Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) Tradition brought Scott Kindrowski to the Broadway Market.
"It's something we do every year," Kindrowski said while shopping for Polish sausage and pierogi.
Dorothy Flakes makes her way to the Broadway Market every week, even she drives past several other supermarkets to make her way to the venerable and iconic Broadway-Fillmore destination.
"This is my market," Flakes said.
Kathy Peterson, market general manager, says while Easter week is traditionally the busiest one for the market, there has been an uptick in shoppers since it was announced the market will be undergoing a $45 million renovation and facelift, beginning later this summer.
"The announcement piqued people's interest," Peterson said. "Our hope is that people come for Easter but then decide to make a return visit. I think all the talk of the renovations may do just that."
For the peak Easter season, the market has more than 90 vendors inside its four walls and two stories. The rest of the year, it has 26 full time vendors - some of which have been there for decades like Famous Horseradish and Pott's Deli & Grill.
The market, on average, attracts slightly more than 300,000 shoppers annually with many coming during the weeks leading up to Easter.
"Buying a butter lamb here is definitely different than buying it at a supermarket," Peterson said.
Melanie Potts, Potts Deli general manager, said the market has a unique vibe and certainly a different feel from a traditional supermarket.
"It is so Buffalo," Potts said. "Definitely a different atmosphere."
Potts said business is up this year - maybe as much as 15% - largely because of the renovation talk and the fact that Passover and Easter fall within days of each other.
Margie Skob, Famous Horseradish general manager, also said business is up "at least 15%" with crowds more interested in checking out the Broadway Market.
"It's a generational thing," Skob said. "Each generation is bringing the next generation."
The Broadway Market's renovation comes against the development backdrop that is taking hold in the Broadway-Fillmore district.
Among the projects:
* New houses being developed on Playter Street.
* The ongoing $330 million renovation of the Central Terminal
* Cedarland Development reviving a former W.T. Grant department store at the intersection of Broadway and Fillmore Avenue into the Eckard Building anchored by 28 apartments.
"All of these pieces are coming together at the right time," said Fillmore District Councilman Mitch Nowakowski.
The market's renovation will be done in two phases spread over this year and next year.
The vending space will be reconfigured, cutting it down from 100,000-square-feet to 50,000-square-feet.
Peterson said the more condensed retail space will help change the optics inside the market.
"It will feel more intimate," Peterson said.
The remaining 50,000-square-feet will be used for special events and manufacturing/cooking space for vendors.
Also set to be demolished is the 70-year-old, aging parking ramp and replaced with a surface parking lot.
A new front facade is also in the works.
"When we are done, it will feel like a new Broadway Market," Peterson said.
For the remaining Easter season hours are: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on April 2; 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on April 3 and 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on April 4. It will also be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on April 6 (Dyngus Day).
Broadway Market reporting uptick in Easter season shoppers.
