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A couple of days ago, I zipped down to the Broadway Market after work. I went to pick up some kielbasa from Camellia Meats and a few other things. After going to Camellia’s, I made my way up towards the middle of Market to pick up some rye bread to go with with my acquired Polish sausage. Kielbasa and fresh rye bread from the Broadway Market always makes me happy.
As I walked up, it quickly became obvious that none of the vendors in the middle of the Market, with the exception of the Famous Horseradish stand, were open. No White Eagle rye for me today. To be honest, my heart dropped. I went from being happy to being sad quicker than you can say kielbasa. This is what the Broadway Market has become in 2012.
I stood there for few minutes and decided to shoot a few pics of what I was seeing. One of the thoughts that came to me is what would someone think if they decided to come to the Market today…let’s say they were a first time visitor or someone that hasn’t been to the market in awhile. I’ll tell you what…they weren’t going to make the trip again. All over the place, the Broadway Market is advertised as being open from 8am to 5pm. That shouldn’t mean just a handful of vendors. The message this sends is awful.
Why weren’t the vendors who were closed open? I can only speculate. My best guess is that they can’t afford to be opened. Is this how bad it is at the Broadway Market now that vendors can close up shop in the middle of week because they aren’t making enough money.
Truly sad.
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I had this issue months ago. I wrote an editorial that they published in The Buffalo News. Many stands closed at four completely missing the after work opportunity crowd. I went a couple months ago to but some I pulse goods after work and ever hit was closed. I know Monday’s are optional, but it was a Monday so I left disappointed!
We were there on Tuesday and had the exact same thoughts! Who would come to a market that on a Tuesday has nothing to offer a shopper. Why don’t they just make it a Thurs-Sat market and save everybody the time of going there any other day and not being able to buy much! Buy some ham and kielbasa, but have no bread or rolls to put it on!! And if you were someone coming from a distance, you would be even more upset to find the empty stands!
Aldi’s is coming along quite well….and they will be OPEN EVERYDAY! Many may choose to just go there for all they need!!
I had the same experience recently. My brother was in from Virginia and he wanted to go the market. We were shocked that a lot stores were closed.
We were their for the infringement festival last weekend. The place was dead . I was also surprised that there was nothing from the market on sale at the concert. There was a crowd up there.
I sadly had to come to terms with this situation over a year ago and it is disheartening. Our good thoughts and memories of the old days are just that… thoughts and memories. To see the Market completely disappear would be very, very sad for us, but societal, economic, and neighborhood changes seem to be leading it in that directions. On many occasions I have taken friends and family on first-time visits to the Market and enthusiastically played tour guide…trying to spark their enthusiasm for such a unique place. The last time I did that we were approached by a security guard and told to be careful as one of their “regularly known” purse thieves was following us, probably waiting to pounce. We made it through that visit and I kept positive and enthusiastic, but teared up later that evening as I told my family what had happened. I will continue to tell others of the wonderful memories I have of the Market and the neighborhood…my children make sure to accompany me a few times each year as I visit…and that is enough to sustain me through the transitions.
The city is not supporting this resource properly and/or giving it the attention it deserves. They perpetually hire the wrong people for the job while others continue to put in time and sweat for free.
I really don’t understand what is happening here. It is up to us to call council members and bring attention to this issue on behalf of the market and the good people who are trying to make a difference there.
people that were living here come to shop and waste their gas.22 aplications for a manager of the market sit for two years and none chosen!love to have my ryebread on a monday morning but that will not happen.this is sad