So we've received word back, and it sounds like all of the South Hall merchants save Market Lunch will be opening up this Saturday in the new East Hall temporary building! (The folks at Market Lunch say that they won't have enough time to get everything set up -- which makes a little sense, given that their setup is a bit more complicated than most others'.) This is technically a “soft opening,” meaning that some merchants won't be at full stock, but it's enough to merit Mayor Fenty himself cutting the ribbon to officially open the western entrance to the building at 9:30 AM on Saturday.
A few merchants gave us more specific details on their plans for the weekend. Mike & Ray Bowers say that Bowers Fine Dairy Products will be fully-stocked; Eastern Market Grocery will have its full stock of pastas, sauces, olives, and pita bread, but won't have the normal grocery supplies yet. Canales Quality Meats is busily trying to work out what it'll have in stock, and Calomiris Fruits & Vegetables will be back to its normal variety of offerings.
Exciting!