NEW HOME UNVEILED
Troy Farmers Market moves indoors for the winter
Anew space was needed that could safely accommodate everyone.
LANSINGBURGH, N.Y. » The Troy Farmers Market has a new home for the winter. Housed in the former Lansingburgh Price Chopper building at 865 2nd Ave., the market had its first indoor week on Saturday.
It will remain indoors until the spring.
The move is a big change from the market’s usual winter location in the Troy Atrium, but market manager Steve Ridler says the change was necessary due to the pandemic. For all of the more than 60 vendors to be able to stay with the market, a new space was needed that could safely accommodate everyone.
“We knew we couldn’t be in
the Atrium, because we didn’t have space,” Ridler explained. “We looked around, thinking ‘ what’s going to be big?’ We looked at many different places, and we knew that this space was empty. We talked to ( property owner) Clark Trading Company, and now here we are!”
Ridler says a lot of planning went into the Winter Market,
with a lot of resources to tap into for the process.
“We learned a lot from the Summer Market - the right distance between vendors, how people react to a one-way flow,” Ridler explained. “There was lots of back and forth with markets across the nation, and a lot of exchange of ideas. We tried five or six times to find a layout that worked.”
Things seemed to be off to a very good start for the Market. After the first hour and a half on the first day almost 600 people had come through. As people left, they thanked and complimented market staff for keeping it going through these tough times.
The market’s current capacity is for about 100 shoppers at a time, to keep within the building’s maximum occupancy after figuring in staff and vendors. The line to get inside on Saturday was lengthy, but kept moving. Average wait time was no more than eight to ten minutes.
“We’ll be adjusting every week as we learn and figure it out,” Ridler said. “We’re going to try to do something about the lines, especially when it’s cold out like today. I think it’s a very positive thing that we’re in Lansingburgh.”
Shoppers and vendors alike seemed happy with the move and willing to work with the new layout, even if it meant a few minutes outside in the cold. Many were grateful the Market hadn’t been shut down due to the pandemic.
“I think this is awesome,” said city councilmember and former county legislator Kim Ashe-McPherson. “I’m so excited to be here! The parking is awesome, the location is great. I think it’s awesome to have this in Lansingburgh.”
“I think this is good,” agreed shopper Sarah Zaccagnino. “I like the setup, and I like that it’s on one level - the Atrium is nice, but you go up and down a lot. I really like that they were able to keep the Market open.”
Devin Trager, with vendor Sweet Sue’s, was adapting to the traffic flow in the new location.
“It feels slower, but that’s just because of the ‘people in the building’ limit,” he said. “There’s been an adjustment period, but I think things will even out by the end of the day.”
Janice Dagner, with Wells Maple Farm, has been with the Market since its beginning. Her mother Marion Wells is the owner of Wells Maple Farm, which is one of the Troy Farmers Market’s original vendors. She too has a positive outlook for the new location.
“I like this,” she said. “There’s parking, it’s laid out nicely, and I’m glad we could stay in Troy. I think it’s a positive.”
The Troy Winter Farmers Market is every Saturday from 9 am to 2 pm, with the first half hour prioritized for seniors and the immunocompromised. On Dec. 13 and 20 there will be special Holiday Markets from 10 am to 4 pm, featuring additional vendors from the city.
For more information, visit https://www.troymarket.org.