy clothing, shoes and school supplies without paying sales tax, so their money goes even further,” she said.
Pepsi and Cheerwine will provide free soft drinks to shoppers at the market during this weekend’s grand reopening celebration.
The Webb Road Flea Market is just off Interstate 85 at exit 70. It opens at 8 a.m. today.
Webb Road Flea Market opened in 1985 on the 31-acre site It is owned by Tom Walton and his family, Chris and Libby Stephens of Morganton and Joey and Catherine Popp of Charlotte. For leasing information, contact Buddy Johnson, who manages the day-to-day operations of Webb Road Flea Market, at 704-857-6660.

Video from the fire

Photos from the Fire