HOPEWELL TWP.

— Fourteen vendors are working with owners and management to finalize their equipment plans at

on Shiloh Pike, now anticipated to be ready to open for business sometime after mid-March.

The outside of the facility is complete, and main utility lines to the 24,930-square-foot building have been installed — including outdoor water availability to support horse and buggy rides around the Hopewell Business Park site.

Next, the appropriate amount of power must be run inside to individual panels for each vendor, explained Scott Burnley, president of Millville-based property developer KBA Architecture and member of market owner Hopewell Amish Market, LLC, who has been meeting with tenants every two weeks to discuss their needs.

“To get this coordination of equipment done correctly is a major thing — I don’t want to put up walls and then have to tear them down to make adjustments to the power lines. I’d rather push back the opening to do it right,” said Burnley, acknowledging this component of the project has been a cause of delay. “But we’re actively working to get it open, we’re very excited and everything is going well.”

Once utility lines are allocated to each vendor’s space, drywall; drop ceilings and equipment such as ovens, fryers, refrigerators and display cases will be installed.

After hosting a “high-profile” grand opening event, the Greater Bridgeton Amish Farm Market will be open for business on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from morning hours into the late evening, Burnley said.

Marlboro Farm Market will join 13 vendors from Lancaster, Pa. to offer shoppers fresh produce, seafood, baked goods, barbecue chicken, foods in bulk, fresh meats, salads, donuts, pretzels and a deli with sandwiches, along with flowers, crafts, sheds and Amish-made furniture.

“One of the key reasons why we’re there is we feel people in New Jersey love all the Amish products but they’re still partial to Jersey-fresh produce,” said Ken Harris, Marlboro Farm Market owner, noting that Marlboro will be the only produce vendor there. “Everything we do now, we’re going to offer there: all our produce items, apple cider, our fruit baskets — we’re real excited about it.”

Seasonal fruits and vegetables available at the farm market will include Marlboro Market’s “specialty, niche-type items,” Harris said, including flavorful varieties of tomatoes, fresh-pulled corn and tree-ripened peaches among other favorites like strawberries, asparagus and sweet potatoes. In time, Harris hopes also to add new offerings like roasted corn on the cob to eat at the market or take home.

“The combination of being Jersey fresh and being a good, local name will hopefully be an asset to the market,” said Harris, adding that Marlboro Market will remain open at its current location in addition to staffing full hours at the Amish Farm Market. “I’m very impressed with all these Amish guys and how enthusiastic they are. This is going to be unbelievable.”

Harris said he and the other vendors are anticipating the market opening for business “anywhere from mid-March to May 1.” However, he said they all want shoppers to be as pleased as possible upon first impression, and that takes time and attention to detail.

“You’re gonna get the people to come once or twice, but you’ve got to be good if you want them to keep coming back. We hope to get people who drive to other markets to stay local and to bring other business in from all over the place,” Harris said.

The parking lot at the market will accommodate 140 vehicles at a time, including seven spaces for handicapped drivers, and market owners and management including manager Benuel Stoltzfus have been discussing adding jitney service to bring shoppers from the western side of the county over to Hopewell Township.

“We’re as excited as (residents) are to get this open. I can’t wait to see these shops full and the parking lot busy,” Burnley said on site Wednesday.

Burnley noted he has high expectations for the future of the Hopewell Business Park, given the anticipation of traffic to the market and his pleasant experience working with Hopewell Township clerk Willie Daddario and other municipal officials.

“I really have nothing but great things to say about development with the township — it’s been wonderful,” Burnley said. “I think this will be a catalyst for real growth here.”