After a July fire tore through two historic buildings in downtown Madison, real estate developer, restaurateur and historic preservationist Preston Snyder is leading a recovery effort to revitalize the community.
On Sunday, July 13, the blaze gutted Snyder’s downtown restaurant, Betty Gene’s, named after his late mother, along with the offices of his two companies, MAD Hospitality and Thomas Preston Real Estate. The fire also damaged his al fresco dining concept, The Sinclair, and destroyed much of Community Roots Market, owned by his wife, Cindi Fetch.
The Sinclair, which suffered only smoke and water damage—thanks in part to its original reinforced masonry walls from its former life as a gas station—reopened on Tuesday, July 22.
Betty Gene’s, a fixture of Madison’s downtown since its opening in September 2023, was relaunched as a pop-up concept on July 24 at Buggy Works. According to Snyder, the fire “destroyed the space—but not the spirit—of Betty Gene’s.” Housed in a historic building, Buggy Works is the latest adaptive reuse project by Snyder, designed specifically to meet growing demand for private events.
The heavily damaged Community Roots Market, is exploring opportunities for a partial reopening in the future. The market’s front section, originally the gas station’s garage, and its handmade shelving and cabinetry, reclaimed from some of Snyder’s other projects, had served as a neighborhood hub for fresh meats, produce and pantry staples.
“This isn’t about bricks and mortar. The Sinclair, Betty Gene’s, and Community Roots Market are more than just businesses,” says Snyder. “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.
Thanks to Snyder’s efforts, approximately a dozen employees who were left in limbo after the fire will be returning to work. Snyder has won awards for his commitment to historic preservation and adaptive reuse in Madison.
Snyder’s company, MAD Hospitality, is focused on creating unique and stylish chef-driven culinary concepts in restored historical spaces in Madison, just an hour outside of Atlanta. Snyder has developed several other restaurants, event spaces, and residential lofts in Madison’s Downtown Square, including The Dining Room, Hart & Crown Tavern, The Patisserie on Main and The New South Motor Inn.
