Owners of popular Jasper deli aim to reopen after wildfire, but in Edmonton [Video]

As the community of Jasper continues to rebuild after last summer’s devastating wildfires, the owners of a popular business in the mountain town have hatched a plan to reopen in Alberta’s capital.

“Financially, and emotionally, we need to do this,” Wendy Leitch told Global News on Monday. Just weeks before Jasper was evacuated because of wildfires, she and her husband Glen had just celebrated the 20th anniversary of their opening the popular Patricia Street Deli.

“We need to get back open,” Wendy said. “We’ve been closed since July 22.”

The July fires in Jasper National Park forced thousands of people to flee the area and destroyed about 350 homes and businesses, according to local officials. Late last month, the Insurance Bureau of Canada provided a revised estimate on the total damage caused by the fires, noting that had increased to $1.23 billion from $880 million.

Wendy and Glen said they …