After a fire in July destroyed two historic buildings in downtown Madison, local developer and restaurateur Preston Snyder is leading recovery efforts to restore the area. The blaze on July 13 damaged several of Snyder’s businesses, including Betty Gene’s restaurant, MAD Hospitality offices, Thomas Preston Real Estate offices, The Sinclair dining concept, and Community Roots Market owned by his wife, Cindi Fetch.
The Sinclair was able to reopen on July 22 after sustaining only smoke and water damage. Its original reinforced masonry walls helped limit the destruction. Betty Gene’s, which opened in September 2023 and had become a well-known spot downtown, relaunched as a pop-up at Buggy Works on July 24. Buggy Works is another adaptive reuse project developed by Snyder to address increased demand for private events.
Community Roots Market remains heavily damaged but may partially reopen in the future. The market previously served as a neighborhood hub for fresh food and pantry items.
Snyder said: “This isn’t about bricks and mortar. The Sinclair, Betty Gene’s, and Community Roots Market are more than just businesses. They’re gathering places, anchors of our downtown and pillars of Madison’s small-town spirit. Partially restoring them means bringing back a sense of normalcy, pride, and connection for the entire community,” he says, adding that broader redevelopment plans for the damaged building are in the works.
About twelve employees affected by the fire will return to work due to these restoration efforts. Snyder has received awards for his work in historic preservation and adaptive reuse projects throughout Madison.
MAD Hospitality focuses on developing chef-driven restaurants within restored historical spaces in Madison—located roughly an hour from Atlanta—and has created other venues such as The Dining Room, Hart & Crown Tavern, The Patisserie on Main, and The New South Motor Inn.
