THINKING SMALL
Downtown Troy shops pop up in Colonie Center
COLONIE, N.Y. » Mall- goers had the opportunity to shop small Sunday at the first- ever # ShopTroyNY pop-up in Colonie Center.
Downtown Troy businesses Broccolis, Copper Fox, Broken Mold Pottery Studio, Troy Cloth & Paper and Sawtooth Jewelry Studio set up shop in the center of the mall, where shoppers browsed and bought their goods.
The merchants brought their business across the river for the day in hopes of gaining new customers at the mall. In an otherwise predictable shopping environment, the # ShopTroyNY pop-up aimed to be a blast of something fun and new, said Broccolis owner and #ShopTroyNY founder Robilee McIntyre.
In addition to their booths, some vendors offered activities like pottery throwing and body marbling. Broken Mold owner Bianca Dupuis, who was giving a pottery-throwing demonstration Sunday afternoon, said she decided to participate in the popup to see some new faces.
“We have a lot of wonderful, loyal customers that stop by on a weekly basis, but it’s cold out and
“We have a lot of wonderful, loyal customers that stop by on a weekly basis, but it’s cold out and a lot of people come to the mall to stay warm.” — Bianca Dupuis, Broken Mold owner
a lot of people come to the mall to stay warm,” she said. “They want to get out of their house. There’s a lot more faces that we see here on a Sunday than we would downtown, especially on a bitter day.”
“It’s a good advertising tool,” Dupuis added. “A lot of people feel that Troy is too far to come across the river from Albany, and it’s really not that far. So if we need to come to people then we will do that. It’s a great opportunity.”
David Langer, owner of Troy Cloth & Paper, said he joined the #ShopTroyNY pop-up to raise awareness about his business, especially after it’s recent move to a larger space on 3rd Street in downtown Troy.
“We decided that by participating in this pop-up, it would allow people to know that we’re still around. We’re kicking. We’re moving strong,” he said. “We’re expanding our business and growing.”
The ultimate goal of the #ShopTroyNY pop-up, McIntyre said, is to get people to go to Troy and do their shopping in the downtown district., adding that she hopes the event will entice people to come see them. “Come visit us.”
The timing of the pop-up coincides with the Troy Waterfront Farmers Market, which brings a lot of foot traffic for downtown shops on weekends, moving to its indoor location for the winter.
North Greenbush resident Christy Carroll brought her daughters to check out the #ShopTroyNY pop-up after hearing about it in the media. The family sometimes shops in downtownTroy, but typically when they’re visiting the farmers market. “
They have some cool stuff,” said Carroll, whose girls enjoyed it, too.
Collar City resident Fredda Merzon, who often shops in downtown Troy, visited the event Sunday as a supporter.
“We love these people who are here. Some of our favorite shops in Troy,” she said while looking around the pop- up. “I think the greater Capital District needs more awareness of the neat shops that are in Troy and that Troy is a very walkable city and that even when it’s cold, it pays to come downtown to Troy.”
Sunday’s pop-up event is the first in a series of four, with more businesses expected to joine. Upcoming #ShopTroyNY pop-ups are scheduled from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays, Feb. 11, March 11 and April 8, in front of Boscov’s inside Colonie Center.