Blue River fundraiser seeks community support to rebuild landmark

Melanie Stanley announced a public campaign on November 28 to help complete reconstruction of Meyer’s General Store and Liquor Shop in Blue River, a business that has been stalled since the Holiday Farm Fire consumed the building in 2020. The effort aims to raise funds that traditional construction financing has not provided, because without operating income the store cannot qualify for standard construction loans.

The campaign sells engraved paver stones for the store walkway with a minimum contribution of one hundred dollars, and a lower cost twenty five dollar T shirt printed with the words I HELPED REBUILD MEYERS GENERAL STORE. Stanley plans to roll out the campaign on the store’s Facebook page ahead of the Christmas season, offering residents tangible recognition for donations and a way to accelerate work that has lagged for logistical and financial reasons.

Rebuilding has been slowed by a combination of permitting delays, supply chain disruptions, inflation, and strong demand for trade workers. Those factors have left many small businesses in fire impacted rural areas searching for alternatives to bank lending, and community fundraising is a common route when traditional credit is unavailable. For Blue River, the return of the general store carries more than commercial value. Locals have described the business as an "unofficial city hall," a social gathering place for corridor residents. The store’s reopening would complement recovery projects already completed in the community, including a new fire station, post office, library and health clinic.

For Highway 126 residents the campaign represents both a practical funding tool and a symbol of neighborhood recovery. Small contributions will be visible in the store’s new walkway, while the T shirts create broader public awareness of the rebuild. With construction still contingent on materials, permits and labor, the community drive is designed to close funding gaps quickly and help ensure the store resumes its role as a local meeting place and commerce anchor. Details and purchase options are available on the Meyer’s General Store Facebook page as the campaign moves forward.