Surefire Neighborhood Market is bouncing back after fire damage forced it to close its doors this summer.
The market, which is located at 702 Ogden Rd in Rock Hill, opened in 2022 under the Surefire name. However, the brand stems from a 2001 convenience store in Charlotte called Jeman Express, owned by the Surefire founders’ parents. The location in Rock Hill opened in 2012 as Mama Yala before the Surefire rebranding.
The brand aims to bring food access and security to the local community.
“Surefire continues our legacy of transforming convenience stores into vital lifelines for underserved communities, addressing food access challenges in both urban and rural areas,” the Surefire website states. “Today, Surefire is more than a convenience store; it’s a community cornerstone providing essential goods, homemade meals and a gathering space for neighbors.”
The market operates as both a store and cafe, serving menu items like sandwiches, hot dogs and chicken tenders.
However, Surefire sustained extensive fire damage on July 14, forcing its closure. Now, the ownership team is planning its return, with a goal to reopen in six to eight months, according to the Charlotte Business Journal.
In its absence, Surefire has been operating a food truck at Slow Play Brewing at 274 Columbia Ave. It plans to move the food truck back to the Sunset Park neighborhood next month until renovations are complete on the brick-and-mortar location.
“Since the fire, there has been a noticeable gap in food access for the community, and we want to continue being an anchor for both food access and community support as we work with the insurance company to rebuild,” co-owner Magloire Lubika told the Business Journal.
In the meantime, Lubika and his brothers are planning to expand the Surefire concept amid the renovations. They are installing a new look like floor-to-ceiling windows, and they are planning to expand their reach through a second food truck and a food-delivery option for customers.
You can donate to their rebuild on their website.
