Shoppers at a new indoor farmers market in Derry Township will find everything from kimchee and artisan chocolates to deli sandwiches, Greek gyros and bottles of wine.
Visitors will get their first taste of the Fresh Market at Hershey Towne Square when it opens Sept. 1 at the old Hershey Post Office building along West Chocolate Avenue. More than a dozen vendors will sell fresh and prepared foods.
“It gives the consumer a great choice in a small footprint. We thought it would work nicely in an old, historic building,” said Steve Dayton, spokesman for RVG Management & Development in Wormleysburg.
The market sits near the streetscape-style Hershey Towne Square, which RVG also developed and includes several restaurants such as Primanti Bros., Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant, Starbucks and Freshido. Dayton said Hershey, with its mix of residents, corporate workers and tourists, seemed like a great fit for an indoor market.
“Hershey does a great job of attracting people, whether it be the Giant Center, the park, playhouse or the theater. This, we believe is the next step,” he said.
The market is split over two floors, with about 20 vendors operating on the first floor. The majority of those vendors will be open for the soft opening, Dayton said, adding some are still working on construction and inspections. A lower level will house about 25 additional vendors and open in a few months.
The former post office was built in about 1936 and previously operated as a slaughterhouse. Dayton said they are preserving the building’s history and visitors will get to see the bones of the building.
The market will operate from about 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursday-Saturdays.