Local businesses are rallying around their friends and colleagues after a destructive fire. And their support couldn’t be any sweeter.
On the morning of Wednesday, August 21, 2019, lightning caused a huge fire which destroyed nearly half of the 50,000-square-foot Walnut Creek Amish Flea Market. Many vendors with merchandise inside the market lost everything and did not have insurance, said Januery Tango, co-owner of the market.
But Tango’s colleagues at Best of Ohio’s Amish Country – a group of seven businesses working together to promote tourism in the area – had an idea to help offset cleanup and rebuilding costs at the market. To that end, Coblentz Chocolate Company has designed a special limited-edition box of chocolates, which will be available for purchase by October 1st, 2019. The box will include two dozen assorted caramels, meltaways, creams, peanut butter cups and clusters, said Jason Coblentz, the company’s General Manager.
All proceeds will go to help rebuild the treasured flea market.
“We want to encourage the Walnut Creek Amish Flea Market and assist with any uninsured needs,” Coblentz said. “In a time when our hearts are heavy with the loss at the Flea Market, our community reaches out to support those who have sustained a loss. We invite you to be part of our community and help one of our neighbors.”
Coblentz said supporting the flea market through delicious chocolate is like “doing good while enjoying one of life’s pleasures.”
Special edition chocolates may be purchased at any of the BOAC members’ shops: Coblentz Chocolate Company; Lehman’s; Amish Door; the Amish and Mennonite Heritage Center; Homestead Furniture; and Heini’s Cheese Chalet. Also, chocolates may be purchased online at coblentzchocolates.com and shipped as a business or personal gift.
While the flea market will remain closed for the remainder of 2019, rebuilding is already planned and the market will reopen in 2020, Tango said.