HARRISBURG, Pa. — A temporary tent is up next to the Broad Street Market, yet it will remain empty for the foreseeable future.
“I know we’re at least three months off," said Jesse Ebersol, owner of Lil's Pretzels. "We could be six months off, maybe even a year off before we even have that temporary structure open.”
Work on the industrial-sized tent began in the fall to house Broad Street Market vendors displaced by the fire in July. A spokesman with the City of Harrisburg says work on the tent has stalled due to a lack of construction bids.
Jesse Ebersol, who was among the vendors impacted by the fire said Broad Street Market vendors and directors are frustrated by the wait.
“With a project like this, you need a general contractor to oversee the project," said Ebersol. "Vendors here, we’re getting frustrated, the manager [Tanis Monroy] is getting frustrated, and it all goes back to the city.”
Ebersol said around two or three vendors have already left the Broad Street Market. He is worried even more displaced vendors will leave if they don’t have another space to operate.
“What my concern is that, eventually, the city is going to come up and have the temporary space up and running but no vendors to go in," said Ebersol.
Ebersol said he’s grateful for the temporary space he has in the Broad Street Market's brick house. He added that Lil's Pretzels will continue operating the stand as they wait for the new space to open.
The City of Harrisburg has no timetable for completing the temporary tent.