ALEPPO, Syria — Business activity is resuming at the old market in al-Bab, as shopkeepers opened their doors to customers Oct. 31 for the first time in two years.

The market, in Aleppo province’s northeastern countryside, suffered large-scale destruction during the battles waged by the Free Syrian Army (FSA) and the Turkish army against the Islamic State. The battles began in November 2016 and ended in February 2017 when the FSA took control of the city. Although the Turkey-backed FSA has held the city since then, most of the shops in the covered marketplace remained closed because of the extent of the damage.

Over the summer, owners started repairing their shops, building new ceilings over the market at their own expense and preserving the original designs. The shopkeepers used the same rocks, stones and building materials, to maintain the market’s historical identity.

Al-Monitor visited the market, where shops on both sides of the street now open their doors to hundreds of shoppers every day. The marketplace includes several sections, including a tailors’ area where traditional clothes worn by the elderly in al-Bab and Aleppo province are made. In the western part of the market are herb stores and shoe repair shops. The carpenters’ section includes a number of shops that sell wooden products used in agriculture, cooking and other work. There are also different areas where vendors sell women's clothing, meat and locally made foodstuffs. The prices are reasonable: A traditional men’s outfit costs about 23,000 Syrian pounds (around $45). One could also buy a herbal weight loss mix for 2,500 pounds (about $5).