A late-night fire at East Market was sparked by a lightning strike during severe storms that moved through central Ohio Sunday night, according to market officials.
The fire broke out around 11:15 p.m. when lightning struck the roof above Railhouse, the market’s flagship bar, while the building was open for business, said East Market director Aubrey Stevens.
No injuries were reported, according to the Columbus Division of Fire, which responded to the scene and quickly contained the blaze.
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The fire came as Franklin County was under a Severe Thunderstorm Warning, with a strong line of storms bringing hail and damaging winds across the region.
Fire officials said the damage was mostly limited to the roof, though water damage was reported throughout parts of the building. Stevens told 10TV that the Railhouse bar will remain closed for repairs, but the rest of the market was not significantly impacted.
“We are giving a big thank you to our maintenance staff and everyone involved for rapidly responding,” Stevens said.
Cleanup crews were on site Monday morning, and the building is expected to be sterilized following the incident.
While early indications point to a lightning strike as the cause, investigators said the fire remains under review.
East Market, which opened in 2022 inside a renovated historic trolley barn, is part of the city’s broader Trolley District redevelopment and features a mix of food vendors, bars, and retail stalls. Stevens said the market is expected to reopen within the next couple of days.
