A fire on July 13 destroyed two historic buildings in downtown Madison, affecting several businesses run by Preston Snyder. Snyder is a real estate developer, restaurateur, and historic preservationist. The fire gutted Betty Gene’s restaurant, which was named after Snyder’s late mother, as well as the offices of MAD Hospitality and Thomas Preston Real Estate. The blaze also damaged The Sinclair, an al fresco dining spot, and destroyed much of Community Roots Market owned by Cindi Fetch, Snyder’s wife.
The Sinclair reopened on July 22 after sustaining only smoke and water damage due to its reinforced masonry walls from its previous use as a gas station. Betty Gene’s was relaunched as a pop-up at Buggy Works on July 24. Buggy Works is another adaptive reuse project led by Snyder to accommodate demand for private events.
Community Roots Market remains heavily damaged but is considering a partial reopening in the future. Its front section had served the neighborhood with fresh food and reclaimed shelving from Snyder’s other projects.
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,” adding that there are broader redevelopment plans underway.
Approximately a dozen employees affected by the fire will be returning to work as recovery efforts continue. Snyder has been recognized for his work in historic preservation and adaptive reuse in Madison.
MAD Hospitality specializes in chef-driven culinary concepts within restored historical spaces in Madison, which is located about an hour outside Atlanta. Other venues developed by Snyder include The Dining Room, Hart & Crown Tavern, The Patisserie on Main, and The New South Motor Inn.
