Ogden Mart burns to the ground on Saturday night

A pile of wreckage and smoldering remains stood at the site of the Ogden Mart grocery store after a fire on Saturday night that destroyed the historic downtown building and left many in the community heartbroken.

Fire departments and law enforcement agencies from around the area—including Boone, Paton, Jefferson, Pilot Mound, Boxholm, Grand Junction and the Boone Co. Sheriffs Department— assisted Ogden Fire and PD in containing the blaze, but the store itself is considered a total loss.

Owner Rup Khanal was devastated when he saw the fire and the condition of the building.

Khanal told the Ogden Reporter, however, that he has received an outpouring of support and comfort from local residents who want to see him rebuild and want a grocery store in Ogden for the long term.

A grocery store in some form has operated at the intersection of Walnut and Southwest Third Street for well over 100 years, and it was known as Clark’s Food Mart from 1999 until 2018. After a brief closure, Khanal reopened the store as Ogden Food Mart at the beginning of 2019.

The Salvation Army passed out Gatorade, water, and snacks along with The Well passing out coffee for firefighters, Boone County Sheriff’s Officers and Ogden Police. Kevin Langel opened up the McGraw Senior Center for use of the bathroom and a place to warm up in the brisk air, and Anna & Mary Langel helped deliver the pizzas from the Lucky Pig to the firefighters.

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